Wilfred Lucas
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Wilfred Lucas (January 30, 1871 – December 13, 1940) was a Canadian-born American stage actor who found success in film as an actor, director, and screenwriter. Wilfred Lucas made his Broadway debut in 1904, playing in both the The Blue Grass Handicap and The Superstition of Sue. Following his 1906 role in the highly successful play The Chorus Lady, he was recruited to the fledgling Biograph Studios by D. W. Griffith. At the time, the film business was still looked down upon by many members of the theatrical community. In her 1925 book titled When the Movies Were Young, Griffith's wife, actress Linda Arvidson, told the story of the early days at Biograph Studios. In it, she referred to Lucas as the "first real grand actor, democratic enough to work in Biograph movies." In 1908 Lucas made his motion picture debut in Griffith's The Greaser's Gauntlet, appearing in more than 50 of these short (usually 17 minutes) films over the next two years. In 1910 while still acting, he wrote the script for Griffith's film Sunshine Sue, which was followed by many more scripts by 1924. Lucas also began directing in 1912 with Griffith on An Outcast Among Outcasts, and directed another 44 films over the next 20 years. In early 1916 he starred as John Carter in Acquitted, about which Photoplay wrote, "No single performance in the records of active photography has surpassed his visualization of the humble book-keeper in Acquitted." Later in 1916 he appeared in D.W. Griffith's film Intolerance. Part of the group of Canadian pioneers in early Hollywood, Lucas became friends and sometimes starred with Mary Pickford, Sam De Grasse, and Marie Dressler. Canadian-born director Mack Sennett hired him to both direct and act in a large number of films at his Keystone Studios. Lucas made the successful transition from silent film to sound. While working in Hollywood, in 1926 he returned to the stage, performing in several Broadway plays. He later appeared as a foil for Laurel and Hardy in their feature films Pardon Us and A Chump at Oxford. During his long career, Wilfred Lucas appeared in more than 375 films. Although for a time he was cast in leading roles, he became very successful as secondary and minor characters, making a good living in the film industry for more than three decades.
Known For
Credits
- 1968 · The Best of Laurel and Hardy as The Warden (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1941 · The Sea Wolf as
- 1940 · Santa Fe Trail as Weiner (uncredited)
- 1940 · A Dispatch from Reuters as Board Member (uncredited)
- 1940 · Triple Justice as Constable Herb at Tule Mesa
- 1940 · They Drive by Night as Bailiff (uncredited)
- 1940 · Women in Hiding as Policeman (uncredited)
- 1940 · Brother Orchid as Brother MacDonald
- 1940 · Waterloo Bridge as Elderly Huntsman at Estate Dance (uncredited)
- 1940 · Edison, the Man as Broker
- 1940 · Tear Gas Squad as Policeman
- 1940 · Virginia City as Southerner (uncredited)
- 1940 · Women Without Names as Roomer
- 1940 · The Fighting 69th as Eye Doctor (uncredited)
- 1940 · A Chump at Oxford as Dean Williams
- 1940 · Legion of the Lawless as East Ivestown Leader (uncredited)
- 1939 · Four Wives as Stationmaster (uncredited)
- 1939 · Nick Carter, Master Detective as Police Detective Randall
- 1939 · Raffles as Bobby
- 1939 · The Marshal Of Mesa City as Marshal Andy Thompson (uncredited)
- 1939 · Mr. Smith Goes to Washington as Pompous Man (uncredited)
- 1939 · The Day the Bookies Wept as Bill, Man Outside Racetrack (uncredited)
- 1939 · Each Dawn I Die as Bailiff (uncredited)
