George Beranger


George Beranger, was an Australian-born silent film actor, director and film writer in New York and Hollywood. He is also sometimes credited under the pseudonym George Andre de Beranger and multiple variations of the same.

Early life

Beranger was born George Augustus Beringer in Enmore, New South Wales, Australia, the youngest of five sons of Caroline Mondientz and Adam Beringer, a German engine fitter. His mother committed suicide when he was three years old and he left home at the age of 14. He studied acting at the College of Elocution and Dramatic Art founded by Scottish actor Walter Bentley.

Career

Beranger began playing Shakespearean roles at the age of sixteen with the Walter Bentley Players. He then emigrated from Australia to California, United States in 1912 and worked in the silent film industry in Hollywood. According to a researcher, he "reinvented himself in Hollywood, claiming French parentage, birth on a French ocean liner off the coast of Australia and a Paris education." Beranger worked under the name George Andre de Beranger and multiple variations of the same pseudonym.
By the 1920s, Beranger had become a star, appearing in the movies of Ernst Lubitsch and D. W. Griffith. He also directed sixteen films between 1914 and 1924. Beranger owned a large Spanish-style home in Laguna Beach, rented a room at the Hollywood Athletic Club and owned an apartment in Paris, France.
Beranger eventually appeared in more than 160 films between 1913 and 1950. Beranger's career declined following the 1930s Great Depression and the advent of sound film. He supplemented his income as a draftsman for the Los Angeles City Council. He sold his large properties and moved into a modest cottage beside his house in Laguna Beach.
Beranger's silent roles had often been sophisticates or dandy types, and in early sound films he was often relegated to non-speaking walk-ons or bit parts as hairdressers, concierges, florists and the like. However, in the mid and late 1940s, he played interesting speaking bit parts in three 20th Century-Fox film noirs: The Spider, Nightmare Alley and Road House.
Beranger entered into a "lavender marriage" with a neighbouring woman who was a widow, but they never shared the same house and he continued to have sexual relationships with men unabated.
Beranger retired in 1952 and lived his later years in seclusion. He was found dead of natural causes in his home on 8 March 1973.

