Jack Pickford
Encyclopedia
Jack Pickford was a Canadian
-born American
actor. He was best known for his tabloid
lifestyle, marriage to the top starlets
of his day, and being of the famous Pickford
acting family.
to John Charles Smith and Charlotte Hennessy Smith in 1896. His alcoholic father left the family while Pickford was a young child. This incident left the family impoverished
. In desperation Charlotte Hennessy
allowed Pickford and his two sisters Gladys
and Lottie
to appear onstage. This proved a good source of income and by 1900 the family was based in New York City
acting in plays
across the United States
.
Due to the work the family was constantly separated until 1910 when Gladys signed with Biograph Studios
. By that time his sister 'Gladys Smith' had been transformed into Mary Pickford
(Marie her middle name, Pickford an old family name). Following suit, the Smiths changed their stage name
s to 'Pickford'.
Soon after signing with Biograph, Mary secured jobs for all the family, including the then-fourteen-year-old Jack. When the Biograph Company headed West to Hollywood, CA, only Mary was to go, until Jack pleaded he could join the company as well. Much to Mary's protest, Charlotte threw him on the train as it left the station. The company arrived in Hollywood where Jack acted in bit parts during the stay.
Mary soon became a well-known star, and by 1917 had signed a contract for $1 million with First National Pictures
. As part of her contract, Mary saw to it that her family was brought along, giving the now-named "Jack Pickford" a lucrative contract with the company as well.
By the time he signed with First National, Pickford had played bit parts in 95 shorts and films. Though Pickford was considered a good actor, he was seen as someone who 'never lived up to his potential.', In 1917 he starred in one of his first major roles as "Pip" in the adaptation of Charles Dickens
' Great Expectations
, as well as the title role in Mark Twain's
Tom Sawyer
.
After his stint in the Navy
, Pickford continued making films. By 1923, his roles had gone from several a year to one. In 1928, he finished his last film, Gang War
, as Clyde Baxter. Through the years he dabbled in writing and directing
; however, he never pursued either form further.
Most of his films were considered B movie
s, though he was able to make a name for himself. Pickford's image was that of the All-American boy or the boy next door.
, drugs
, and womanizing, culminating in the severe alcoholism
and syphilis
that would eventually kill him. In the early days of Hollywood, movie studios were able to cover up almost all of their stars' misbehavior, but within the Hollywood crowd, Jack Pickford's behind-the scenes antics made him a behind-the-scenes legend in his own time. He spent money frivolously and frequently had to suffer the humiliation of asking his mother or sister for money. As his reckless lifestyle worsened, the number of movies he made declined and, therefore, his own income.
In early 1918, after the United States
entered World War I
, Pickford joined the United States Navy
. Using the famous Pickford name, he soon became involved in a scheme that allowed rich young men to pay bribes to avoid military service, as well as reportedly procuring young women for officers. For his involvement, Pickford came close to being dishonorably discharged; it is speculated that Mary arranged for him to give evidence to the authorities in exchange for a medical discharge. However, this was never proven.
Pickford's relationships were cause for tabloid scandal. All three of his marriages were to former Ziegfeld girls who had become popular movie stars. The most infamous scandal was the death of his first wife, Olive Thomas
, in 1920. Both Pickford and Thomas were constantly traveling and had little time to spend together. For many years the Pickfords had intended to vacation together and with their marriage on the rocks, the couple decided to take a second honeymoon
.
In August 1920 the pair headed for Paris
, hoping to combine a vacation with some film preparations. On the night of September 5, 1920, the couple went out for a night of entertainment and partying at the famous bistros in the Montparnasse
Quarter of Paris. Returning to their room in the Hôtel Ritz
around 3:00 a.m., Pickford either fell asleep or was outside the room for a final round of drugs. It was rumored Thomas may have taken cocaine
that night, though it was never proven.
An intoxicated and tired Thomas ingested a large dose of mercury bichloride, which had been prescribed for Pickford's chronic syphilis
. She had either thought the flask contained drinking water or sleeping pills; accounts vary. The label was in French
, which may have added to the confusion. She was taken to the American Hospital in the Paris suburb of Neuilly, where Pickford, together with her former in-law Owen Moore
, remained at her side until she succumbed to the poison a few days later. Rumors floated that she had either tried to commit suicide or had been murdered. A police investigation followed, as well as an autopsy
, and Thomas' death was ruled accidental.
