William Collier Sr.
William Collier Sr., born William Morenus, was an American writer, director and actor.
Collier ran away from home when only 11 years old to join a touring company run by Eddie Foy and in 1879 he appeared as a juvenile in H.M.S. Pinafore. After a notable stage career, he tried motion pictures, under producer Mack Sennett. He then went back to the stage for some years but returned to films when the talkies came along.
In 1910, he appeared at the Elitch Theatre in Denver, Colorado, while his adopted son, stage named William Collier Jr., was recovering from scarlet fever that was followed by typhoid. His son recovered and was able to join his father in a production of The Patriot.
He "once opened The Patriot, one of his own plays, on December 30. On January 2 he advertised with some degree of truthfulness: 'Second Year in New York.'"
He was married to the actress Louise Allen; she died in 1909 and he married Paula Marr the following year, adopting her son Charles, whom he renamed William Collier Jr. On Broadway he starred as the gambler Gideon Holtz in Rudolf Friml's The Wild Rose at the Martin Beck Theatre in 1926.
Collier died of pneumonia in 1944. He was interred at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.
Partial filmography
Never Again Better Late Than Never - The Art StudentThe No-Good Guy - Jimmy CoghlanThe Servant Question - Mr. ButlerHappy Days - End Man - Minstrel ShowHarmony at Home - Joe HallerFree and Easy - Himself - Master of Ceremonies at PremiereHigh Society Blues - Horace DivineShe's My Weakness - David TuttleUp the River - PopSeas Beneath - Mugs O'Flaherty Mr. Lemon of Orange - Mr. Blake6 Cylinder Love - Richard BurtonAnnabelle's Affairs - WickhamThe Brat - Judge Emmett A. O'FlahertyStepping Sisters - Herbert RamseyAfter Tomorrow - Willie TaylorThe Washington Masquerade - BabcockHot Saturday - Mr. BrockMadison Square Garden - Doc WilliamsAll of Me - Jerry HelmanThe Crosby Case - The Detective-Police Sgt. MelodyCheaters - K.C. KellyA Successful Failure - Ellery Cushing aka Uncle DudleyThe Murder Man - 'Pop' GreyAnnapolis Farewell - Rumboat CharlieThe Bride Comes Home - Alfred DesmereauLove on a Bet - Uncle Carlton MacCreighGive Us This Night - PriestCain and Mabel - Pop WaltersValiant Is the Word for Carrie - Ed MoresbyJosette - David Brassard Sr.Thanks for the Memory - Mr. PlattSay It in French - HowlandPersons in Hiding - Burt NastI'm from Missouri - SmithInvitation to Happiness - Mr. WayneTelevision Spy - James LlewellynDisputed Passage - Dr. William CunninghamMiracle on Main Street - Dr. MilesThe Hard-Boiled Canary - Dr. Joseph E. Maddy