George Walcott

George Walcott
Walcott in Fury (1936)
Born
William George Walcott

(1911-08-22)August 22, 1911
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedJune 14, 1967(1967-06-14) (aged 55)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other name
  • George Wolcott
OccupationActor
Years active1920–1942

William George Walcott (August 22, 1911 – June 14, 1967) was an American actor. He was best known for playing Tom in the 1936 film Fury.

Early life

William George Walcott was born August 22, 1911, in Chicago, Illinois, the son of William Walcott and Florence Stevens. His family moved to New York City by 1920, where he began his acting career as a child, appearing on stage in The Betrothal by Maurice Maeterlinck and on film with Billie Burke in Away Goes Prudence. An elevator accident in July 1920, injured his leg and temporarily derailed his acting, for which his father sued and received a large settlement. Walcott recovered well enough to perform in long runs for Broadway stage productions such as The Swan (1923), and Young Woodley (1925).

Walcott continued his screen career in 1935, appearing in the short film Hit-and-Run Driver in the role of George Lambert. In 1936, Walcott learned to fly an airplane and earned a pilot's license. In the same year, he co-starred as Tom in the film Fury.

Career

Walcott co-starred and made appearances in films such as Honeymoon in Bali, The Great Hospital Mystery, The Storm, Borrowing Trouble, Western Jamboree, The Great Victor Herbert, The Mandarin Mystery and The Forgotten Woman. In the film Born Reckless, he was credited as George Wolcott. He played the role of Barbara Stanwyck's character brother Charlie Martin in the 1937 film Stella Dallas. He also starred as Tony Wonder in the 1938 film Cocoanut Grove, starring along with Fred MacMurray and Harriet Nelson. He appeared in the films Sailor's Lady, Submarine Raider, The Man Who Wouldn't Talk, Rhythm on the River and Buck Benny Rides Again.

Walcott retired from acting after World War II, when he lost one of his legs. He last appeared in the 1942 film Quiet Please, Murder, playing the uncredited role of Benson. After retiring from acting, he worked as a manager of United Artists theatres.

Death

Walcott died on June 14, 1967, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 55.

References

  1. ↑ "Film Contracts Kept Actor Off Screen!". Movienews Weekly. Chicago, Illinois. May 21, 1937. p. 4. Retrieved June 4, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon
  2. 1 2 William George Walcott in the US, World War II Draft Cards for Young Men, 1940-1947, retrieved from Ancestry.com
  3. 1 2 "Crippled Film Star, 9, Seeks $100,000 Damages". Daily News. New York, New York. February 25, 1921. p. 35 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 William G. Walcott in the California, US, Death Index, 1940-1997, retrieved from Ancestry.com
  5. 1 2 "Boy Actor Gets $60,000". The New York Times. New York, New York. February 26, 1921. p. 7 – via NYTimes.com.
  6. ↑ Corbin, John (October 24, 1923). "The Play". The New York Times. New York, New York. p. 20 – via NYTimes.com.
  7. ↑ "The Play". The New York Times. New York, New York. November 3, 1925. p. 34 – via NYTimes.com.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "George Walcott". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on April 18, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Actor Gets License As Air Pilot". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. August 17, 1936. p. 21. Retrieved June 4, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  10. ↑ Robé, Chris (November 29, 2012). Left of Hollywood: Cinema, Modernism, and the Emergence of U.S. Radical Film Culture. University of Texas Press. p. 59. ISBN 9780292749900 – via Google Books.
  11. ↑ "Plaza Theatre". Times Colonist. Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. January 14, 1938. p. 17. Retrieved June 4, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon
  12. ↑ Tucker, David (November 8, 2011). Eve Arden: A Chronicle of All Film, Television, Radio and Stage Performances. McFarland. p. 44. ISBN 9780786488100 – via Google Books.
  13. 1 2 "Showman Sees Himself On Television Movies". The Pomona Progress Bulletin. Pomona, California. February 7, 1958. p. 11. Retrieved June 4, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon