Spottiswoode Aitken
Frank Spottiswoode Aitken was a Scottish-American actor of the silent era. He played Dr. Cameron in D. W. Griffith's epic drama The Birth of a Nation.
Early years
Aitken was born 16 April 1868 in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Acting
In his book, The King of the Movies: Film Pioneer Siegmund Lubin, Joseph P. Eckhardt wrote that Aitken was "trained as a Shakespearean actor, with many years of experience under his belt." His film debut came in 1911. He eventually appeared in 81 feature films between 1914 and 1927.
Businessman
Aitken was among the earlier actors to settle in Los Angeles during the silent‐film era. According to a period source, he was involved in “real estate, insurance and bonding business.”
Some later writings have suggested that he invested in orange groves and property in what would become Hollywood, though reliable documentation for these claims remains limited.
Personal life
Aitken was involved in a controversy in 1922 when, after suing his wife Marion Dana Jones for divorce for alleged infidelity, she countersued. A United Press news story reported that she was "alleging her husband had coerced her into living with Hay Weinstein, wealthy Santa Barbaran, so that he could extort money from Weinstein."
The couple had three children: Francis Spottiswoode Aitken Jr., Frances Aitken and Margaret Shirley Aitken.
Death
Aitken died 26 February 1933 in Los Angeles, California. He was 64 years old. He is buried in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
Partial filmography
The Battle - Minor RoleThe Sands of Dee The Green-Eyed Devil Home, Sweet Home - James Smith - Mary's FatherThe Girl in the Shack - Jenny's Father - the SheriffThe Angel of Contention - Nettie's FatherThe Avenging Conscience - The UncleThe Old Fisherman's Story - Old FishermanThe Birth of a Nation - Dr. CameronThe Outcast - The LawyerThe Outlaw's Revenge - The SoothsayerCaptain Macklin - General LaquerreHer Shattered Idol - Colonel Nutt - Mae's UncleThe Price of Power - Gabriel Brooks - Maisie's FatherAcquitted - Charles RyderThe Flying Torpedo - Bartholomew ThompsonMacbeth - DuncanAn Innocent Magdalene - Col. RaleighIntolerance - Brown Eyes's FatherThe Old Folks at Home - JudgeThe Wharf Rat - Carl WagnerThe Americano - Presidente Hernando de ValdezPathways of Life - Daddy WisdomStage Struck - The JudgeA Woman's Awakening - Judge CotterCheerful Givers - Rev. John DeadySouls Triumphant - Josiah ValeMelissa of the Hills - Jethro StarkCharity Castle - Lucius GarrettHer Country's Call - Dr. DownieSouthern Pride - Father MortA Game of Wits - Silas StoneBeauty and the Rogue - Benjamin WilsonThe Mating of Marcella - Jose DuranzoHow Could You Jean? - Rufus BonnerIn Judgement Of - Mr. MannersThe Cruise of the Make-Believes - Simon QuarleJane Goes A-Wooing - David LymanThe Secret Garden - Archibald CravenWho Cares? - Mr. LudlowFighting Through - Col. DuBrey CarterThe Wicked Darling - FademCaptain Kidd, Jr. - Augus MacTavishThe White Heather - James HumeCaleb Piper's Girl - Caleb PiperAn Innocent Adventuress - MeektonHay Foot, Straw Foot - Thaddeus BriggsEvangeline - Benedict BellefontaineRough Riding Romance - The KingThe Broken Commandments - Mr. BanardHer Kingdom of Dreams - David RutledgeBonnie Bonnie Lassie - Jeremiah WishartThe Thunderbolt - Allan PomeroyA Woman of Pleasure - Wilberforce PaceWitch's Gold The White Circle - Bernard HuddlestoneNomads of the North - Old RolandDangerous Love - The FatherThe Unknown Wife - Henry WilburtonReputation - KarlAt the End of the World Beyond - Rufus SoutherneThe Man of Courage - Stephen GregoryThe Trap - The FactorMonte Cristo - Abbé FariaThe Snowshoe Trail - John LounsburyManslaughter - Member of the Jury The Young Rajah - CalebOne Wonderful Night - MinisterA Dangerous Game - Edward PeeblesAround the World in Eighteen Days - PiggottMerry-Go-Round - Minister of War / Gisella's FatherSix Days - Pere JeromeThe Love Pirate - Cyrus ReverePioneer's Gold - Bob HartleyTriumph - TorriniLure of the Yukon - Sourdough McCraigThe Fire Patrol - Captain John FergusonGerald Cranston's Lady - Ephraim BrewsterThose Who Dare - Thorne WtherellThe Coast Patrol - Capt. SlocumThe Handicap - Henrietta's GrandfatherThe Goose Woman - Jacob RiggThe Eagle - Dubrovsky's Father Accused - Eagle EyeThe Power of the Weak - The FatherThe Two-Gun Man - Dad RandallRoaring Fires - Calvert CarterThe Power of the Press - Sports Writer