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