Pickford brought Thomas' body back to the United States. Several accounts state Pickford tried to commit suicide en route, but was talked out of it. According to Mary Pickford's autobiography Sunshine and Shadows, "Jack crossed the ocean with Ollie's body. It wasn't until several years later that he confessed to Mother how one night during the voyage back he put on his trousers and jacket over his pajamas, went up on deck, and was climbing over the rail when something inside him said: 'You can't do this to your mother and sisters. It would be a cowardly act. You must live and face the future.'"
Pickford was seen as someone with great talent, though he rarely had ambition to use it. Some believe that if he had not been Mary Pickford's brother, he would have aspired to be a great actor in his own right. However, he enjoyed partying and a dangerous lifestyle far too much to focus on his talents. He suffered from alcoholism, which ran in the family. When he would run out of money he would head over to Pickfair
and find the alcohol Mary had secretly hidden. He was a drug user as well, though the extent of this is not known.
Olive Thomas
at a beach cafe on the Santa Monica Pier
. Thomas was just as wild as Pickford, possibly having an alcohol problem herself. Screenwriter Frances Marion
remarked "...I had seen her often at the Pickford home, for she was engaged to Mary's brother, Jack. Two innocent-looking children, they were the gayest, wildest brats who ever stirred the stardust on Broadway. Both were talented, but they were much more interested in playing the roulette of life than in concentrating on their careers."
Pickford eloped with Thomas on October 25, 1916 in New Jersey
. None of their family was present with only Thomas Meighan
as their witness. In a 1919 interview with Louella Parsons
, Thomas expressed her desire to have children, "One of these days we are going to have a family. I love children." The couple had no children of their own, though in 1920 they adopted her then-six-year-old nephew when his mother died.
Although by most accounts she was the love of Pickford's life, the marriage was stormy and filled with highly-charged conflict, followed by lavish making up through the exchange of expensive gifts. In a March 1920 issue of Motion Picture magazine, Thomas said of the drama-fueled relationship, "He's always sending me something and then I send him something back. You see, we have to bridge the distance in some way. At first I just couldn't get used to the idea of living this way, but I suppose one gets used to anything, given time. When we were together we used to use up the time fighting over things. I'd say, 'You were out with this person or that person,' and he'd come back at me in the same way, and we'd have a lively time of it, but we're over that now. We know that we can't sit home by the fireside ALL the time just because we cannot be together."
After Thomas's death in 1920, Pickford married two more times. In 1922 he married celebrated Broadway dancer and former Ziegfeld girl Marilyn Miller
. By most accounts he was not kind to her and the marriage was an abusive one. Miller eventually sought a French
divorce in 1927.
His final marriage was to Mary Mulhern in 1930; though they never divorced, the pair was separated at the time of his death.
entrance, Jack called back to her, "Don’t come down with me, Mary dear, I can go alone." As Mary stood at the top of the stair case, an inner voice spoke to her. "That’s the last time you’ll see Jack", she remembered hearing it say.
Jack Pickford died in American Hospital of Paris
on January 3, 1933. The cause for his death was listed as "progressive multiple neuritis which attacked all the nerve centers". Mary Pickford arranged for his body to be returned to Los Angeles
, California
, where he was interred in the private Pickford plot in Glendale, California
's Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery.
For his contribution to the motion picture industry, Jack Pickford has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
at 1523 Vine Street
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
-born American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor. He was best known for his tabloid
Tabloid journalism
Tabloid journalism tends to emphasize topics such as sensational crime stories, astrology, gossip columns about the personal lives of celebrities and sports stars, and junk food news...
lifestyle, marriage to the top starlets
Movie star
A movie star is a celebrity who is well-known, or famous, for his or her starring, or leading, roles in motion pictures. The term may also apply to an actor or actress who is recognized as a marketable commodity and whose name is used to promote a movie in trailers and posters...
of his day, and being of the famous Pickford
Pickford
Pickford is a surname, and may refer to* Jack Pickford, Canadian-American actor, brother of Mary Pickford* Joseph Pickford, British architect* Lottie Pickford, Canadian-American actress, sister of Mary Pickford...
acting family.
