William Farnum
Encyclopedia
William Farnum was a major movie actor. One of three brothers, Farnum grew up in a family of actors. He made his acting debut at the age of ten in Richmond
, Virginia
in a production of Julius Caesar
, with Edwin Booth
playing the title character. His first major success was as the title character of Ben-Hur
in 1900 though replacing the original actor Edward Morgan who premiered the character in 1899. Later plays Farnum appeared in were the costume epic The Prince of India (1906), The White Sister (1909) starring Viola Allen
, The Littlest Rebel (1911) co-starring his brother Dustin
and a child actress named Mary Miles Minter
(then nine years old) & Arizona (1913) with Dustin and stage beauty Elsie Ferguson
.
In The Spoilers
in 1914, Farnum and Tom Santschi
staged a classic movie fight which lasted for a full reel. In 1930, Farnum and Stantschi coached Gary Cooper
and William Boyd
in the fight scene for the 1930 version of The Spoilers. Other actors influenced by the Farnum scene were Milton Sills
and Noah Beery in 1922 and Randolph Scott
and John Wayne
in 1942.
From 1915 to 1925, Farnum devoted his life to motion pictures. When becoming one of the biggest sensations in Hollywood, he also became one of the highest-paid actors, earning $10,000 a week. Farnum's silent pictures the western Drag Harlan(1920) and the drama-adventure If I Were King
(1921) survive from his years contracted to Fox Films.
Farnum has a "Star" on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
. He was the younger brother of actor Dustin Farnum
. He had another brother, Marshall Farnum, who was a silent film director and died in 1917.
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
in a production of Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar (play)
The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, also known simply as Julius Caesar, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1599. It portrays the 44 BC conspiracy against...
, with Edwin Booth
Edwin Booth
Edwin Thomas Booth was a famous 19th century American actor who toured throughout America and the major capitals of Europe, performing Shakespearean plays. In 1869 he founded Booth's Theatre in New York, a spectacular theatre that was quite modern for its time...
playing the title character. His first major success was as the title character of Ben-Hur
Ben-Hur (play)
Ben Hur was an 1899 dramatization of the 1880 novel Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ by Lew Wallace. It was dramatized by William W. Young and produced by Marc Klaw and A. L. Erlanger. Inspired by the popular equestrian dramas of nineteenth century London, the production was notable for its elaborate...
in 1900 though replacing the original actor Edward Morgan who premiered the character in 1899. Later plays Farnum appeared in were the costume epic The Prince of India (1906), The White Sister (1909) starring Viola Allen
Viola Allen
Viola Emily Allen was an American stage actress who played leading roles in Shakespere and other plays, including many original plays. She starred in over two dozen Broadway productions from 1885 to 1916...
, The Littlest Rebel (1911) co-starring his brother Dustin
Dustin Farnum
Dustin Lancy Farnum was an American singer, dancer and an actor in silent movies during the early days of motion pictures. After a great success in a number of stage roles, in 1914 he landed his first film role in the movie 'Soldiers of Fortune', and later in Cecil B. DeMille's The Squaw Man...
and a child actress named Mary Miles Minter
Mary Miles Minter
Mary Miles Minter was an American film actress of the silent film era.-Early life and rise to stardom:Born Juliet Reilly in Shreveport, Louisiana, Minter was the daughter of Broadway actress Charlotte Shelby...
(then nine years old) & Arizona (1913) with Dustin and stage beauty Elsie Ferguson
Elsie Ferguson
Elsie Louise Ferguson was an American stage and film actress.-Early life:Born in New York City, Elsie Ferguson was the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Benson Ferguson, a successful attorney...
.
In The Spoilers
The Spoilers
The Spoilers may refer to:* The Spoilers , a 1969 novel by English author Desmond Bagley* The Spoilers, a 1906 novel by Rex Beach, adapted into five different movies:** The Spoilers with William Farnum...
in 1914, Farnum and Tom Santschi
Tom Santschi
Tom Santschi was an American leading man and character actor of the silent film era.-Career:...
staged a classic movie fight which lasted for a full reel. In 1930, Farnum and Stantschi coached Gary Cooper
Gary Cooper
Frank James Cooper, known professionally as Gary Cooper, was an American film actor. He was renowned for his quiet, understated acting style and his stoic, but at times intense screen persona, which was particularly well suited to the many Westerns he made...
and William Boyd
William Boyd (actor)
William Lawrence Boyd was an American film actor best known for portraying Hopalong Cassidy.-Biography:...
in the fight scene for the 1930 version of The Spoilers. Other actors influenced by the Farnum scene were Milton Sills
Milton Sills
Milton Sills was a highly successful American stage and film actor of the early twentieth century....
and Noah Beery in 1922 and Randolph Scott
Randolph Scott
Randolph Scott was an American film actor whose career spanned from 1928 to 1962. As a leading man for all but the first three years of his cinematic career, Scott appeared in a variety of genres, including social dramas, crime dramas, comedies, musicals , adventure tales, war films, and even a few...
and John Wayne
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
in 1942.
From 1915 to 1925, Farnum devoted his life to motion pictures. When becoming one of the biggest sensations in Hollywood, he also became one of the highest-paid actors, earning $10,000 a week. Farnum's silent pictures the western Drag Harlan(1920) and the drama-adventure If I Were King
If I Were King (1920 film)
If I Were King is a silent film produced by Fox Film Corporation, directed by J. Gordon Edwards, and starring William Farnum as Francois Villon with Fritz Leiber, Sr. and Betty Ross Clarke.-Cast:* William Farnum - Francois Villon...
(1921) survive from his years contracted to Fox Films.
Farnum 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...
. He was the younger brother of actor Dustin Farnum
Dustin Farnum
Dustin Lancy Farnum was an American singer, dancer and an actor in silent movies during the early days of motion pictures. After a great success in a number of stage roles, in 1914 he landed his first film role in the movie 'Soldiers of Fortune', and later in Cecil B. DeMille's The Squaw Man...
. He had another brother, Marshall Farnum, who was a silent film director and died in 1917.
