Ben F. Wilson (also credited as Benjamin Wilson; July 7, 1876 – August 25, 1930), was an American stage and film actor, director, producer and screenwriter of the silent era.
The Actors Birthday Book by Johnson Briscoe, this edition c. 1908
Retrieved March 24, 2016 He appeared in more than 210 films between 1911 and 1930. He also directed more than 130 films between 1912 and 1930. He starred as Inspector Cleek in a 1914 series of mystery shorts. He was born in Corning, Iowa
Corning is a city in Quincy Township, Adams County, Iowa, Quincy Township, Adams County, Iowa, Adams County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,564 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. It is the county seat of Adams County. Cornin ...
in 1876, and died in Glendale, California
Glendale is a city in the San Fernando Valley and Verdugo Mountains regions of Los Angeles County, California, Los Angeles County, California, United States. At the 2020 United States Census, 2020 U.S. Census the population was 196,543, up from ...
in 1930 from heart disease
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels. CVD includes coronary artery diseases (CAD) such as angina and myocardial infarction (commonly known as a heart attack). Other CVDs include stroke, hea ...
.
Selected filmography
* ''Silver Threads Among the Gold'' (1911)
* ''The Star Spangled Banner'' (1911)
* ''The Battle of Bunker Hill'' (1911)
* ''To Save Her Brother'' (1912)
* '' For the Cause of the South'' (1912)
* ''The Charge of the Light Brigade
The Charge of the Light Brigade was a failed military action involving the British light cavalry led by Lord Cardigan against Russian forces during the Battle of Balaclava on 25 October 1854 in the Crimean War. Lord Raglan had intended to s ...
'' (1912)
* ''The Passing of J.B. Randall and Company'' (1912)
* '' In His Father's Steps'' (1912)
* ''The Old Monk's Tale
''The Old Monk's Tale'' is a 1913 American drama film directed by J. Searle Dawley, produced by The Edison Company and released by General Film Company. It features the first known film appearance of Harold Lloyd as an uncredited Yaqui Indian at ...
'' (1913)
* ''The Mystery of the Dover Express'' (1913)
* ''The Vanishing Cracksman'' (1913)
* '' The Twelfth Juror'' (1913)
* ''Hulda of Holland
''Hulda of Holland'' is a 1913 American short drama film. Harold Lloyd features in an uncredited role.
Cast
* Ben F. Wilson as Heintz
* Laura Sawyer as Hulda
* Jessie McAllister
* Charles Sutton
* Harold Lloyd as Bit Role (uncredited)
See al ...
'' (1913)
* '' Who Will Marry Mary?'' (1913)
* ''The Heritage of Hamilton Cleek
Thomas W. Hanshew (1857 – 1914) was an American writer and male actor. He was born in Brooklyn, New York (state).
Life and career
Hanshew began a career as an actor when only 16 years old, playing minor parts with Ellen Terry's company ...
'' (1914)
''The Chronicles of Cleek'' series - (shorts)
* ''The Mystery of the Sealed Art Gallery'' (1914)
* ''The Mystery of the Glass Tubes'' (1914)
* ''The Mystery of the Octagonal Room'' (1914)
* ''The Mystery of the Lost Stradivarius'' (1914)
* ''The Mystery of the Fadeless Tints'' (1914)
* ''The Mystery of the Amsterdam Diamonds'' (1914)
* ''The Mystery of the Silver Snare'' (1914)
* ''The Mystery of the Laughing Death'' (1914)
* ''The Mystery of the Ladder of Light'' (1914)
* ''The Mystery of the Talking Wire'' (1914)
* ''The Mainspring
''The Mainspring'' is a 1916 American silent drama film directed by Jack Conway and starring Ben F. Wilson, Wilbur Higby and Francelia Billington.Parish & Pitts p.75
Cast
* Ben F. Wilson as Lawrence Ashmore / Larry Craven
* Wilbur Higby as Jes ...
'' (1916)
* ''The Cad'' (1915) (directed and acted)
* '' Idle Wives'' (1916)
* ''Even As You and I
''Even As You and I'' is a 1917 American silent film, silent drama film directed by Lois Weber and starring Ben F. Wilson, Mignon Anderson and Bertram Grassby.''American Silent Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy Feature Films, 1913-1929''. p.184
...
'' (1917)
* ''The Spindle of Life
''The Spindle of Life'' is a 1917 American silent comedy film directed by George Cochrane and starring Ben F. Wilson, Neva Gerber and Jessie Pratt.Goble p.963
Cast
* Ben F. Wilson as 'Alphabet' Carter
* Neva Gerber as Gladsome
* Jessie Pratt as ...
'' (1917)
* ''The Voice on the Wire
''The Voice on the Wire'' is a 1917 American action film serial directed by Stuart Paton. It is presumed to be lost.
Cast
* Ben F. Wilson as John Shirley (as Ben Wilson)
* Neva Gerber as Polly Marion
* Joseph W. Girard as Dr. Reynolds
* Franc ...
'' (1917)
* ''The Mystery Ship
''The Mystery Ship'' is a 1917 American adventure film serial directed by Harry Harvey and Henry MacRae. The film is considered to be lost.
Cast
Chapter titles
# The Crescent Scar
# The Grip of Hate
# Adrift
# The Secret of the Tomb
# The Fir ...
'' (1917)
* ''The Brass Bullet
''The Brass Bullet'' is a 1918 American silent adventure film serial directed by Ben F. Wilson. It is now considered to be a lost film.
Cast
* Juanita Hansen as Rosalind Joy
* Jack Mulhall as Jack James
* Charles Hill Mailes as Homer Joy
* J ...