Selected filmography

  • The Well as The Accomplice
  • The Switch Tower as A Tramp
  • When Love Forgives as The Bartender
  • Almost a Wild Man as In Audience
  • Home, Sweet Home as The Accordion Player
  • The Birth of a Nation as Wade Cameron – Second Son
  • The Absentee as Tom Burke / Ambition
  • Let Katie Do It as Witness to Accident
  • The Good Bad-Man as Thomas Stuart
  • Flirting with Fate as Automatic Joe
  • The Half-Breed as Jack Brace
  • Pillars of Society as Johan Tonnesen
  • Intolerance as High Priest of Bel
  • Manhattan Madness as The Butler
  • Mixed Blood as Carlos
  • Those Without Sin as Chester Wallace
  • A Love Sublime as Her Husband
  • A Daughter of the Poor as Rudolph Creig
  • Time Locks and Diamonds as Ramon Mendoza
  • The Spotted Lily as Captain Franz
  • Sandy as Carter Nelson
  • Broken Blossoms as The Spying One
  • A Manhattan Knight
  • Burn 'Em Up Barnes
  • Sinister Street
  • Was She Guilty?
  • The Leopardess as Pepe
  • The Bright Shawl as Andre Escobar
  • Ashes of Vengeance as Charles IX
  • Dulcy as Vincent Leach
  • The Extra Girl as Actor in Wardrobe Line
  • Tiger Rose as Pierre
  • The Man Life Passed By as Leo Friend
  • Poisoned Paradise: The Forbidden Story of Monte Carlo as Krantz
  • Beau Brummel as Lord Byron
  • His Hour as English Nobleman
  • Beauty and the Bad Man as L.I.B. Bell
  • Confessions of a Queen as Lewin
  • Are Parents People? as Maurice Mansfield
  • The Man in Blue as Carlo Guido
  • Grounds for Divorce as Guido
  • A Woman's Faith as Leandre Turcott
  • The Big Parade as Patriotic Letter Reader
  • The Grand Duchess and the Waiter as The Grand Duke Paul
  • Miss Brewster's Millions as Mr. Brent
  • The Bat as Gideon Bell
  • So This Is Paris as Maurice Lalle
  • Fig Leaves as Josef André
  • The Eagle of the Sea as John Jarvis
  • The Lady of the Harem as Selim
  • The Popular Sin as Alphonse Martin
  • Paradise for Two as Maurice
  • Altars of Desire as Count André D'Orville
  • The Small Bachelor as Finch
  • If I Were Single as Claude
  • Powder My Back as Claude
  • Five and Ten Cent Annie as Orchestra Leader
  • Beware of Bachelors as Claude de Brie
  • Stark Mad as Simpson – Guide
  • Strange Cargo as First Stranger
  • Glad Rag Doll as Barry
  • Darkened Rooms as Madame Silvara's Customer
  • Lilies of the Field as Barber
  • The Boudoir Diplomat as Potz
  • Three Girls Lost as Andre
  • Annabelle's Affairs as Archie
  • The Age for Love as The Poet
  • Surrender as Fichet
  • Ladies of the Jury as Alonzo Beal
  • Love Is a Racket as Manager of Elizabeth Morgan's
  • Ex-Lady as Dinner Guest / Pianist
  • Mama Loves Papa as Basil Pew
  • Coming Out Party as Waiter at Aladdin's Lamp
  • Jimmy the Gent as Steamship Ticket Clerk
  • Hollywood Party as Durante's Barber
  • Kiss and Make-Up as Jean - Dr Lamar's Butler
  • Young and Beautiful as Henry Briand
  • The Captain Hates the Sea as Jeweler
  • Clive of India as Mr. St. Aubin
  • One New York Night as Matthews
  • Gold Diggers of 1935 as Head Waiter
  • Once in a Blue Moon as Prince Kolia
  • The Flame Within as Prince Hassan
  • Don't Bet on Blondes as Wedding Dress Fitter
  • The Payoff as Reporter
  • Ship Cafe as Tailor
  • The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo as Casino Assistant
  • Stars Over Broadway as Man Wanting Testimonial
  • Dangerous as First Waiter
  • Anything Goes as Man with Silly Walk
  • The Story of Louis Pasteur as Louis Pasteur's Assistant
  • The Walking Dead as Nolan's Butler
  • Love Before Breakfast as Charles
  • Colleen as Jeweler
  • Snowed Under as Costume Designer Maza
  • The Singing Kid as Designer
  • Times Square Playboy as Jewelry Store Clerk
  • Bullets or Ballots as Waiter
  • Hearts Divided as Jefferson's Secretary
  • The Big Noise as Mr. Rosewater
  • Hot Money as Ed Biddle
  • China Clipper as Waiter
  • Love Begins at 20 as Eddie as Office Worker
  • Walking on Air as Albert, the Valet
  • Down the Stretch as William J. Cooper
  • Cain and Mabel as Headwaiter
  • Love on the Run as Comedy Reactionary
  • King of Hockey as Evans, Kathleen's Chauffeur
  • Stolen Holiday as Swiss Waiter
  • Ready, Willing, and Able as Tenant
  • Café Metropole as Hat Clerk
  • San Quentin as Lorenz Review Headwaiter
  • Dangerous Holiday as Violin Teacher
  • Wake Up and Live as Pianist
  • Fight for Your Lady as Florist
  • Hollywood Round-Up as Hotel Clerk
  • I'll Take Romance as Male Dressmaker
  • The Lone Wolf in Paris as Hotel Desk Manager
  • Beauty for the Asking as Cyril
  • He Stayed for Breakfast as maître d'hôtel
  • She Knew All the Answers as Head Waiter
  • Two in a Taxi as Receptionist
  • Our Wife as Waiter
  • Over My Dead Body as Salesman
  • Saratoga Trunk as Leon
  • The Spider as Apartment Manager
  • The Shocking Miss Pilgrim as Office Clerk
  • Nightmare Alley as The Geek
  • Cry of the City as Barber
  • The Snake Pit as Patient
  • Road House as Lefty
  • Unfaithfully Yours as maître d'hôtel
  • Chicken Every Sunday as Jake Barker
  • The Fan as Alphonse - Philippe's Assistant
  • You're My Everything as Waiter
  • Dancing in the Dark as Waiter
  • Wabash Avenue as Wax Museum Attendant