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
Modern Times
(1936)
Juvenile Officer
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
(1939)
Pompous Man (uncredited)
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
(1916)
Extra (uncredited)
Waterloo Bridge
(1940)
Elderly Huntsman at Estate Dance (uncredited)
They Drive by Night
(1940)
Bailiff (uncredited)
Pardon Us
(1931)
Warden
Dodge City
(1939)
Bartender (uncredited)
Cleopatra
(1934)
Roman Greeting Antony (uncredited)
Santa Fe Trail
(1940)
Weiner (uncredited)
The Mayor of Hell
(1933)
Bill (uncredited)
Marked Woman
(1937)
Jury Foreman #1 (uncredited)
Dishonored
(1931)
The Devil-Doll
(1936)
Off-Screen Voice (voice / uncredited)
Kind Lady
(1935)
First Scotland Yard Man (uncredited)
Virginia City
(1940)
Southerner (uncredited)
The Devil's Brother
(1933)
Full Filmography
Acting
The Taming of the Shrew
(1908)
The Girl and the Outlaw
(1908)
The Greaser's Gauntlet
(1908)
Jose
A Strange Meeting
(1909)
The Honor of Thieves
(1909)
The Renunciation
(1909)
1776, or The Hessian Renegades
(1909)
Winning Back His Love
(1910)
Frederick Wallace
The Rocky Road
(1910)
His Trust
(1911)
George
Enoch Arden: Part I
(1911)
Enoch Arden: Part II
(1911)
His Trust Fulfilled
(1911)
George
Swords and Hearts
(1911)
Hugh Frazier
The Primal Call
(1911)
The Fisherman
His Daughter
(1911)
The Rose of Kentucky
(1911)
The planter
Heart Beats of Long Ago
(1911)
The Lover
The Making of a Man
(1911)
In Second Audience
Enoch Arden
(1911)
Enoch Arden
Fisher Folks
(1911)
Steve Hardester
The Lonedale Operator
(1911)
The Fireman
The Diamond Star
(1911)
The Two Paths
(1911)
Love in the Hills
(1911)
The Manley Suitor
The Failure
(1911)
The Clerk
A Woman Scorned
(1911)
The Doctor
What Shall We Do with Our Old?
(1911)
Violent Jailbird
The Miser's Heart
(1911)
First Crook
The Long Road
(1911)
A Policeman
When a Man Loves
(1911)
A Terrible Discovery
(1911)
The District Attorney
The Girl and Her Trust
(1912)
The Transformation of Mike
(1912)
Mike
The Massacre
(1912)
Stephen
Man's Genesis
(1912)
Bruteforce
A Sailor’s Heart
(1912)
The Sailor
Billy's Stratagem
(1912)
Billy's Father
A Pueblo Legend
(1912)
The Indian Girl's Great Brother
Home Folks
(1912)
The Blacksmith
Just Like a Woman
(1912)
The Wealthy Friend
Fate's Interception
(1912)
The American
When Kings Were the Law
(1912)
The King of Romanda
A Temporary Truce
(1912)
An Indian (uncredited)
The Goddess of Sagebrush Gulch
(1912)
Minor Role (uncredited)
Under Burning Skies
(1912)
Joe
A Tender-Hearted Crook
(1913)
Pure Gold and Dross
(1913)
Brute Force
(1914)
Brute Force
Gentleman Burglar
(1914)
Baffles
The Lily and the Rose
(1915)
Jack Van Norman
The Spanish Jade
(1915)
Osmund Manvers
Macbeth
(1916)
Macduff
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
(1916)
Extra (uncredited)
The Wood Nymph
(1916)
Fred Arnold
The Microscope Mystery
(1916)
Doc Arnold
Acquitted
(1916)
John Carter
Hell-to-Pay Austin
(1916)
Hell-to-Pay Austin
Souls Triumphant
(1917)
Robert Powers
Hands Up!
