Niles Welch
Niles Eugene Welch was an American performer on Broadway, and a leading man in a number of silent and early talking motion pictures from the early 1910s through the 1930s.
Early life
A native of Hartford, Connecticut, after graduating from St. Paul's School, Welch attended Yale and Columbia University. Later he joined a stock company, and from there toured the U.S. in vaudeville. The first film he worked in was The Stranger in Grey with the Eastern Vitagraph Studios.
Career
After spending four years on the legitimate stage, Welch started his screen career appearing with World Film Corporation, Universal, Pathé Studios and Goldwyn Pictures. Among his earliest works were two Thomas Ince productions, Stepping Out and The Cup of Life, followed in rapid succession by Miss George Washington, with Marguerite Clark; The Courage of Marge O'Doone, with Pauline Starke; and with Grace Darmond in The Gulf Between, the first feature film produced in the two-strip version of Technicolor. His career continued well into the sound era but mainly in bit roles.
Welch was the announcer for Columbia's American School of the Air on CBS radio in 1939. During World War II, he made foreign-language broadcasts for the Voice of America, using his fluency in French and German. He had his own program on VOA in addition to participating in daily broadcasts on the short-wave broadcasts to Europe. In 1945, a door at the VOA studio in New York hit Welch on his forehead, causing both retinas to detach. He lost sight in one eye and had partial vision in the other eye for one year, after which he became totally blind.
On Broadway, Welch portrayed David Cornish in The Donovan Affair.
Welch was married to actress Elaine Baker. He died in Laguna Niguel, California, on November 21, 1976, at age 88.
Selected filmography
One Good Joke Deserves Another Love's Quarantine – False PolicemanThe Carpenter The Only Way Our Wives – StantonA Royal Family Emmy of Stork's Nest – Benton CabotA Yellow Streak – Tom AustinMerely Mary Ann The Kiss of Hate – Paul TurgeneffThe Crucial Test – Vance HoldenBehind the Veil – Wilbur SteeleThe Garden of Shadows – The FatherMiss George Washington – Cleverley TraftonOne of Many – Harold TempletonThe Gulf Between – Richard FarrellThe Secret of the Storm Country – Frederick GravesShame – Donald StrongThe Gates of Gladness – Myron LeedsHer Boy – David MorrisonThe Face in the Dark – Richard GrantJane Goes A-Wooing – Monty LymanThe Winning Girl – Stanley TempletonReclaimed: The Struggle for a Soul Between Love and Hate – Frank TrumanLittle Comrade – Bobbie HubbardThe Law of Men – Denis ConnorsThe Virtuous Thief – Bobbie BakerStepping Out – Robert HillaryBeckoning Roads – Humphrey WellsThe Luck of Geraldine Laird – Dean LairdThe Courage of Marge O'Doone – David RaineThe Spenders – P. Percival BinesReputation – Jimmie DornWho Am I? – Jimmy WeaverThe Cup of Life – Roy Bradley or Warren BradfordRemorseless Love – Enoch MorrisonThe Sin of Martha Queed – Arnold BarryThe Way of a Maid – Thomas LawlorWhy Announce Your Marriage? – Jimmy WinthropReckless Youth – John CarmenEvidence – Phillip RowlandUnder Oath – Hartley PetersRags to Riches – Dumbbell – aka Ralph ConnorWho Are My Parents? – Ken What Wives Want – David LoringSawdust – Phillip LessowayThe Six-Fifty – Mark RutherfordThe Whispered Name – John ManningMy Man – Dicky ReynoldsThe Right of the Strongest – Austin Jr.Wine of Youth – Robert Virtue's Revolt – Steve MarbridgeDangerous Pleasure – Alan GordonScandal Street – Neil Keenly / Harrison HallidayFear-Bound – Tod VaneThe Girl on the Stairs – Frank FarrellLying Wives – Wallace Graham JrA Little Girl in a Big City – Jack McGuireErmine and Rhinestones – Billy KershawThe Substitute Wife – Lawrence SintonIn Borrowed Plumes – Philip DeanThe Virgin Wife – Thomas LattimerThe Men Women Love – KeithFaithful Wives – Charles AustinSpider Webs – Bert GrantlandCarry on, Sergeant! – Donald CameronHell Divers – Lt. Commander Standing Next to Captain The Phantom – Sam CrandallConvicted – Roy FentonManhattan Parade – Frank Harriman The Rainbow Trail – WilletsCross-Examination – Warren SladeBorder Devils – Tom HopeThe Famous Ferguson Case – Jeff Haines—Reporter Cornered – Moody PiersonMcKenna of the Mounted – MorganThe Night Club Lady – Dr. Baldwin Come On, Tarzan – Steve FrazierA Scarlet Week-End – The Wife's Former FiancéeSilver Dollar – Congressman William Jennings Bryan Sundown Rider – Houseman – BankerThe Mysterious Rider – John FosterThe Constant Woman – Hotel Clerk Zoo in Budapest – Mr. VandorThe Lone Avenger – Martin CarterDangerous Crossroads – Gang MemberThe Wolf Dog – MasonThe Women in His Life – Pinball Spectator Let's Fall in Love – Archie Frost The Fighting Code – Crosby Massacre – Arena Announcer This Side of Heaven – Druggist The Show-Off – Ship #2 Officer I Believed in You – Painter Cross Streets – Jerry ClementWhom the Gods Destroy – Forrester Associate We're Rich Again – Guest on Yacht Here Comes the Navy – USS Arizona Officer The Count of Monte Cristo – De Villefort's Agent Tomorrow's Youth – Mr. Hall's AttorneyJealousy – Police Doctor The Secret Bride – Senate Clerk Death Flies East – Simpson Living on Velvet – Major's Aide Stone of Silver Creek – Rev. Timothy TuckerThe Miracle Rider – MetzgerAir Hawks – McCoy – Dispatcher Stranded – Safety Engineer Riding Wild – Clay StevensShipmates Forever – Naval Academy Entrance Examiner Music Is Magic – Film Director The Ivory-Handled Gun – Pat Moore as a young manThe Singing Vagabond – Judge Forsythe LaneThe Story of Louis Pasteur – Courier with Letter Wife vs. Secretary – Tom Axel Foolproof – John HarwoodThe First Baby – Father in Park Gentle Julia – Book Salesman The Country Beyond – Party Guest For the Service – Parson Mary of Scotland – Minor Role To Mary – with Love – SecretaryWhat Becomes of the Children? – Thomas ScottEmpty Saddles – Jasper KadeThirst Aid – Nails DolanThe Purple Vigilantes Boy in Court – Narrator