James Kirkwood Sr.
James Cornelius Kirkwood Sr. was an American actor and director.
Biography
Kirkwood debuted on screen in 1909 and was soon playing leads for D. W. Griffith. He started directing in 1912, and became a favorite of Mary Pickford, with whom he is rumored to have had an affair. In 1923, he married actress Lila Lee; with her, he had a son, James Kirkwood Jr., who became a successful writer, winning both a Tony Award and a Pulitzer Prize for A Chorus Line. Previously he had been married to Gertrude Robinson, with whom he also had a child. During his marriage to Robinson, he had an affair with Mary Miles Minter, who was 15 at the time. They "married" without clergy in the countryside near Santa Barbara. Their relationship ended after Minter became pregnant with Kirkwood's child and underwent an abortion.
In 1931, he married actress Beatrice Powers, and had a daughter, Joan Mary Kirkwood, with her. They divorced in 1934, with Powers citing mental cruelty. He married Marjorie Davidson in 1940, and had a son with her, Terrance Michael Kirkwood.
He was George Melford's original choice for the starring role of Sheik Ahmed Ben Hassan in The Sheik, which was later famously passed to Rudolph Valentino. His directing career fizzled in 1920, but he continued acting well into the 1950s. His film career would span more than two hundred films over nearly a half century.
He died at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital.
Selected filmography
A Corner in Wheat – The FarmerAt the Altar The Lonely Villa – Among RescuersThe Hessian Renegades – Messenger's FatherPippa Passes – JulesFools of Fate – Ben WebsterNursing a Viper – In MobThe Death Disc: A Story of the Cromwellian Period – Cromwell's AdvisorThe Red Man's View – Silver Eagle's Father – the Tribal Spokesman In Little Italy – The SheriffTo Save Her Soul – Backstage at Debut / At PartyThe Day After – Party GuestThe Rocky Road – The Best ManThe Woman from Mellon's – The MinisterThe Modern Prodigal The Bridal Room – Minor RoleThe Left-Handed Man – The Old SoldierThe House of Discord – The Wife's SweetheartHome, Sweet Home – The Mother's SonThe Eagle's Mate – Lancer MorneBehind the Scenes – Steve HunterThe Green-Eyed Devil Lord Chumley Cinderella Strongheart The Floor Above Gambier's Advocate – Stephen GambierLittle Pal – Minor Role The Heart of Jennifer – James MurrayFanchon the Cricket The Foundling – DetectiveThe Lost Bridegroom Susie Snowflake Dulcie's Adventure Faith The Innocence of Lizette A Dream or Two Ago Over There The Gentle Intruder Environment Annie-for-Spite Periwinkle Melissa of the Hills The Struggle Everlasting The Uphill Path The Luck of the Irish – William GroganThe Scoffer – Dr. Stannard WayneIn the Heart of a Fool – Grant AdamsThe Forbidden Thing – Abel BlakeThe Branding Iron – Pierre LandisLove – Tom ChandlerMan, Woman & Marriage – David CourtneyBob Hampton of Placer – Bob HamptonA Wise Fool – Jean Jacques BarbilleThe Great Impersonation – Sir Everard Dominey / Leopold von RagasteinThe Man from Home – Daniel Forbes PikeUnder Two Flags – Cpl. VictorPink Gods – John QuelchThe Sin Flood – O'NeillEbb Tide – Robert HerrickYou Are Guilty – Stephen MartinHuman Wreckage – Alan MacFarlandThe Eagle's Feather – John TrentPonjola – Lundi DruroDiscontented Husbands – Michael FrazerLove's Whirlpool – Jim ReaganWandering Husbands – George MorelandBroken Barriers – Ward TrentonAnother Man's Wife – John BrandCirce, the Enchantress – Dr. Wesley Van MartynThe Painted Flapper – Richard WhitneyGerald Cranston's Lady – Gerald CranstonSecrets of the Night – Robert AndrewsThe Top of the World – Guy Ranger / Burke RangerThe Police Patrol – Officer Jim RyanThat Royle Girl – Calvin ClarkeLover's Island – Jack AveryThe Reckless Lady – Colonel FlemingThe Wise Guy – Guy WatsonButterflies in the Rain – John HumphriesMillion Dollar Mystery – James NortonSomeone to Love – Mr. KendricksBlack Waters – Rev. Eph Kelly / Tiger LarabeeThe Time, the Place and the Girl – The ProfessorHearts in Exile – Baron Serge PalmaThe Devil's Holiday – Mark StoneWorldly Goods – John C. TullockThe Spoilers – Joe DextryYoung Sinners – John GibsonA Holy Terror – William DrewTransatlantic – Sigrid's Beau Over the Hill – Pa Shelby in PrologueThe Rainbow Trail – VentersCharlie Chan's Chance – Inspector FlanneryCheaters at Play – Detective CraneShe Wanted a Millionaire – Roger NortonLena Rivers – Henry R. GrahamCareless Lady – JudgeMy Pal, the King – Count DeMarPlaythings of Desire – Jim MalvernHired Wife – Philip MarloweThe Lady from Cheyenne – PoliticianNo Hands on the Clock – Warren BenedictTennessee Johnson – Senator Government Girl – Senator Madame Curie – Board Member The Spanish Main – Captain Spratlin Rendezvous with Annie – WaltersI've Always Loved You – Murphy That Brennan Girl – John Van Derwin That's My Man – Racetrack Man Driftwood – Rev. MacDougalThe Inside Story – Townsman The Untamed Breed – Sheriff Joan of Arc – Judge Mortemer Red Stallion in the Rockies – Judge HardyThe Doolins of Oklahoma – Reverend Mears Intruder in the Dust – Convict Roseanna McCoy – A Hatfield The Nevadan – Tex Fortunes of Captain Blood – Physician The Lone Ranger – Judge Henry BradyStage to Tucson – Sheriff Pete Deuce Belle Le Grand – Judge Santa Fe – Surveyor Two of a Kind – Ben Man in the Saddle – Sheriff Medary I Dream of Jeanie – DoctorWinning of the West – Wagon Train Survivor The Sun Shines Bright – Gen. FairfieldWoman They Almost Lynched – Old Man The Last Posse – Judge ParkerSweethearts on Parade – Narrator Passion – Don Rosendo Adventures of the Texas Kid: Border Ambush – Tim JohnsonThe Search for Bridey Murphy – Brian MacCarthy at Age 68Two Rode Together – Officer