John Halliday (actor)


John Halliday was an American actor of stage and screen, who often played suave aristocrats and foreigners.

Biography

Halliday was born in Brooklyn, New York. In infancy, he moved with his parents to Europe, and he lived abroad until he was 18.
He served with the British Army 1901–02 in the Boer War in South Africa. In 1905 Halliday, a civil/mining engineer from before his South Africa adventure, migrated to Nevada and dug up a fortune in gold nuggets and managed to lose the lot.
After losing his money in the stock market in Sacramento, Halliday became an actor with a stock theater company headed by Nat Goodwin. He progressed from that group to touring the world as leading man in a troupe headed by T. Daniel Frawley.
Making his Broadway debut in 1912 in Cecil Raleigh and Henry Hamilton's The Whip, he became a familiar presence there, especially in sophisticated comedies such as W. Somerset Maugham's The Circle, Vincent Lawrence's Sour Grapes, Louis Verneuil's Jealousy and S. N. Behrman's Rain from Heaven.
He was also well known for his film roles. He was one of the leading actors in the drama film Millie. His best-known movie appearance was as "Seth Lord", father of Tracy Lord in the film adaptation of Philip Barry's The Philadelphia Story. The following year he played his final role in Lydia.

Personal life

In 1912, Halliday's wife, Camille Personi, sued May Buckley for alienation of affections. "'May Buckley has broken up my home and ruined my life,' Mrs. Halliday said, 'and I am determined that she shall suffer.'"
His second wife was actress Eva Lang; they married in 1917, and divorced in 1928. In 1929, Halliday married actress Eleanor Griffith in Greenwich, Connecticut.
He died from a heart ailment at the age of 67 on October 17, 1947, in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Partial filmography

The Devil's Toy – Paul La FranceThe Woman Gives – Daniel GarfordThe Blue Pearl – Richard DrakeThe Love Expert – Jim WinthropMasked Lover East Side Sadie Recaptured Love – Brentwood ParrScarlet Pages – John RemingtonOnce a Sinner – Richard KentCaptain Applejack – Ambrose ApplejohnMillie – Jimmy Damier50 Million Frenchmen – Michael CumminsFather's Son – Dr. FranklinThe Spy – Sergei KrasnoffTransatlantic – Henry D. GrahamSmart Woman – Sir Guy HarringtonConsolation Marriage – Jeff HunterThe Ruling Voice – Dexter BurroughsMen of Chance – DorvalThe Impatient Maiden – Albert HartmanWeek Ends Only – Arthur LaddenThe Man Called Back – Gordon St. ClaireBird of Paradise – MacThe Age of Consent – Prof. David MathewsPerfect Understanding – Ivan RonnsonThe Woman Accused – Stephen BessemerTerror Aboard – Maximilian KreigBed of Roses – Stephen PaigeThe House on 56th Street – Lyndon FiskeA Woman's Man – Tom Cleary – DirectorRegistered Nurse – Dr. HedwigThe Witching Hour – Jack BrookfieldFinishing School – Mr. Frank S. RadcliffReturn of the Terror – Dr. John RedmayneHousewife – PaulDesirable – AustinHappiness Ahead – Henry BradfordMystery Woman – Dr. Theodore Van WykeThe Dark Angel – Sir George BartonPeter Ibbetson – The Duke of TowersThe Melody Lingers On – Marco TurinaDesire – Carlos MargoliFatal Lady – Martan FontesThree Cheers for Love – Charles DormantHollywood Boulevard – John Wellington BlakefordArsène Lupin Returns – Count de GrissacBlockade – Andre GallinetThat Certain Age – Gilbert FullertonHotel for Women – John CraigIntermezzo – Thomas StenborgEscape to Glory – John MorganThe Philadelphia Story – Seth LordLydia – Fitzpatrick