King Baggot
Acting
🎂 1879-11-06
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia William King Baggot (November 7, 1879 – July 11, 1948) was an American actor, film director and screenwriter. He was an internationally famous movie star of the silent film era. The first individually publicized leading man in America, Baggot was referred to as "King of the Movies", "The Most Photographed Man in the World", and "The Man Whose Face Is As Familiar As The Man In The Moon". Baggot appeared in over 300 motion pictures from 1909 to 1947, wrote 18 screenplays, and directed 45 movies from 1912 to 1928, including The Lie (1912), Raffles: The Amateur Cracksman (1925), and The House of Scandal (1928). He also directed William S. Hart in his most famous western, Tumbleweeds (1925). Among his film appearances, Baggot was best known for The Scarlet Letter (1911), Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1913), and Ivanhoe (1913). Baggot began his career on the stage, in a Shakespearean stock company, and toured throughout the U.S. While acting in stock in St. Louis in 1909, he was cast as supporting player in the Schubert touring production of The Wishing Ring. When The Wishing Ring closed in Chicago, Baggot returned to New York to join another company. Upon a chance meeting with Harry Solter, who was directing movies for Carl Laemmle at Independent Moving Pictures Company (IMP), he was persuaded to go with Solter to the studio. Baggot became interested in the fledgling industry and decided to turn picture player. His first film was the romance short The Awakening of Bess (1909) opposite Florence Lawrence. It was directed by Harry Solter, her husband, at IMP in Fort Lee, New Jersey. At a time when screen actors worked anonymously, Baggot and Lawrence became the first "movie stars" to be given billing, a marquee, and promotion in advertising. Baggot starred in at least 42 movies opposite Lawrence from 1909 to 1911. In the latter year, he starred in at least 16 movies with Mary Pickford. He also began writing screenplays and directing, all the while becoming a major star internationally. When he appeared "in person" at theatres he was mobbed at stage doors. By 1912, he was so famous that when he took the leading part in forming the prestigious Screen Club in New York, the first organization of its kind strictly for movie people, he was the natural choice for its first president. King Baggot died in Los Angeles, California in 1948, age 68. For his contributions to the film industry, Baggot received a motion pictures star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960. His star is located at 6312 Hollywood Boulevard.
Cast credits(137)
Wedding Guest (uncredited)
1940
Townsman (uncredited)
1941
Gerald Kinney
1911
Man in Audience (uncredited)
1941
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
1946
Nobleman at Court (uncredited)
1938
False Accident Witness (uncredited)
1937
Dignitary (uncredited)
1935
Man at Graduation Ceremony
1946
Derelict in Mission (uncredited)
1938
Barbershop Patron (uncredited)
1945
Man in Hospital (uncredited)
1937
Man on Street / Man in Audience (uncredited)
1940
Bettor
1938
Store Employee (uncredited)
1941
Harry Field
1932
Earthquake Survivor (uncredited)
1936
Mike - Weber's Trainer
1931
Policeman on Street (uncredited)
1931
Maitre d'hotel, Purple Pigeon Cafe
1932
Milton McGillicuddy
1934
Department Store Customer (uncredited)
1938
1938
Police Officer (uncredited)
1932
Detective (uncredited)
1938
Man in Casting Office (uncredited)
1939
Cafe Patron (uncredited)
1940
Doorman
1941
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
1943
Hotel Guest (uncredited)
1942
Man in Audience (uncredited)
1939
Gilbert Irving
1911
Dental Patient
1911
Brooks Insall
1920
Maj. Frederick Smith
1921
Film Director (uncredited)
1936
Juror (uncredited)
1939
Department Head (uncredited)
1932
Basil King
1911
Customs Official (uncredited)
1937
Lt. Robbins
1911
Gambler (uncredited)
1935
1946
Hugh Norton
1911
Psychiatrist at Lecture (uncredited)
1942
Dan Nolan - the Burglar
1911
Police Officer in Courtroom (uncredited)
1942
Louis Perry - a Reformed Crook
1911
Bank Employee (uncredited)
1947
Second Doctor
1934
Lunch Room Customer (uncredited)
1945
The Dashing Young Count
1910
Police Sergeant
1935
Man in Subway (uncredited)
1940
The Husband
1918
1911
Edward, the Duke's Nephew
1911
Old Miner
1942
Motion Picture Studio Executive (uncredited)
1935
Alfred King
1911
Druggist
1935
Sheldon Steele/The Hawk
1919
Townsman
1934
Accident Witness (uncredited)
1936
Banker (uncredited)
1933
Roger Densmore
1911
Edward Jackson
1911
The King
1911
Dr. Crawford
1911
Baseball Fan
1938
Al Payne
1932
Townsman at Banquet (uncredited)
1940
Man in Office
1937
Amos Bentley
1912
Donald Gordon
1915
1910
Himself (archive footage)
2011
1930
Detective Pierre (uncredited)
1936
Movie Patron (uncredited)
1937
Patrol Wagon Guard
1935
Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Hyde
1913
Himself - Cameo
1923
Cecil Abbott
1911
Dr. Pierce
1935
Man in Audience (uncredited)
1947
Ship's Captain
1931
Tom Mooreland
1911
Basil Kildare
1918
Wayne Holland
1911
The Silent Stranger
1916
Passerby (uncredited)
1938
1910
Raphael / Phidias
1915
Self
1918
Wilfred of Ivanhoe
1913
The Boy
1909
1910
Jacques
1910
Shamus O'Brien
1912
Lord Asgarby
1920
The Shepherd
1913
1910
1910
1910
1910
Harrison Grant
1918
1910
George - the 'Sissy' Hero
1912
Percy
1910
Jim Sargent
1920
Clark, the Best Friend
1910
George Rand
1910
Jack
1910
Richard Warrington
1916
1910
James Herron
1916
Chemistry Professor
1936
The Father
1910
1910
Reverend Dimmesdale
1911
The Stranger
1910
Jean Dumas
1914
Bess' Sweetheart
1909
1910
1910
Hinkle
1932
Pablo
1911
Dave
1920
1910
1910
Enoch Harrington
1911
The Tenderfoot
1910
Van Warner
1930
Himself
1914
1910
1910
