Edward Van Sloan


Edward Van Sloan was an American character actor best remembered for his roles in the Universal Studios horror films such as Dracula, Frankenstein, and The Mummy.

Early years

Edward Paul Van Sloun was of Dutch and German descent and was born in New Trier, Minnesota, on November 1, 1882 the son of Martinus Van Sloun and Theresa Van Sloun. He was living in San Francisco by 1900 with his aunt Mary Baumann and her daughter Alma. His mother settled in San Francisco, where young Edward resided with his siblings and mother as he launched his acting career in theaters.

Career

In 1915, Van Sloan was the leading man with the Forsberg Players, based at the Fulton Opera House in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Van Sloan's roles in Universal's films date from the 1930s, including Dracula, Frankenstein, and The Mummy. In the first of these, he played Professor Van Helsing, the famous vampire-hunter, a role he had first taken in the successful touring production of Dracula by Hamilton Deane and John L. Balderston. He played essentially the same role, this time as Dr. Muller, an occultist, in The Mummy. He again played Van Helsing in the 1936 film Dracula's Daughter. In Frankenstein, he played the character of Dr. Waldman, and he also stepped in front of a curtain before the film's opening credits to warn audience members that they now had a chance to escape the theatre if they were too squeamish to endure the film.
On Broadway, Van Sloan's credits included The Vigil, Remote Control, Dracula, Lost, Juarez and Maximilian, Schweiger, Morals, Polly Preferred, and The Unknown Purple.

Personal life

In 1910, Van Sloan acted in Pinero, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where he married the leading lady Myra Jackson, with whom he had one child, Paul. During the 1920s, Van Sloan appeared in several plays at the 48th Street Theater on Broadway, including the 1924 stage adaptation of Dracula before accepting an offer in late 1930 for a part in the acclaimed Tod Browning-directed screen production of Dracula. He died in 1964 at age 81. He was cremated at Olivet Gardens of Cypress Lawn Memorial Park in Colma, California. However, his family buried his urn at Boehm Cemetery in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania.

Filmography

Slander – Joseph Tremaine Dracula – Professor Van HelsingFrankenstein – Dr. WaldmanUnder Eighteen – Assistant to François Manhattan Parade – The Lawyer Behind the Mask – Dr. August SteinerPlay Girl – Moffatt, the BossMan Wanted – Mr. WaltersForgotten Commandments – Doctor Thunder Below – Doctor The Last Mile – RabbiThe Death Kiss – Tom AveryThe Mummy – Dr. MullerThe Billion Dollar Scandal – Attorney CarpInfernal Machine – Professor Gustabve HoffmanThe World Gone Mad – The Working Man – Mr. BriggsTrick for Trick – John RussellThe Silk Express – Mill Owner in Association It's Great to Be Alive – Dr. WiltonBaby Face – Jameson – Bank Director Deluge – Professor CarlysleMurder on the Campus – Prof. C. Edson HawleyGoodbye Love – JudgeBlood Money – Jordan - Department Store Manager The Crosby Case – Professor Franz LubeckManhattan Melodrama – Yacht Capt. Swenson The Scarlet Empress – Herr Wagner The Life of Vergie Winters – Jim WintersI'll Fix It – ParkesMills of the Gods – KomeoskiThe Man Who Reclaimed His Head – Board Director Grand Old Girl – HollandA Shot in the Dark – Prof. BostwickThe Woman in Red – Foxall - Prosecuting AttorneyDeath Flies East – Dr. O'Neill Captain Hurricane – Man at Susan Ann's Bedside Air Hawks – Prof. SchulterThe Arizonian – Judge Cody The Black Room – Doctor The Last Days of Pompeii – CalvusThree Kids and a Queen – Dr. GordonGrand Exit – Klorer The Story of Louis Pasteur – Chairman at Medical Society Road Gang – Mr. DudleyDracula's Daughter – Professor Von Helsing Fatal Lady – French Surete Sins of Man – Austrian Army DoctorThe Man Who Found Himself – Medical Board Doctor The Road Back – President Souls at Sea – Ship's Officer Penitentiary – Dr. Rinewulf The Toy Wife – Older Man Danger on the Air – Dr. Leonard SylvesterCampus Confessions – Professor Storm Over Bengal – Maharajah of LhanapurThe Phantom Creeps – Jarvis Honeymoon in Bali – Priest on Bali Abe Lincoln in Illinois – Dr. Barrett Teddy, the Rough Rider – Elihu Root The Doctor Takes a Wife – Burkhardt