(1917)
John Houston
A Love Sublime
(1917)
Philip
The Co-respondent
(1917)
Sins of Ambition
(1917)
Andrew Maxwell
Jim Bludso
(1917)
Jim Bludso
A Woman of Pleasure
(1919)
Sir John Thornbull
The Hushed Hour
(1919)
Robert Appleton Jr.
Soldiers of Fortune
(1919)
President Alvarez
What Every Woman Wants
(1919)
Horace Lennon
The Man from Kangaroo
(1920)
Red Jack Braggan
The Beautiful Liar
(1921)
Gaston Allegretti
Through The Back Door
(1921)
Elton Reeves
The Fighting Breed
(1921)
John MacDonald
One a Minute
(1921)
Prosecutor (uncredited)
Flesh and Blood
(1922)
The Policeman
Across the Dead-Line
(1922)
Aaron Kidder
Heroes of the Street
(1922)
Paid Back
(1922)
Ship Captain
The Kentucky Derby
(1922)
Capt. Wolff
Jazzmania
(1923)
Julius Furman
The Girl of the Golden West
(1923)
Trilby
(1923)
The Laird
The Greatest Menace
(1923)
Charles W. Wright
Daughters of Pleasure
(1924)
Mark Hadley
Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall
(1924)
Earl of Rutland
Valley of Hate
(1924)
Old Jim Darley
The Fighting Sap
(1924)
Charles Richmond
Lightning Romance
(1924)
Richard Wade
North of Nevada
(1924)
C. Hanaford
Racing for Life
(1924)
Hudford
The Valley of Hate
(1924)
Old Jim Darley
Riders of the Purple Sage
(1925)
Oldring
Cyclone Cavalier
(1925)
Hugh Clayton
A Broadway Butterfly
(1925)
Stage Manager
The Bad Lands
(1925)
Col. Owen
As No Man Has Loved
(1925)
Maj. Bissell
Her Sacrifice
(1926)
Edwin Ramsey
The Sorrows of Satan
(1926)
Burnt Fingers
(1927)
Lord Cumberly
Cock o' the Walk
(1930)
Señor Vallejo
Looser Than Loose
(1930)
Mr. Gillstrom, Charley's Boss
Those Who Dance
(1930)
Big Ben Benson
The Arizona Kid
(1930)
Manager
Hello Sister
(1930)
Dr. Saltus
Love Your Neighbor
(1930)
Convicted
(1931)
Capt. Hammond
The Galloping Ghost
(1931)
Sportscaster
The Age for Love
(1931)
Undetermined Role
House of Mystery
(1931)
Sheriff Franklin
Men Call It Love
(1931)
Sam Ellery (uncredited)
Graft
(1931)
Candidate Louis
Young Donovan's Kid
(1931)
Duryea
Rich Man's Folly
(1931)
The Phantom
(1931)
Dist. Atty. John Hampton
Pardon Us
(1931)
Warden
Stranger in Town
(1931)
J.P. Walker
Millie
(1931)
Millie's Elderly Escort (uncredited)
Dishonored
(1931)
Homicide Squad
(1931)
The Dark Horse
(1932)
Debate Chairman
Cross-Examination
(1932)
Judge Hollister
Big City Blues
(1932)
Policeman
Sister to Judas
(1932)
Mike O'Flanagan
Red Noses
(1932)
Mr. Lucas
Careless Lady
(1932)
Ship's Purser
You Said a Mouthful
(1932)
Official (uncredited)
The Secrets of Wu Sin
(1932)
Pharmacist
The Devil Horse
(1932)
Whitney [Ch. 1] (uncredited)
The Tabasco Kid
(1932)
Sheriff's Deputy
Free Wheeling
(1932)
The Specialist
What Price Hollywood?
(1932)
Bill the Replacement Director (uncredited)
Call Her Savage
(1932)
Child Welfare Official (Uncredited)
The Midnight Patrol
(1932)
Lucky Larrigan
(1932)
John Larrigan
The Unwritten Law
(1932)
Captain Kane
Stockholm ”Queen of the Baltic”
(1932)
Midnight Mary
(1933)
Nightclub Bouncer (uncredited)
The Mayor of Hell
(1933)
Bill (uncredited)
Mary Stevens, M.D.
