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Edward Ellis (actor)

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Edward Ellis
Ellis in the trailer for Fury (1936)
Born
Edward Mayne Ellis

(1870-11-12)November 12, 1870
DiedJuly 26, 1952(1952-07-26) (aged 81)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • producer
  • screenwriter
Years active1879–1942
Spouse
Josephine Stevens
(m. 1917, divorced)
Children1

Edward Mayne Ellis (November 12, 1870 – July 26, 1952) was an American actor. He played the title role in The Thin Man, as well as in A Man to Remember.

Career

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He made his first stage appearance in 1879 in Chicago. He was an actor, playwright and producer on Broadway before going into films. His first adult performance was in Mary and John in 1905. He toured all over America and also played in England. Edward Ellis was a dramatic author and also wrote the playscript for the 1934 play Affair of a Gentleman.[citation needed]

In films, he played mostly supporting roles, his only leading roles being in Main Street Lawyer (1939) and in A Man to Remember (1938) and Three Sons (1939), a remake of Lionel Barrymore's Sweepings (1933). He starred in 37 films, but is probably best remembered for his roles as the resolute sheriff in Fury, as Shirley Temple's uncle in Little Miss Broadway and the leading role in A Man to Remember.

In 1939, Frank Capra offered Ellis the role of the President of the Senate in Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, however he refused the part which went to Harry Carey.[1][2]

Personal life

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He was briefly married to silent film actress Josephine Stevens [fr] from 1917 to the mid 1920s. Their union produced one daughter, Ruth Helen Ellis born in 1918.[1]

Partial filmography

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Lobby card for A Man to Remember (1938)

References

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  1. ^ a b Cliff Aliperti (November 13, 2012). "Edward Ellis – A Biography of The Thin Man, an Actor to Remember". Immortal Ephemera. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
  2. ^ Robbin Coons (October 2, 1942). "Hollywood Sights and Sounds". Evening Courier. Prescott, Arizona. p. 7. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
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