Early life
Born John Charles Smith in Toronto, Ontario, CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
to John Charles Smith and Charlotte Hennessy Smith in 1896. His alcoholic father left the family while Pickford was a young child. This incident left the family impoverished
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
. In desperation Charlotte Hennessy
Charlotte Hennessy
Charlotte Hennessy , born Elsie Charlotte Printer, and aka Charlotte Smith Pickford, was a Canadian-born, American actress, and the mother of Mary, Lottie, and Jack Pickford....
allowed Pickford and his two sisters Gladys
Mary Pickford
Mary Pickford was a Canadian-born motion picture actress, co-founder of the film studio United Artists and one of the original 36 founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
and Lottie
Lottie Pickford
Lottie Pickford was a Canadian-born silent film actress, socialite, and sister to Mary Pickford and Jack Pickford. Her career is often overshadowed by that of her siblings and though she was a notable figure in the 1920s her films and role in the Pickford acting family is now largely forgotten...
to appear onstage. This proved a good source of income and by 1900 the family was based in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
acting in plays
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
across the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Due to the work the family was constantly separated until 1910 when Gladys signed with Biograph Studios
Biograph Studios
Biograph Studios was a studio facility and film laboratory complex built in 1912 by the Biograph Company, formerly American Mutoscope and Biograph Company, at 807 E. 175th Street, in the Bronx, New York....
. By that time his sister 'Gladys Smith' had been transformed into Mary Pickford
Mary Pickford
Mary Pickford was a Canadian-born motion picture actress, co-founder of the film studio United Artists and one of the original 36 founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
(Marie her middle name, Pickford an old family name). Following suit, the Smiths changed their stage name
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
s to 'Pickford'.
Soon after signing with Biograph, Mary secured jobs for all the family, including the then-fourteen-year-old Jack. When the Biograph Company headed West to Hollywood, CA, only Mary was to go, until Jack pleaded he could join the company as well. Much to Mary's protest, Charlotte threw him on the train as it left the station. The company arrived in Hollywood where Jack acted in bit parts during the stay.
Mary soon became a well-known star, and by 1917 had signed a contract for $1 million with First National Pictures
First National
First National was an association of independent theater owners in the United States that expanded from exhibiting movies to distributing them, and eventually to producing them as a movie studio, called First National Pictures, Inc. It later merged with Warner Bros.-Early history:The First National...
. As part of her contract, Mary saw to it that her family was brought along, giving the now-named "Jack Pickford" a lucrative contract with the company as well.
Acting career
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
' Great Expectations
Great Expectations
Great Expectations is a novel by Charles Dickens. It was first published in serial form in the publication All the Year Round from 1 December 1860 to August 1861. It has been adapted for stage and screen over 250 times....
, as well as the title role in Mark Twain's
Mark Twain
Samuel Langhorne Clemens , better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American author and humorist...
Tom Sawyer
Tom Sawyer (1917 film)
Tom Sawyer is a 1917 Paramount Pictures silent film starring Jack Pickford, Robert Gordon, and Clara Horton; it is based on Mark Twain's novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer....
.
After his stint in the Navy
Navy
A navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
, Pickford continued making films. By 1923, his roles had gone from several a year to one. In 1928, he finished his last film, Gang War
Gang War
Gang War is a 1928 gangster film, best known for being the main feature attached to Steamboat Willie, the debut of Mickey Mouse in sound. The film starred Jack Pickford in his last major role, as "Clyde", a saxophone player whose love for a dancer named Flowers traps him in the middle of a gang war...
, as Clyde Baxter. Through the years he dabbled in writing and directing
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
; however, he never pursued either form further.
Most of his films were considered B movie
B movie
A B movie is a low-budget commercial motion picture that is not definitively an arthouse or pornographic film. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified a film intended for distribution as the less-publicized, bottom half of a double feature....
s, though he was able to make a name for himself. Pickford's image was that of the All-American boy or the boy next door.
Tabloid life
Despite his image of the "boy next door," Pickford's private life was one of alcoholAlcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
, drugs
DRUGS
Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows are an American post-hardcore band formed in 2010. They released their debut self-titled album on February 22, 2011.- Formation :...