(1933)
Andrews' Lawyer Barry (uncredited)
Phantom Thunderbolt
(1933)
Eaton - Railroad President
The Intruder
(1933)
Mr. Wayne
Air Fright
(1933)
Mr. Lucas, Airline Superintendent
Strange People
(1933)
John Davis
I Cover the Waterfront
(1933)
Randall
Racetrack
(1933)
Mr. Ryan
The Devil's Brother
(1933)
The Big Cage
(1933)
Bob Mills
The Sphinx
(1933)
Prosecuting Attorney
The House on 56th Street
(1933)
Prosecuting Attorney (uncredited)
The Three Musketeers
(1933)
El Shaitan
Shrimps for a Day
(1934)
Mr. Wade
The Dragon Murder Case
(1934)
Police Sergeant (uncredited)
The Return of Chandu
(1934)
Capt. Wilson [Chs. 4-12]
The Moth
(1934)
John Gale
Apples to You!
(1934)
Chairman of the Board
Cleopatra
(1934)
Roman Greeting Antony (uncredited)
One Night of Love
(1934)
Metropolitan Operagoer
Love Time
(1934)
Dignitary (uncredited)
Angkor
(1935)
Wilfred Lucas, game hunter
Chandu on the Magic Island
(1935)
Capt. Walker
Kind Lady
(1935)
First Scotland Yard Man (uncredited)
Rip Roaring Riley
(1935)
Chief Martin
Show Them No Mercy!
(1935)
Druggist (uncredited)
The Arizonian
(1935)
Townsman with Mayor
Stranded
(1935)
Pat, a Welfare Worker (uncredited)
Naughty Marietta
(1935)
Announcer (uncredited)
Stormy
(1935)
Mack's Horse Trainer (uncredited)
Frisco Kid
(1935)
First Policeman (uncredited)
Modern Times
(1936)
Juvenile Officer
Love on a Bet
(1936)
Man at Hutchinson's Meeting
Beloved Enemy
(1936)
Doctor (Uncredited)
The White Angel
(1936)
Raglan Staff Officer (uncredited)
The Preview Murder Mystery
(1936)
Director (Uncredited)
The Country Doctor
(1936)
Proprietor (uncredited)
High Tension
(1936)
Businessman
California Mail
(1936)
Sheriff
Midnight Blunders
(1936)
Professor Edwin Millstone (uncredited)
Chatterbox
(1936)
Himself (uncredited)
Human Cargo
(1936)
Police Chief
Give Me Liberty
(1936)
His Excellency Permitting Henry's Arrest (uncredited)
The Devil-Doll
(1936)
Off-Screen Voice (voice / uncredited)
Prairie Thunder
(1937)
Nate Temple
Varsity Show
(1937)
Police Commissioner (uncredited)
Criminal Lawyer
(1937)
Brandon's Assistant
We Who Are About to Die
(1937)
Prison Yard Captain (uncredited)
Navy Blue and Gold
(1937)
Ship's Captain (uncredited)
She Loved a Fireman
(1937)
Fire Tug Captain
Blazing Sixes
(1937)
Sheriff Tom
Empty Holsters
(1937)
John Ware
Mile a Minute Love
(1937)
Drexel
Land Beyond the Law
(1937)
Jim Blake (uncredited)
Talent Scout
(1937)
Director of Screen Test (uncredited)
The Westland Case
(1937)
Gun Dealer
Hot Water
(1937)
Customer in Drugstore (uncredited)
The Man Without a Country
(1937)
Lincoln's Secretary (uncredited)
Black Legion
(1937)
Bailiff (uncredited)
Marked Woman
(1937)
Jury Foreman #1 (uncredited)
The Super Snooper
(1937)
Idol of the Crowds
(1937)
Doctor (uncredited)
Missing Witnesses
(1937)
Judge in Wagner Case (uncredited)
The Baroness and the Butler
(1938)
Member of Parliament
