Calvin Thomas (actor)
Encyclopedia
Calvin Louis Thomas was an American stage, film and television actor, and a theatre director.
Born in Kansas City, Missouri
, to Jesse and Virginia Thomas, he was the older brother of actor Frank M. Thomas
. He began performing on Broadway in 1907 as Louis Thomas, making his debut as a bit player in Peer Gynt with Richard Mansfield
in the starring role. Also in 1907 and again as Louis Thomas, he appeared as Servius in a production of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar at Broadway's New Amsterdam Theatre
, with Robert Mantell as Marcus Brutus. He began performing as Calvin Thomas in 1912. Thomas made his film debut in 1915 in The Money Master, but performed mostly on the Broadway stage, appearing in nearly 40 plays and musicals. He appeared as the Starkeeper in the original Broadway production of Carousel
and also had Broadway roles in Kiss and Tell, Abe Lincoln in Illinois
, Show Girl
, and We, the People. In 1927 he performed with Margaret Mosier in Junk, and they soon married; she died in 1951. His last Broadway role was as Dr. Ormondy in the 1955 production of Pipe Dream.
Thomas also appeared in several television series, including Hallmark Hall of Fame
.
Thomas died in Caldwell, New Jersey
in 1964 at the age of 79. He was survived by his second wife, Delia, whom he married in 1954, and two sons by his first marriage.
Born in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, to Jesse and Virginia Thomas, he was the older brother of actor Frank M. Thomas
Frank M. Thomas
Frank Marion Thomas , was an American actor on the stage, screen and television.Born in St. Joseph, Missouri, to Jesse and Virginia Thomas, he first appeared on Broadway in 1914. Thomas also played many supporting roles in films from the 1930s through the 1970s...
. He began performing on Broadway in 1907 as Louis Thomas, making his debut as a bit player in Peer Gynt with Richard Mansfield
Richard Mansfield
Richard Mansfield was an English actor-manager best known for his performances in Shakespeare plays, Gilbert and Sullivan operas and for his portrayal of the dual title roles in Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde....
in the starring role. Also in 1907 and again as Louis Thomas, he appeared as Servius in a production of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar at Broadway's New Amsterdam Theatre
New Amsterdam Theatre
The New Amsterdam Theatre is a Broadway theater located at 214 West 42nd Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues in the Theatre District of Manhattan, New York City, off of Times Square...
, with Robert Mantell as Marcus Brutus. He began performing as Calvin Thomas in 1912. Thomas made his film debut in 1915 in The Money Master, but performed mostly on the Broadway stage, appearing in nearly 40 plays and musicals. He appeared as the Starkeeper in the original Broadway production of Carousel
Carousel
A carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders...
and also had Broadway roles in Kiss and Tell, Abe Lincoln in Illinois
Abe Lincoln in Illinois (play)
Abe Lincoln in Illinois is a play written by the American playwright Robert E. Sherwood in 1938. The play, in three acts, covers the life of President Abraham Lincoln from his childhood through his final speech in Illinois before he left for Washington. The play also covers his romance with Mary...
, Show Girl
Show Girl
Show Girl is a musical that ran from Jul 2, 1929 to Oct 5, 1929 with a book by William Anthony McGuire, lyrics by Ira Gershwin and Gus Kahn, and music by George Gershwin. Its heroine, aspiring Broadway showgirl Dixie Dugan, was a character created by J. P...
, and We, the People. In 1927 he performed with Margaret Mosier in Junk, and they soon married; she died in 1951. His last Broadway role was as Dr. Ormondy in the 1955 production of Pipe Dream.
Thomas also appeared in several television series, including Hallmark Hall of Fame
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Hallmark Hall of Fame is an anthology program on American television, sponsored by Hallmark Cards, a Kansas City based greeting card company. The second longest-running television program in the history of television, it has a historically long run, beginning in 1951 and continuing into 2011...
.
Thomas died in Caldwell, New Jersey
Caldwell, New Jersey
Caldwell is a borough located in northwestern Essex County, New Jersey, about outside of New York. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 7,822....
in 1964 at the age of 79. He was survived by his second wife, Delia, whom he married in 1954, and two sons by his first marriage.