, and womanizing, culminating in the severe alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
and syphilis
Syphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum. The primary route of transmission is through sexual contact; however, it may also be transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy or at birth, resulting in congenital syphilis...
that would eventually kill him. In the early days of Hollywood, movie studios were able to cover up almost all of their stars' misbehavior, but within the Hollywood crowd, Jack Pickford's behind-the scenes antics made him a behind-the-scenes legend in his own time. He spent money frivolously and frequently had to suffer the humiliation of asking his mother or sister for money. As his reckless lifestyle worsened, the number of movies he made declined and, therefore, his own income.
In early 1918, after the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
entered World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Pickford joined the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. Using the famous Pickford name, he soon became involved in a scheme that allowed rich young men to pay bribes to avoid military service, as well as reportedly procuring young women for officers. For his involvement, Pickford came close to being dishonorably discharged; it is speculated that Mary arranged for him to give evidence to the authorities in exchange for a medical discharge. However, this was never proven.
Pickford's relationships were cause for tabloid scandal. All three of his marriages were to former Ziegfeld girls who had become popular movie stars. The most infamous scandal was the death of his first wife, Olive Thomas
Olive Thomas
Olive Thomas was an American silent film actress and model. She is best remembered for her marriage to Jack Pickford and her death.-Early life:...
, in 1920. Both Pickford and Thomas were constantly traveling and had little time to spend together. For many years the Pickfords had intended to vacation together and with their marriage on the rocks, the couple decided to take a second honeymoon
Honeymoon
-History:One early reference to a honeymoon is in Deuteronomy 24:5 “When a man is newly wed, he need not go out on a military expedition, nor shall any public duty be imposed on him...
.
In August 1920 the pair headed for Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, hoping to combine a vacation with some film preparations. On the night of September 5, 1920, the couple went out for a night of entertainment and partying at the famous bistros in the Montparnasse
Montparnasse
Montparnasse is an area of Paris, France, on the left bank of the river Seine, centred at the crossroads of the Boulevard du Montparnasse and the Rue de Rennes, between the Rue de Rennes and boulevard Raspail...
Quarter of Paris. Returning to their room in the Hôtel Ritz
Hôtel Ritz Paris
The Hôtel Ritz is a grand palatial hotel in the heart of Paris, the 1st arrondissement. It overlooks the octagonal border of the Place Vendôme at number 15...
around 3:00 a.m., Pickford either fell asleep or was outside the room for a final round of drugs. It was rumored Thomas may have taken cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
that night, though it was never proven.
An intoxicated and tired Thomas ingested a large dose of mercury bichloride, which had been prescribed for Pickford's chronic syphilis
Syphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum. The primary route of transmission is through sexual contact; however, it may also be transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy or at birth, resulting in congenital syphilis...
. She had either thought the flask contained drinking water or sleeping pills; accounts vary. The label was in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, which may have added to the confusion. She was taken to the American Hospital in the Paris suburb of Neuilly, where Pickford, together with her former in-law Owen Moore
Owen Moore
Owen Moore was an Irish-born actor in American films, appearing in more than 279 movies spanning from 1908 to 1937.-Life and career:...
, remained at her side until she succumbed to the poison a few days later. Rumors floated that she had either tried to commit suicide or had been murdered. A police investigation followed, as well as an autopsy
Autopsy
An autopsy—also known as a post-mortem examination, necropsy , autopsia cadaverum, or obduction—is a highly specialized surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse to determine the cause and manner of death and to evaluate any disease or injury that may be present...
, and Thomas' death was ruled accidental.
Pickford brought Thomas' body back to the United States. Several accounts state Pickford tried to commit suicide en route, but was talked out of it. According to Mary Pickford's autobiography Sunshine and Shadows, "Jack crossed the ocean with Ollie's body. It wasn't until several years later that he confessed to Mother how one night during the voyage back he put on his trousers and jacket over his pajamas, went up on deck, and was climbing over the rail when something inside him said: 'You can't do this to your mother and sisters. It would be a cowardly act. You must live and face the future.'"