A Man to Remember
(1938)
Man at Hospital Dedication (uncredited)
Brother Rat
(1938)
Ballfield Doctor
Night Spot
(1938)
Police Lieutenant
The Daredevil Drivers
(1938)
Race Judge
Over the Wall
(1938)
Cell Block Keeper
Breakdowns of 1938
(1938)
Race Judge (archive footage) (uncredited)
Safety in Numbers
(1938)
Councilman
Down on the Farm
(1938)
Wheeler
The Declaration of Independence
(1938)
John Dickinson (uncredited)
Four Daughters
(1938)
Doctor (uncredited)
Freshman Year
(1938)
Professor Ullrich
Zenobia
(1939)
Undetermined Role
Almost a Gentleman
(1939)
Dog Show Director
Dodge City
(1939)
Bartender (uncredited)
Women in the Wind
(1939)
Burbank Offical (uncredited)
Each Dawn I Die
(1939)
Bailiff (uncredited)
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
(1939)
Pompous Man (uncredited)
Four Wives
(1939)
Stationmaster (uncredited)
Nick Carter, Master Detective
(1939)
Police Detective Randall
Raffles
(1939)
Bobby
The Marshal Of Mesa City
(1939)
Marshal Andy Thompson (uncredited)
The Day the Bookies Wept
(1939)
Bill, Man Outside Racetrack (uncredited)
Brother Orchid
(1940)
Brother MacDonald
A Chump at Oxford
(1940)
Dean Williams
Women in Hiding
(1940)
Policeman (uncredited)
Legion of the Lawless
(1940)
East Ivestown Leader (uncredited)
The Fighting 69th
(1940)
Eye Doctor (uncredited)
Edison, the Man
(1940)
Broker
Triple Justice
(1940)
Constable Herb at Tule Mesa
Santa Fe Trail
(1940)
Weiner (uncredited)
Virginia City
(1940)
Southerner (uncredited)
Waterloo Bridge
(1940)
Elderly Huntsman at Estate Dance (uncredited)
A Dispatch from Reuters
(1940)
Board Member (uncredited)
They Drive by Night
(1940)
Bailiff (uncredited)
Women Without Names
(1940)
Roomer
Tear Gas Squad
(1940)
Policeman
The Sea Wolf
(1941)
Writing
Sunshine Sue
(1910)
Writer
When Kings Were the Law
(1912)
Writer
The Chief's Blanket
(1912)
Writer
Hands Up!
(1917)
Writer
A Love Sublime
(1917)
Writer
Morgan's Raiders
(1918)
Writer
The Romance of Tarzan
(1918)
Scenario Writer
The Fighting Breed
(1921)
Writer
The Beautiful Sinner
(1924)
Story
Racing for Life
(1924)
Screenplay and Story
Igloo
(1932)
Writer
Directing
A Sailor’s Heart
(1912)
Director
With the Enemy's Help
(1912)
Director
The Speed Kings
(1913)
Director
Fatty's Day Off
(1913)
Director
A Quiet Little Wedding
(1913)
Director
The Milk We Drink
(1913)
Director
Baby Day
(1913)
Director
Pirate Gold
(1913)
Director
A Misplaced Foot
(1914)
Director
The Trey o' Hearts
(1914)
Director
A Glimpse of Los Angeles
(1914)
Director
The Severed Hand
(1914)
Director
The Spanish Jade
(1915)
Director
Hands Up!
(1917)
Director
A Love Sublime
(1917)
Director
Jim Bludso
(1917)
Director
The Romance of Tarzan
(1918)
Director
Morgan's Raiders
(1918)
Director
The Man from Kangaroo
(1920)
Director
The Fighting Breed
(1921)
Director
Her Sacrifice
(1926)
Director
The Unwritten Law
(1932)
Director