John S. Robertson


John Stuart Robertson was a Canadian born actor and later film director perhaps best known for his 1920 screen adaptation of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, starring John Barrymore.

Biography

Robertson was born in London, Ontario. He broke into filmmaking in 1915 with Vitagraph, then with Famous Players–Lasky, making 57 features in his career. Robertson left film in 1935, amid the increasing prevalence of sound pictures. He was married to screenwriter Josephine Lovett. He died in California, aged 86.
The Byrds song "Old John Robertson," written by the group's bassist Chris Hillman and lead guitarist Roger McGuinn, is about Robertson.
In his 2020 autobiography, Time Between, Hillman describes Robertson after he retired to Rancho Santa Fe, California, where Hillman grew up:
"Mr. Robertson wore a silver belly stetson hat, riding jodhpurs, and boots. With his long, white handlebar mustache, he resembled a sheriff out of the Old West. Robertson was never without his wife Jo by his side. He was a wonderful man who knew everyone by name and was so very kind to all of us kids. I loved running into him... a man I looked up to and never forgot for the rest of my life."

Filmography