Personal life
Pickford was outlived by both of his sisters. From a young age he and Lottie had been closest; while Mary by her own admission assumed a "parental role." Mary herself suspected there was some resentment towards her, though the family maintained close contact their entire lives.Pickford was seen as someone with great talent, though he rarely had ambition to use it. Some believe that if he had not been Mary Pickford's brother, he would have aspired to be a great actor in his own right. However, he enjoyed partying and a dangerous lifestyle far too much to focus on his talents. He suffered from alcoholism, which ran in the family. When he would run out of money he would head over to Pickfair
Pickfair
Pickfair was a 56 acre estate in the city of Beverly Hills, California designed by architect Wallace Neff for silent film actors Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford. Coined "Pickfair" by the press, it was once one of the most celebrated homes in the world...
and find the alcohol Mary had secretly hidden. He was a drug user as well, though the extent of this is not known.
Marriages
Pickford met actress and Ziegfeld girlZiegfeld girl
Ziegfeld Girls were the chorus girls from Florenz Ziegfeld's theatrical spectaculars known as the Ziegfeld Follies , which were based on the Folies Bergère of Paris....
Olive Thomas
Olive Thomas
Olive Thomas was an American silent film actress and model. She is best remembered for her marriage to Jack Pickford and her death.-Early life:...
at a beach cafe on the Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica Pier
The Santa Monica Pier is a large double-jointed pier located at the foot of Colorado Avenue in Santa Monica, California and is a prominent, 100-year-old landmark.-Pacific Park:...
. Thomas was just as wild as Pickford, possibly having an alcohol problem herself. Screenwriter Frances Marion
Frances Marion
Frances Marion was an American journalist, author, and screenwriter often cited as the most renowned female screenwriter of the twentieth century alongside June Mathis and Anita Loos.-Career:...
remarked "...I had seen her often at the Pickford home, for she was engaged to Mary's brother, Jack. Two innocent-looking children, they were the gayest, wildest brats who ever stirred the stardust on Broadway. Both were talented, but they were much more interested in playing the roulette of life than in concentrating on their careers."
Pickford eloped with Thomas on October 25, 1916 in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. None of their family was present with only Thomas Meighan
Thomas Meighan
Thomas Meighan was an American actor of silent films and early talkies. He played several leading man roles opposite popular actresses of the day including Mary Pickford and Gloria Swanson. At one point he commanded $10,000 a week....
as their witness. In a 1919 interview with Louella Parsons
Louella Parsons
Louella Parsons was the first American news-writer movie columnist in the United States. She was a gossip columnist who, for many years, was an influential arbiter of Hollywood mores, often feared and hated by the individuals, mostly actors, whose careers she could negatively impact via her...
, Thomas expressed her desire to have children, "One of these days we are going to have a family. I love children." The couple had no children of their own, though in 1920 they adopted her then-six-year-old nephew when his mother died.
Although by most accounts she was the love of Pickford's life, the marriage was stormy and filled with highly-charged conflict, followed by lavish making up through the exchange of expensive gifts. In a March 1920 issue of Motion Picture magazine, Thomas said of the drama-fueled relationship, "He's always sending me something and then I send him something back. You see, we have to bridge the distance in some way. At first I just couldn't get used to the idea of living this way, but I suppose one gets used to anything, given time. When we were together we used to use up the time fighting over things. I'd say, 'You were out with this person or that person,' and he'd come back at me in the same way, and we'd have a lively time of it, but we're over that now. We know that we can't sit home by the fireside ALL the time just because we cannot be together."
After Thomas's death in 1920, Pickford married two more times. In 1922 he married celebrated Broadway dancer and former Ziegfeld girl Marilyn Miller
Marilyn Miller
Marilyn Miller was one of the most popular Broadway musical stars of the 1920s and early 1930s. She was an accomplished tap dancer, singer and actress, but it was the combination of these talents that endeared her to audiences. On stage she usually played rags-to-riches Cinderella characters who...
. By most accounts he was not kind to her and the marriage was an abusive one. Miller eventually sought a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
divorce in 1927.
His final marriage was to Mary Mulhern in 1930; though they never divorced, the pair was separated at the time of his death.
Death and legacy
In 1932, Pickford visited Mary at Pickfair. According to Mary, he looked ill and emaciated; his clothes were hanging on him as if he were a clothes hanger. Mary Pickford recalled in her autobiography that she felt a wave of premonition that came over her while watching her brother leave. As they started down the stairs to the automobileAutomobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
entrance, Jack called back to her, "Don’t come down with me, Mary dear, I can go alone." As Mary stood at the top of the stair case, an inner voice spoke to her. "That’s the last time you’ll see Jack", she remembered hearing it say.
Jack Pickford died in American Hospital of Paris
American Hospital of Paris
The American Hospital of Paris, founded in 1906, located in Neuilly-sur-Seine, is a private, not-for-profit institution that is considered agréé/non-conventionné under the French system of healthcare. It has 187 surgical, medical, and obstetric beds....
on January 3, 1933. The cause for his death was listed as "progressive multiple neuritis which attacked all the nerve centers". Mary Pickford arranged for his body to be returned to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where he was interred in the private Pickford plot in Glendale, California
Glendale, California
Glendale is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the city population is 191,719, down from 194,973 at the 2000 census. making it the third largest city in Los Angeles County and the 22nd largest city in the state of California...
's Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery.
For his contribution to the motion picture industry, Jack Pickford has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame consists of more than 2,400 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along fifteen blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, California...
at 1523 Vine Street
Vine Street
Vine is a street in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California that runs north-south from Melrose Avenue up past Hollywood Boulevard. The intersection of Hollywood and Vine was once a symbol of Hollywood itself...
.
Selected filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1909 | The Message | In Crowd | |
| Wanted, a Child | A Child | ||
| To Save Her Soul To Save Her Soul To Save Her Soul is a 1909 short silent drama film directed by D. W. Griffith and starring Mary Pickford. The film was shot in Fort Lee, New Jersey when many of the early film studios in America's first motion picture industry were based there at the beginning of the 20th century.-Cast:* Arthur V... |
A Stagehand | ||
| 1910 | All on Account of the Milk All on Account of the Milk All on Account of the Milk is a 1910 short silent drama film directed by Frank Powell, starring Mary Pickford and Blanche Sweet. The film was shot in Fort Lee, New Jersey, the Biograph Company using one of the many early film studios in America's first motion picture industry that were based there... |
At Construction Site | |
| The Kid The Kid (1910 film) The Kid is a 1910 short silent drama film directed by Frank Powell and starring Henry B. Walthall. Mary Pickford and Blanche Sweet are listed as appearing in this film, but their parts are unconfirmed.-Cast:* Henry B. Walthall - Walter Holden... |
Walter Holden's Son | ||
| Ramona Ramona (1910 film) Ramona is a 1910 short drama film directed by D. W. Griffith based on Helen Hunt Jackson's 1884 novel Ramona. A copy of the print survives in the Library of Congress film archive.-Cast:* Mary Pickford - Ramona* Henry B. Walthall - Alessandro... |
A boy | ||
| 1911 | His Trust Fulfilled His Trust Fulfilled His Trust Fulfilled is a 1911 drama film directed by D. W. Griffith. Prints of this film survive in the film archives of the Library of Congress and the Museum of Modern Art.-Cast:* Wilfred Lucas - George* Claire McDowell - Mrs... |
Black messenger | |
| The Stuff Heroes are Made Of The Stuff Heroes Are Made Of The Stuff Heroes Are Made Of is a 1911 short silent drama film directed by D. W. Griffith and Frank Powell and starring Blanche Sweet.-Cast:* Edwin August - The Young Author* Blanche Sweet - Alice* Marion Sunshine - Jennie* Jack Pickford... |
