Charles Waldron (December 24, 1874 – March 4, 1946) was an American stage and film actor, sometimes credited as Charles Waldron Sr., Chas. Waldron Sr., Charles D. Waldron or Mr. Waldron.

Charles Waldron
Waldron in Escape by Night (1937)
Born(1874-12-24)December 24, 1874
DiedMarch 4, 1946(1946-03-04) (aged 71)
Resting placeForest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California
Other namesCharles Waldron Sr.
Chas. Waldron Sr.
Charles D. Waldron
Mr. Waldron
OccupationActor
Years active1907–1946
Spouse
Alice May King
(m. 1907)
Children2

Early life

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He was born and grew up in Waterford, New York. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. George B. Waldron, were themselves actors of some note, but they did not want their son to follow in their profession and tried to steer him to a career in finance.[1] He worked in Philadelphia as a bank clerk.[2] However, he jumped at the chance to "play the juvenile lead in Kidnapped".[1]

Career

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Katharine Cornell and Charles Waldron in the original Broadway production of The Barretts of Wimpole Street (1931)

Nine years of stock and a tour of Australia and New Zealand performing in The Virginian and The Squaw Man followed.[3] In 1905, he was praised for his performance in the leading role in the play The Eternal City at San Francisco's Alcazar Theatre.[4] He made his Broadway debut in 1907 in David Belasco's The Warrens of Virginia.[1] (His father and Belasco had been fellow actors in a Portland, Oregon company.[1]) From 1907 to 1946, he acted in more than 40 Broadway productions in New York City.[5] He played the title role in the original 1914 production of Daddy Long Legs, opposite future film star Ruth Chatterton; both he and Chatterton were highly praised.[6] He performed alongside his son, Charles Belasco Jr., in the latter's debut in Lucrece c. 1932.[1]

Over his long career, he appeared in more than 60 films, starting with the silent film Big Noise Hank (1911). He played U.S. President James Monroe in The Monroe Doctrine, a short film released in 1939. He is perhaps best known for his final film role, that of General Sternwood in the opening scenes of The Big Sleep (1946), starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall.

Death

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Waldron died, aged 71, in Hollywood, California. He was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.[citation needed]

Partial filmography

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Broadway credits

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  • The Warrens of Virginia (1907)
  • The Fourth Estate (1909)
  • Mid-Channel (1909)
  • Judith Zaraine (1911)
  • June Madness (1912)
  • The High Road (1912)
  • The Painted Woman (1913)
  • The Strange Woman (1913)
  • The Dragon's Claw (1914)
  • Daddy Long Legs (1914)
  • The Woman in Room 13 (1919)
  • The Passion Flower (1920)
  • Mary Stuart / A Man About Town (1921)
  • Swords (1921)
  • The Elton Case (1921)
  • A Bill of Divorcement (1921)
  • A Pinch Hitter (1922)
  • The Guilty One (1923)
  • Mrs. Partridge Presents (1925)
  • Hamlet (1925)
  • Magda (1926)
  • Pyramids (1926)
  • The Heaven Tappers (1927)
  • Madame X (1927)
  • Coquette (1927)
  • Those We Love (1930)
  • The Vikings (1930)
  • The Barretts of Wimpole Street (1931)
  • Electra (1932)
  • Lucrece (1932)
  • Alien Corn (1933)
  • The Pursuit of Happiness (1933)
  • Dance With Your Gods (1934)
  • Romeo and Juliet (1934)
  • The Barretts of Wimpole Street (1935)
  • Flowers of the Forest (1935)
  • Romeo and Juliet (1935)
  • Saint Joan (1936)
  • I Am My Youth (1938)
  • American Landscape (1938)
  • Deep Are the Roots (1945)

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Another Waldron Takes to Stage". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. November 20, 1932 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ "When Banker Becomes Bishop: News!". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. April 12, 1936 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ "Lectures and Amusements". Wanganui Chronicle. February 5, 1905. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  4. ^ Blanche Partington (October 3, 1905). "Alcazar Presents Astonishing Production of "The Eternal City," With New Talent. Charles Waldron Proves Highly Satisfactory as Leading Man". San Francisco Call – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ Charles Waldron at the Internet Broadway Database
  6. ^ "Charles Waldron, Villain / Cornell Play Is Easy to Like". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. December 13, 1931 – via Newspapers.com.  
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