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(135)
Wedding Guest (uncredited)
1940
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
1946
Derelict in Mission (uncredited)
1938
Nobleman at Court (uncredited)
1938
Man in Audience (uncredited)
1941
Dignitary (uncredited)
1935
Earthquake Survivor (uncredited)
1936
Man in Office
1937
Department Head (uncredited)
1932
Detective Pierre (uncredited)
1936
Townsman at Banquet (uncredited)
1940
Mike - Weber's Trainer
1931
Customs Official (uncredited)
1937
Store Employee (uncredited)
1941
Doorman
1941
Lunch Room Customer (uncredited)
1945
Townsman
1941
Policeman on Street (uncredited)
1931
Gambler (uncredited)
1935
Psychiatrist at Lecture (uncredited)
1942
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
1943
Cafe Patron (uncredited)
1940
1938
Accident Witness (uncredited)
1936
Al Payne
1932
Man in Audience (uncredited)
1939
Passerby (uncredited)
1938
Film Director (uncredited)
1936
Detective (uncredited)
1938
Man at Graduation Ceremony
1946
Banker (uncredited)
1933
Druggist
1935
Barbershop Patron (uncredited)
1945
Man in Subway (uncredited)
1940
Milton McGillicuddy
1934
Old Miner
1942
Harry Field
1932
False Accident Witness (uncredited)
1937
Hotel Guest (uncredited)
1942
Police Officer (uncredited)
1932
Police Officer in Courtroom (uncredited)
1942
Bettor
1938
Shamus O'Brien
1912
Movie Patron (uncredited)
1937
1935
Sheldon Steele/The Hawk
1919
Louis Perry - a Reformed Crook
1911
Basil King
1911
Juror (uncredited)
1939
Gerald Kinney
1911
Enoch Harrington
1911
Tom Mooreland
1911
Man in Casting Office (uncredited)
1939
Wayne Holland
1911
Patrol Wagon Guard
1935
Townsman
1934
Clark, the Best Friend
1910
Man on Street / Man in Audience (uncredited)
1940
Himself - Cameo
1923
Maitre d'hotel, Purple Pigeon Cafe
1932
Edward Jackson
1911
Ship's Captain
1931
Second Doctor
1934
Dr. Pierce
1935
Man in Audience (uncredited)
1947
Hinkle
1932
1930
Lt. Robbins
1911
1911
Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Hyde
1913
Dave
1920
Wilfred of Ivanhoe
1913
Motion Picture Studio Executive (uncredited)
1935
Himself (archive footage)
2011
Cecil Abbott
1911
Dan Nolan - the Burglar
1911
George - the 'Sissy' Hero
1912
Man in Hospital (uncredited)
1937
Van Warner
1930
Lord Asgarby
1920
Harrison Grant
1918
Hugh Norton
1911
Bank Employee (uncredited)
1947
Gilbert Irving
1911
Dental Patient
1911
Chemistry Professor
1936
1910
Amos Bentley
1912
Basil Kildare
1918
Richard Warrington
1916
Baseball Fan
1938
The Silent Stranger
1916
James Herron
1916
Maj. Frederick Smith
1921
The Shepherd
1913
Donald Gordon
1915
Department Store Customer (uncredited)
1938
1910
1910
The King
1911
Pablo
1911
Self
1918
Dr. Crawford
1911
1910
The Boy
1909
1910
Reverend Dimmesdale
1911
Jacques
1910
Roger Densmore
1911
Himself
1914
1910
1910
The Husband
1918
Raphael / Phidias
1915
1910
Jean Dumas
1914
Jim Sargent
1920
1910
Alfred King
1911
Percy
1910
The Tenderfoot
1910
The Dashing Young Count
1910
1910
The Father
1910
Edward, the Duke's Nephew
1911
1910
Bess' Sweetheart
1909
1910
1910
The Stranger
1910
George Rand
1910
1910
1910
Jack
1910
1910