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| 1912 | A Temporary Truce A Temporary Truce A Temporary Truce is a 1912 short silent Western film directed by D. W. Griffith and starring Blanche Sweet. A print of the film survives in the film archive of the Library of Congress.-Cast:* Charles Hill Mailes - Mexican Jim... |
An Indian | |
| Man's Lust for Gold Man's Lust for Gold Man's Lust for Gold is a 1912 short silent drama film directed by D. W. Griffith and starring Blanche Sweet.-Cast:* Blanche Sweet - The Prospector's Daughter* Robert Harron - The Prospector's Son* Frank Opperman - The Claim Jumper... |
Among the Indians | ||
| The Inner Circle The Inner Circle (1912 film) The Inner Circle is a 1912 short silent drama film directed by D. W. Griffith, starring Mary Pickford and Blanche Sweet. A print of the film survives in the film archive of the Library of Congress.-Cast:* Adolph Lestina - The Widower... |
The Messenger | ||
| A Feud in the Kentucky Hills A Feud in the Kentucky Hills A Feud in the Kentucky Hills is a 1912 silent drama film directed by D. W. Griffith. The film, by the Biograph Company, was shot on the Hudson Palisades near Fort Lee, New Jersey when many early film studios in America's first motion picture industry were based there at the beginning of the 20th... |
A Brother | ||
| The Painted Lady The Painted Lady The Painted Lady is a 1912 short drama film directed by D. W. Griffith and starring Blanche Sweet. A print of the film survives.-Cast:*Blanche Sweet - The Older Sister*Madge Kirby - The Younger Sister*Charles Hill Mailes - Their Father... |
Beau at Ice Cream Festival | ||
| The Musketeers of Pig Alley The Musketeers of Pig Alley The Musketeers of Pig Alley is a 1912 American short drama film credited as the first gangster film in history. It is directed by D. W. Griffith and written by Griffith and Anita Loos. It is also credited for its early use of follow focus, a fundamental tool in cinematography.The film was released... |
Rival Gang Member/At Dance | ||
| Heredity Heredity (film) -Cast:* Harry Carey - White Renegade Father* Madge Kirby - Indian Mother* Jack Pickford - Son of White Renegade Father and Indian Mother* Walter P. Lewis - Indian Chief* Kate Bruce - Indian Woman* Lionel Barrymore - Woodsman... |
Son of White Renegade Father and Indian Mother | ||
| My Baby My Baby (film) My Baby is a 1912 short comedy film directed by D. W. Griffith and Frank Powell. Prints of the film exist in the film archives of the Museum of Modern Art and the Library of Congress.-Cast:* Mary Pickford - The Wife* Henry B. Walthall - The Husband... |
Wedding Guest | ||
| Brutality Brutality (film) -Cast:* Walter Miller - The Young Man* Mae Marsh - The Young Woman* Joseph Graybill - The Victim of Anger* Lionel Barrymore - At Wedding* Elmer Booth - In Play* Clara T. Bracy - At Wedding/At Theatre* William J. Butler - At Theatre* Harry Carey - At Theatre... |
At Theatre | ||
| The New York Hat The New York Hat The New York Hat is a short silent film directed by D. W. Griffith from a screenplay by Anita Loos, and starring Mary Pickford, Lionel Barrymore, and Lillian Gish.-Production:... |
Youth outside church | ||
| My Hero My Hero (1912 film) My Hero is a 1912 Western film directed by D. W. Griffith and starring Dorothy Gish.-Cast:* Dorothy Gish - The Young Woman* Walter P. Lewis - The Young Woman's Father * Robert Harron - The Young Man* Henry B. Walthall - Indian Charlie... |
Indian | Unconfirmed | |
| 1913 | A Misappropriated Turkey A Misappropriated Turkey -Cast:* Charles West - The Striker* Claire McDowell - Mrs. Fallon* Edna Foster - The Striker's Son* Harry Carey - The Bartender* John T. Dillon - Union Member* Frank Evans - Union Member* Robert Harron - Union Member* Walter P. Lewis - Union Member... |
On Street | |
| Love in an Apartment Hotel Love in an Apartment Hotel Love in an Apartment Hotel is a 1913 drama film directed by D. W. Griffith and starring Blanche Sweet.-Cast:* Blanche Sweet - The Young Woman* Adolph Lestina - The Young Woman's Father* Henry B... |
A Bellhop | ||
| The Unwelcome Guest The Unwelcome Guest The Unwelcome Guest is a 1913 silent drama film directed by D. W. Griffith.-Cast:* Mary Pickford - The Slavey* W. Chrystie Miller - The Old Father* Charles Hill Mailes - The Son* Claire McDowell - The Wife* Jack Pickford - One of the Children... |