- 1939 · Zenobia as Undetermined Role
- 1939 · Women in the Wind as Burbank Offical (uncredited)
- 1939 · Dodge City as Bartender (uncredited)
- 1939 · Almost a Gentleman as Dog Show Director
- 1938 · Breakdowns of 1938 as Race Judge (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1938 · The Declaration of Independence as John Dickinson (uncredited)
- 1938 · Brother Rat as Ballfield Doctor
- 1938 · A Man to Remember as Man at Hospital Dedication (uncredited)
- 1938 · Down on the Farm as Wheeler
- 1938 · Freshman Year as Professor Ullrich
- 1938 · Four Daughters as Doctor (uncredited)
- 1938 · Safety in Numbers as Councilman
- 1938 · Over the Wall as Cell Block Keeper
- 1938 · Night Spot as Police Lieutenant
- 1938 · The Baroness and the Butler as Member of Parliament
- 1938 · The Daredevil Drivers as Race Judge
- 1937 · She Loved a Fireman as Fire Tug Captain
- 1937 · Missing Witnesses as Judge in Wagner Case (uncredited)
- 1937 · The Man Without a Country as Lincoln's Secretary (uncredited)
- 1937 · Navy Blue and Gold as Ship's Captain (uncredited)
- 1937 · The Westland Case as Gun Dealer
- 1937 · Idol of the Crowds as Doctor (uncredited)
- 1937 · Hot Water as Customer in Drugstore (uncredited)
- 1937 · Prairie Thunder as Nate Temple
- 1937 · Varsity Show as Police Commissioner (uncredited)
- 1937 · Varsity Show as Police Commissioner
- 1937 · Talent Scout as Director of Screen Test (uncredited)
- 1937 · Empty Holsters as John Ware
- 1937 · Blazing Sixes as Sheriff Tom
- 1937 · Marked Woman as Jury Foreman #1 (uncredited)
- 1937 · Mile a Minute Love as Drexel
- 1937 · Land Beyond the Law as Jim Blake (uncredited)
- 1937 · The Super Snooper as
- 1937 · Black Legion as Bailiff (uncredited)
- 1937 · Criminal Lawyer as Brandon's Assistant
- 1937 · We Who Are About to Die as Prison Yard Captain (uncredited)
- 1936 · Beloved Enemy as Doctor (Uncredited)
- 1936 · Give Me Liberty as His Excellency Permitting Henry's Arrest (uncredited)
- 1936 · Midnight Blunders as Professor Edwin Millstone (uncredited)
- 1936 · California Mail as Sheriff
- 1936 · The Devil-Doll as Off-Screen Voice (voice / uncredited)
- 1936 · High Tension as Businessman
- 1936 · The White Angel as Raglan Staff Officer (uncredited)
- 1936 · Human Cargo as Police Chief
- 1936 · The Country Doctor as Proprietor (uncredited)
- 1936 · Love on a Bet as Man at Hutchinson's Meeting
- 1936 · The Preview Murder Mystery as Director (Uncredited)
- 1936 · Modern Times as Juvenile Officer
- 1936 · Chatterbox as Himself (uncredited)
- 1935 · Show Them No Mercy! as Druggist (uncredited)
- 1935 · Kind Lady as First Scotland Yard Man (uncredited)
- 1935 · Frisco Kid as First Policeman (uncredited)
- 1935 · Rip Roaring Riley as Chief Martin
- 1935 · Stormy as Mack's Horse Trainer (uncredited)
- 1935 · Stranded as Pat, a Welfare Worker (uncredited)
- 1935 · The Arizonian as Townsman with Mayor
- 1935 · Les Misérables as Onlooker
- 1935 · Naughty Marietta as Announcer (uncredited)
- 1935 · Chandu on the Magic Island as Capt. Walker
- 1935 · Angkor as Wilfred Lucas, game hunter
- 1934 · Shrimps for a Day as Mr. Wade
- 1934 · Love Time as Dignitary (uncredited)
- 1934 · Cleopatra as Roman Greeting Antony (uncredited)
- 1934 · The Return of Chandu as Capt. Wilson [Chs. 4-12]
- 1934 · The Dragon Murder Case as Police Sergeant (uncredited)
- 1934 · One Night of Love as Metropolitan Operagoer
- 1934 · Apples to You! as Chairman of the Board
- 1934 · The Moth as John Gale
- 1933 · The House on 56th Street as Prosecuting Attorney (uncredited)
- 1933 · Air Fright as Mr. Lucas, Airline Superintendent
