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Harry C. Myers

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For the rugby union and rugby league footballer, see Harry Myers (rugby).

Harry C. Myers (September 5, 1882 – December 25, 1938) was an American film actor and director, sometimes credited as Henry Myers. He performed in many short comedy films with his wife Rosemary Theby. Myers appeared in 330 films between 1908 and 1939, and directed more than 50 films between 1913 and 1917.

Harry C. Myers
Myers in 1924
Born(1882-09-05)September 5, 1882
New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
DiedDecember 25, 1938(1938-12-25) (aged 56)
Hollywood, California, U.S.
Other namesHenry Myers
Occupations
  • Actor
  • film director
Years active1908–1939
Spouse
​
(m. 1915)​

Biography

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He was born in New Haven, Connecticut,[1] on September 5, 1882. When he was young, Myers moved to Philadelphia, where he received most of his education. He studied drawing and design at the Philadelphia Art School for three years. Turning from art to drama, he acted for two years with the Girard Avenue Stock Company and with other troupes in subsequent years.[1]

Myers had been a theatre actor for 10 years before he went into films as an actor for Siegmund Lubin's Lubin Studios in 1909.[2] By 1914, he was directing his own comedy shorts featuring him and his wife, Rosemary Theby, for Universal, the Vim Comedy Company, and Pathé studios.

After 1920 he had many starring roles in feature-length films, the most notable of which was as the eccentric alcoholic millionaire in Charlie Chaplin's City Lights (1931).[3] His career declined after the introduction of sound films.[2]

Myers died on December 25, 1938, in Hollywood, California, at age 56,[4] from pneumonia.[5]

Partial filmography

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Advertisement (1916)
 
The Connecting Bath (1916)

References

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  1. ^ a b "Harry Myers equally brilliant as actor and as director". The Morning Post. New Jersey, Camden. August 4, 1916. p. 11. Retrieved May 6, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b Steve Massa and Ben Model, Cruel and Unusual Comedy, film notes written by Steve Massa and Ben Model for the film series "Cruel and Unusual Comedy: Social Commentary in the American Slapstick Film" presented at MoMA May 20 to June 1, 2009. Archived May 26, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Joseph P. Eckhardt, The king of the movies: film pioneer Siegmund Lubin, page 97
  4. ^ "Harry Myers, actor of silent film fame". The New York Times. December 27, 1938. p. 17. ProQuest 102460478. Retrieved December 9, 2020 – via ProQuest.
  5. ^ Katchmer, George A. (September 22, 2009). A Biographical Dictionary of Silent Film Western Actors and Actresses. McFarland. p. 274. ISBN 978-0-7864-4693-3. Retrieved December 9, 2020.

Further reading

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