One of the Children | Alternative title: An Unwelcome Guest | |
| 1914 | The Gangsters of New York | Spot, the spy | Alternative title: The Gangsters |
| Home, Sweet Home | The Mother's Son | ||
| His Last Dollar | Jockey Jones | ||
| 1915 | The Love Route | Billy Ball | |
| The Pretty Sister of Jose The Pretty Sister of Jose (1915 film) The Pretty Sister of Jose is a silent film from 1915 produced by Daniel Frohman and distributed by Adolph Zukor's Famous Players film company. It was directed by Allan Dwan and starred Marguerite Clark and Jack Pickford, the brother of Clark's industry rival... |
Jose | ||
| A Girl of Yesterday A Girl of Yesterday A Girl of Yesterday is a 1915 film produced by Adolph Zukor's Famous Players company and released by Paramount Pictures. It was directed by Allan Dwan and starred Mary Pickford. Pickford at last played a mature woman more or less her own age. The picture costarred Frances Marion, soon to be a... |
John Stuart | ||
| 1916 | Poor Little Peppina Poor Little Peppina Poor Little Peppina is a 1916 American silent film directed by Sidney Olcott. The film was in 1916 Mary Pickford's longest film to be made. It was soon surpassed by her later films.-Plot:... |
Beppo | Alternative title: Little Peppina |
| Seventeen | William Sylvanus Baxter | ||
| 1917 | The Dummy | Barney Cook | |
| What Money Can't Buy | Dick Hale | ||
| The Varmint | John Humperdink Stover | ||
| 1918 | The Spirit of '17 | Davy Glidden | |
| Huck and Tom | Tom Sawyer | ||
| His Majesty, Bunker Bean | Bunker Bean | ||
| Sandy | Sandy Kilday | ||
| 1919 | Bill Apperson's Boy | Buddy Apperson | |
| Burglar by Proxy(Extant;Library of Congress) | Jack Robin | ||
| In Wrong | Johnny Spivins | ||
| 1920 | The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come | Chad | |
| The Man Who Had Everything | Harry Bullway | ||
| Just Out of College | Ed Swinger | ||
| 1923 | Garrison's Finish | Billy Garrison | |
| Hollywood Hollywood (1923 film) Hollywood was a silent comedy film directed by James Cruze, co-written by Frank Condon and Thomas J. Geraghty, and released by Paramount Pictures.The film has become famous as having featured cameos of more than thirty famous Hollywood stars... |
Himself | Cameo appearance | |
| 1924 | The Hill Billy | Jed McCoy | Alternative title: The Hillbilly |
| 1925 | Waking Up the Town | Jack Joyce | |
| My Son | Tony | ||
| The Goose Woman The Goose Woman The Goose Woman is a 1925 silent film drama directed by Clarence Brown and starring Louise Dresser with Jack Pickford as her son. The film was released by Universal Pictures... |
Gerald Holmes | ||
| 1926 | The Bat The Bat (1926 film) The Bat is a silent film based on the 1920 hit Broadway play by Mary Roberts Rinehart and Avery Hopwood, directed by Roland West and starring Jack Pickford and Louise Fazenda... |
Brooks Bailey | |
| Brown of Harvard Brown of Harvard (1926 film) Brown of Harvard is a 1926 silent film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and starring William Haines. The film is the best known of the three Brown of Harvard films, having been John Wayne's screen debut. Uncredited, Wayne played a "Yale Football Player". Grady Sutton and Robert Livingston, both of... |
Jim Doolittle | ||
| Exit Smiling Exit Smiling Exit Smiling is a 1926 comedy film directed by Sam Taylor and starring New York and London revues star Beatrice Lillie on her first film role and Jack Pickford, the brother of star Mary Pickford. The film was also the debut of actor Franklin Pangborn. The film's failure at the box office is often... |
Jimmy Marsh | ||
| 1928 | Gang War Gang War Gang War is a 1928 gangster film, best known for being the main feature attached to Steamboat Willie, the debut of Mickey Mouse in sound. The film starred Jack Pickford in his last major role, as "Clyde", a saxophone player whose love for a dancer named Flowers traps him in the middle of a gang war... |
Clyde Baxter | Alternative title: All Square |
External links
- In Mary's Shadow: The Story of Jack Pickford 2001 Documentary by Elaina Archer and Michael Yakaitis