Henry Kolker


Joseph Henry Kolker was an American stage and film actor and director.

Early years

Kolker was born in Berlin, Germany, in 1874. He came to America at age five and was educated by Franciscan Monks at Quincy, Illinois.

Career

Kolker had a substantial stage career before entering silent films. He began acting professionally in stock theater in 1895. On stage he appeared opposite actresses such as Edith Wynne Matthison, Bertha Kalich and Ruth Chatterton. Kolker bore a resemblance to John Drew and this was accentuated when he started wearing a moustache and as he aged. Some thought he was Drew's son and a part of the Barrymore family.
Kolker began acting in films in 1915. He is best remembered for his movie roles, including one in the ground-breaking Pre-Code film Baby Face as an elderly CEO. Another well-remembered part is as Mr. Seton, father of Katharine Hepburn and Lew Ayres in the 1938 film Holiday directed by George Cukor.
Kolker also directed. His best-known effort is Disraeli, starring George Arliss, which is now a mostly lost film with only one reel remaining, and not to be confused with a later sound era portrayal by Arliss of the same name.

Personal life

Kolker was married to Lillian Carroll; they divorced in 1926. Soon after the divorce, he married Margaret Bruen.
Kolker died on July 15, 1947, aged 72.

Selected filmography

As actor

The Bigger Man as John StoddardThe Warning as Robert DenmanHow Molly Made Good Gloria's Romance as Dr. Stephen RoyceThe Shell Game as Lawrence GraySocial Hypocrites as Dr. Frank SimpsonThe [House of Mirth (1918 film)|The House of Mirth] as Lawrence SeldenThe Great Victory as Kaiser Wilhelm IIThe Parisian Tigress as Henri DutrayBlackie's Redemption as Fred the CountThe Red Lantern Tangled Threads as Dr. MacGregorThe Brat as A DandyHer Purchase Price as Duke of WrydenA Man of Stone Any Woman as Egbert PhillipsSally, Irene and Mary as Marcus MortonThe [Palace of Pleasure (film)|The Palace of Pleasure] as PremierHell's Four Hundred as John GilmoreWinning the Futurity Wet Paint as A HusbandA Kiss in a Taxi as Leon LambertAnnie Laurie as King's RepresentativeRough House Rosie as W.S. DavidsSoft Living as Roidney S. BowenMidnight Rose as CorbinThe Charge of the Gauchos as Viceroy CisnerosDon't Marry as Gen. WilloughbyCoquette as Jasper CarterThe Valiant as JudgePleasure Crazed as Col. FarquarLove, Live and Laugh as EnricoThe Bad One as ProsecutorEast Is West as ButlerAbraham Lincoln as New EnglanderThe Way of All Men as SharpDu Barry, Woman of Passion as D'AiguillonEast Is West as Mr. BensonOne Heavenly Night as Prefect of PoliceDon't Bet on Women as ButterfieldDoctors' Wives as Hospital OfficialQuick Millions as District AttorneyIndiscreet as Mr. WoodwardThe Spy as TchijinskiI Like Your Nerve as Areal PachecoThe Unholy Garden as Col. LautracThe Yellow Ticket as Passport ClerkThe Washington Masquerade as StapletonJewel Robbery as Baron FranzThe First Year as Peter BarstowDevil and the Deep as HuttonDown to Earth as RandolphThe Crash as John FairFaithless as Mr. CarterRasputin and the Empress as Chief of Secret PoliceThe Keyhole as Schuyler BrooksGabriel Over the White House as Sen. Langham – Senate Majority LeaderHello, Sister! as Jameson Brewster, Bank PresidentA Bedtime Story as Agent de PoliceHell Below as Adm. Sir Hugh HigbyThe Narrow Corner as Mr. Blake, Fred's FatherBaby Face as CarterNotorious But Nice as Defense Attorney ClarkThe [Power and the Glory (1933 film)|The Power and the Glory] as Mr. BordenBureau of Missing Persons as Theodore ArnoGolden Harvest as Henry FlintI Loved a Woman as Mr. SanbornLove, Honor, and Oh Baby! as The JudgeGigolettes of Paris as Police InterrogatorMeet the Baron as Baron MunchausenBlood Money as Newspaper Managing EditorMassacre as Sen. WoolseyBedside as Maritza's ManagerI've [Got Your Number (film)|I've Got Your Number] as Robert KirklandThe [Cat and the Fiddle (film)|The Cat and the Fiddle] as Theatre ManagerWonder Bar as Mr. R.H. RenaudJournal of a Crime as Henri MarcherSuccess at Any Price as HatfieldSisters Under the Skin as JonesLet's Talk It Over as DoctorBlack Moon as The PsychiatristThe Hell Cat as C.W. SloaneLet's Try Again as Mr. BlakeStamboul Quest as 'Excellency' German War OfficeWhom the Gods Destroy as Carlo, the PuppeteerBlind Date as J.W. Hartwell, Sr.Name the Woman as Judge AdamsThe Girl From Missouri as Sen. TitcombeShe [Loves Me Not (1934 film)|She Loves Me Not] as Charles M. LawtonNow and Forever as Mr. ClarkMillion Dollar Ransom Dr. DavisOne Exciting Adventure as CustomerA Lost Lady as John OrmsbyLady by Choice as OpperImitation of Life as Dr. PrestonLove Time as Emperor Francis IKid Millions as AttorneyThe Ghost Walks as Dr. KentSing Sing Nights as Kurt NordonThe Band Plays On as Professor HackettCharlie Chan in Paris as M. LamartineSociety Doctor as Dr. HarveyRed Hot Tires as Martin SanfordThe Mystery Man as Ellwyn A. 'Jo-Jo' JonasOne New York Night as Arthur CarlisleTimes Square Lady as Mr. FieldingA [Dog of Flanders (1935 film)|A Dog of Flanders] as Monsieur LaTour, Art CriticThe Florentine Dagger as AuctioneerThe Case of the Curious Bride as District Attorney StaceyReckless as Mr. GearhartGo Into Your Dance as DoctorSpring Tonic as Mr. EnixHoneymoon Limited as Mr. RandallMad Love as Prefect RossetThe Black Room as Baron Frederick de BerghmanHere Comes the Band as Simmon's AttorneyDiamond Jim as J.C. Randolf, Bank PresidentLadies Love Danger as Jose LopezRed Salute as DeanI Live My Life as Relative at Mrs. Gage'sShipmates Forever as The DoctorThe [Last Days of Pompeii (1935 film)|The Last Days of Pompeii] as WarderThree Kids and a Queen as CrippetsFrisco Waterfront as District AttorneyThe Great Impersonation as Dr. SchmidtCollegiate as Mr. MacGregorMy Marriage as Maj. VaileBullets or Ballots as Mr. HollisterRomeo and Juliet as Friar LaurenceSitting on the Moon as WorthingtonIn His Steps as Calvin CarverThe Man Who Lived Twice as Judge Henry TreacherTheodora Goes Wild as Jonathan GrantGreat Guy as Abel CanningUnder Cover of Night as District Attorney PritchardOnce a Doctor as Dr. Bruce NordlandThey Wanted to Marry as Mr. HunterGreen Light as Dr. LaneMaid of Salem as Crown Chief Justice LaughtonLet Them Live as Judge LedererThe Devil Is Driving as Charles StevensConquest as Sen. WybitckiThoroughbreds Don't Cry as 'Doc' GodfreyThe Invisible Menace as Col. HackettLove Is a Headache as Mr. Sam EllingerThe Adventures of Marco Polo as Nicolo PoloHoliday as Edward Seton Sr.Safety in Numbers as Dr. Lawrence EdmondsMarie Antoinette as Court AideToo Hot to Handle as "Pearly" ToddThe Cowboy and the Lady as Horace SmithLet Us Live as Chief of PoliceUnion Pacific as Asa M. BarrowsShould Husbands Work? as TaylorThese Glamour Girls as Philip S. Griswold IIHidden Power as WestonThe Real Glory as The GeneralParents on Trial as James WesleyHere I Am a Stranger as R.J. BennettMain Street Lawyer as Donnelly, District AttorneyGrand Ole Opry as William C. ScullyMoney and the Woman as Mr. Rollins, Barbara's FatherLas Vegas Nights as John StevensThe Man Who Lost Himself as MulhausenThe Great Swindle as Stewart CordellA Woman's Face as JudgeThe Parson of Panamint as Judge Arnold MasonSing for Your Supper as Myron T. HayworthReunion in France as General BartholomewSarong Girl as Mr. Jefferson BaxterBluebeard as DeschampsThe [Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947 film)|The Secret Life of Walter Mitty] as Dr. Benbow

As director

Kolker directed 18 feature films, most of them lost.Santo Icario A Man's Country The Woman Michael Married The Third Generation Bright Skies Heart of Twenty The Palace of Darkened Windows The Greatest Love Bucking the Tiger Who Am I? The Fighter Disraeli The Leopardess Sant'Ilario The Snow Bride The Purple Highway I Will Repay

As writer

The Man with the Iron Heart
  • ''The Third Generation''