- 1933 · Mary Stevens, M.D. as Andrews' Lawyer Barry (uncredited)
- 1933 · Midnight Mary as Nightclub Bouncer (uncredited)
- 1933 · The Mayor of Hell as Bill (uncredited)
- 1933 · Strange People as John Davis
- 1933 · The Sphinx as Prosecuting Attorney
- 1933 · I Cover the Waterfront as Randall
- 1933 · The Devil's Brother as
- 1933 · The Big Cage as Bob Mills
- 1933 · The Three Musketeers as El Shaitan
- 1933 · The Intruder as Mr. Wayne
- 1933 · Phantom Thunderbolt as Eaton - Railroad President
- 1933 · Racetrack as Mr. Ryan
- 1932 · Sister to Judas as Mike O'Flanagan
- 1932 · The Secrets of Wu Sin as Pharmacist
- 1932 · Lucky Larrigan as John Larrigan
- 1932 · The Unwritten Law as Captain Kane
- 1932 · Call Her Savage as Child Welfare Official (Uncredited)
- 1932 · You Said a Mouthful as Official (uncredited)
- 1932 · The Devil Horse as Whitney [Ch. 1] (uncredited)
- 1932 · Free Wheeling as The Specialist
- 1932 · Big City Blues as Policeman (uncredited)
- 1932 · What Price Hollywood? as Bill the Replacement Director (uncredited)
- 1932 · The Dark Horse as Debate Chairman
- 1932 · Stockholm ”Queen of the Baltic” as
- 1932 · The Midnight Patrol as
- 1932 · Careless Lady as Ship's Purser
- 1932 · Red Noses as Mr. Lucas
- 1932 · Cross-Examination as Judge Hollister
- 1932 · The Tabasco Kid as Sheriff's Deputy
- 1931 · House of Mystery as Sheriff Franklin
- 1931 · Rich Man's Folly as
- 1931 · The Phantom as Dist. Atty. John Hampton
- 1931 · Convicted as Capt. Hammond
- 1931 · The Age for Love as Undetermined Role
- 1931 · Graft as Candidate Louis
- 1931 · The Galloping Ghost as Sportscaster
- 1931 · Big Ears as Doctor
- 1931 · Pardon Us as Warden
- 1931 · Stranger in Town as J.P. Walker
- 1931 · Homicide Squad as
- 1931 · Young Donovan's Kid as Duryea
- 1931 · Dishonored as
- 1931 · Men Call It Love as Sam Ellery (uncredited)
- 1931 · Millie as Millie's Elderly Escort (uncredited)
- 1930 · Looser Than Loose as Mr. Gillstrom, Charley's Boss
- 1930 · Love Your Neighbor as
- 1930 · Those Who Dance as Big Ben Benson
- 1930 · Cock o' the Walk as Señor Vallejo
- 1930 · The Arizona Kid as Manager
- 1930 · Hello Sister as Dr. Saltus
- 1927 · Burnt Fingers as Lord Cumberly
- 1926 · The Sorrows of Satan as
- 1926 · Her Sacrifice as Edwin Ramsey
- 1925 · Cyclone Cavalier as Hugh Clayton
- 1925 · The Bad Lands as Col. Owen
- 1925 · A Broadway Butterfly as Stage Manager
- 1925 · Riders of the Purple Sage as Oldring
- 1925 · As No Man Has Loved as Maj. Bissell
- 1924 · Lightning Romance as Richard Wade
- 1924 · Racing for Life as Hudford
- 1924 · The Fighting Sap as Charles Richmond
- 1924 · Valley of Hate as Old Jim Darley
- 1924 · The Valley of Hate as Old Jim Darley
- 1924 · Daughters of Pleasure as Mark Hadley
- 1924 · Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall as Earl of Rutland
- 1924 · North of Nevada as C. Hanaford
- 1923 · Trilby as The Laird
- 1923 · The Greatest Menace as Charles W. Wright
- 1923 · The Girl of the Golden West as Ashby
- 1923 · Jazzmania as Julius Furman
- 1922 · Heroes of the Street as
- 1922 · The Kentucky Derby as Capt. Wolff
- 1922 · Paid Back as Ship Captain
- 1922 · Flesh and Blood as The Policeman
- 1922 · Across the Dead-Line as Aaron Kidder
- 1921 · The Beautiful Liar as Gaston Allegretti
- 1921 · The Fighting Breed as John MacDonald
- 1921 · One a Minute as Prosecutor (uncredited)
- 1921 · Through The Back Door as Elton Reeves
- 1920 · The Man from Kangaroo as Red Jack Braggan
- 1919 · Soldiers of Fortune as President Alvarez
- 1919 · A Woman of Pleasure as Sir John Thornbull
- 1919 · The Hushed Hour as Robert Appleton Jr.
- 1919 · What Every Woman Wants as Horace Lennon
- 1917 · The Co-respondent as
- 1917 · Sins of Ambition as Andrew Maxwell
- 1917 · Souls Triumphant as Robert Powers
- 1917 · Hands Up! as John Houston
- 1917 · A Love Sublime as Philip
- 1917 · Jim Bludso as Jim Bludso
- 1916 · The Microscope Mystery as Doc Arnold
- 1916 · Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages as Extra (uncredited)
- 1916 · Hell-to-Pay Austin as Hell-to-Pay Austin
- 1916 · Acquitted as John Carter
- 1916 · The Wood Nymph as Fred Arnold
- 1916 · Macbeth as Macduff
- 1915 · The Lily and the Rose as Jack Van Norman
- 1915 · The Spanish Jade as Osmund Manvers
- 1914 · Brute Force as Brute Force
- 1914 · Gentleman Burglar as Baffles
- 1913 · A Tender-Hearted Crook as
- 1913 · Pure Gold and Dross as
- 1913 · The Widow and the Widower as The Widower
- 1912 · The Massacre as Stephen
- 1912 · A Sailor’s Heart as The Sailor
- 1912 · A Pueblo Legend as The Indian Girl's Great Brother
- 1912 · Man's Genesis as Bruteforce
- 1912 · A Temporary Truce as An Indian (uncredited)
- 1912 · Home Folks as The Blacksmith
- 1912 · When Kings Were the Law as The King of Romanda
- 1912 · Just Like a Woman as The Wealthy Friend
- 1912 · Fate's Interception as The American
- 1912 · The Girl and Her Trust as
- 1912 · The Goddess of Sagebrush Gulch as Minor Role (uncredited)
- 1912 · Under Burning Skies as Joe
- 1912 · Billy's Stratagem as Billy's Father
- 1912 · The Transformation of Mike as Mike
- 1911 · A Terrible Discovery as The District Attorney
- 1911 · The Failure as The Clerk
- 1911 · A Woman Scorned as The Doctor
- 1911 · The Miser's Heart as First Crook
- 1911 · Love in the Hills as The Manley Suitor
- 1911 · The Long Road as A Policeman
- 1911 · The Making of a Man as In Second Audience
- 1911 · Swords and Hearts as Hugh Frazier
- 1911 · The Rose of Kentucky as The planter
- 1911 · The Primal Call as The Fisherman
- 1911 · Enoch Arden: Part II as
- 1911 · Enoch Arden as Enoch Arden
- 1911 · Enoch Arden: Part I as
- 1911 · The Lonedale Operator as The Fireman
- 1911 · His Daughter as
- 1911 · The Diamond Star as
- 1911 · Fisher Folks as Steve Hardester
- 1911 · What Shall We Do with Our Old? as Violent Jailbird
- 1911 · Heart Beats of Long Ago as The Lover
- 1911 · His Trust Fulfilled as George
- 1911 · His Trust as George
- 1911 · When a Man Loves as
- 1911 · The Two Paths as
- 1910 · Winning Back His Love as Frederick Wallace
- 1910 · The Rocky Road as
- 1909 · 1776, or The Hessian Renegades as
- 1909 · A Strange Meeting as
- 1909 · The Renunciation as
- 1909 · The Honor of Thieves as
- 1908 · The Taming of the Shrew as
- 1908 · The Girl and the Outlaw as
- 1908 · The Greaser's Gauntlet as Jose