'' (1918)
* ''The Trail of the Octopus
''The Trail of the Octopus'' is a 1919 American mystery film serial directed by Duke Worne. A print of ''The Trail of the Octopus'' which is missing episode 9 is in the Library of Congress. The surviving film serial has been released on DVD.
...
'' (1919)
* ''The Blue Bonnet
''The Blue Bonnet'' is a 1919 American silent drama film directed by Louis Chaudet and starring Billie Rhodes, Ben F. Wilson, and Irene Rich.Wlaschin p.289
Cast
* Billie Rhodes as Ruth
* Ben F. Wilson as Jairus Drake
* Irene Rich as Martha Dra ...
'' (1919)
* '' Castles in the Air'' (1919)
* ''The Screaming Shadow
''The Screaming Shadow'' is a 1920 American 15-chapter silent action film serial directed by Ben F. Wilson and Duke Worne. The film is considered to be lost. The serial's themes of "eternal life" and "premature burial" seem to tilt it into the h ...
'' (1920)
* ''Thunderbolt Jack
''Thunderbolt Jack'' is a 1920 American silent Western film serial directed by Francis Ford and Murdock MacQuarrie, produced by Berwilla Film Corp., and released on the states-rights market by Arrow Film Corp. The serial is considered to be lo ...
'' (1920)
* ''Cupid's Brand
''Cupid's Brand'' is a 1921 American silent Western film directed by Rowland V. Lee and starring Jack Hoxie, Wilbur McGaugh and Mignon Anderson.
Cast
* Jack Hoxie as Reese Wharton
* Wilbur McGaugh as 'Spike' Crowder
* Charles Force as 'Bull ...
'' (1921)
* ''Dangerous Paths
''Dangerous Paths'' is a 1921 American silent drama film directed by Duke Worne and starring Neva Gerber, Ben F. Wilson and Edith Stayart.Munden p.168
Cast
* Neva Gerber as Ruth Hammond
* Ben F. Wilson as John Emerson
* Edith Stayart as Violet ...
'' (1921)
* ''Devil Dog Dawson
''Devil Dog Dawson'' is a 1921 American silent Western film directed by Karl R. Coolidge and starring Jack Hoxie, Helene Rosson and Evelyn Selbie. It was produced by Unity Photoplays and released on the states-rights market by Arrow Film Corp.
...
'' (1921)
* ''Cyclone Bliss
''Cyclone Bliss'' is a 1921 American silent Western film directed by Francis Ford and starring Jack Hoxie, Evelyn Nelson and Fred Kohler.
Plot
Cast
* Jack Hoxie as Jack Bliss
* Frederick Moore as Bill Turner
* Evelyn Nelson as Helen Turner ...
'' (1921)
* '' Dead or Alive'' (1921)
* ''The Sheriff of Hope Eternal
''The Sheriff of Hope Eternal'' is a 1921 American silent Western film directed by Ben F. Wilson and starring Jack Hoxie, Marin Sais and Joseph W. Girard.Munden, p. 707.
Synopsis
A stage coach driver Drew Halliday falls in love with Hela M ...
'' (1921)
* ''The Broken Spur
''The Broken Spur'' is a 1921 American silent Western film directed by Ben F. Wilson and starring Jack Hoxie, Evelyn Nelson and Marin Sais.Langman, p. 50
Synopsis
An engineer attempts to construct a new railroad through the Canadian Northwest, ...
'' (1921)
* '' Hills of Hate'' (1921)
* ''The Double O
''The Double O'' is a 1921 American silent film, silent Western (genre), Western film directed by Roy Clements (director), Roy Clements and starring Jack Hoxie, Steve Clemente and Evelyn Nelson.
Cast
* Jack Hoxie as Happy Hanes
* Steve Clement ...
'' (1921)
* ''The Innocent Cheat
''The Innocent Cheat'' is a 1921 American silent drama film directed by Ben F. Wilson and starring Roy Stewart, Sidney De Gray and Rhea Mitchell.Munden p.381
Cast
* Roy Stewart as John Murdock
* Sidney De Gray as Bruce Stanhope
* George Hernande ...
'' (1921)
* ''Back to Yellow Jacket
''Back to Yellow Jacket'' is a 1922 American silent Western film directed by Ben F. Wilson and starring Roy Stewart, Kathleen Kirkham and Earl Metcalfe.
Cast
* Roy Stewart as Jim Ballantyne
* Kathleen Kirkham as Carmen, his wife
* Earl Metcal ...
'' (1922)
* ''One Eighth Apache
''One Eighth Apache'' is a 1922 American silent Western film directed by Ben F. Wilson and starring Roy Stewart, Kathleen Kirkham and Wilbur McGaugh.Munden, p. 568.
Cast
* Roy Stewart as Brant Murdock
* Kathleen Kirkham as Norma Biddie
* W ...
'' (1922)
* '' Chain Lightning'' (1922)
* '' The Love Trap'' (1923)
* ''The Satin Girl
''The Satin Girl'' is a 1923 American silent drama film directed by Arthur Rosson and starring Mabel Forrest, Norman Kerry and Marc McDermott. The main themes of the film are amnesia and brainwashing. Lenore Vance, the main character, loses her ...
'' (1923)
* ''The Law Rustlers
''The Law Rustlers'' is a 1923 American silent Western film directed by Louis King and starring William Fairbanks, Edmund Cobb and Joseph W. Girard.Munden, p. 426.
Synopsis
Two ranch hands set off for Alaska but stop in a town on the way, cont ...
'' (1923)
* ''Mine to Keep
''Mine to Keep'' is a 1923 American silent drama film directed by Ben F. Wilson and starring Bryant Washburn, Charlotte Stevens and Wheeler Oakman.Munden p.515
Synopsis
A newly married couple both suspect the other of infidelity. They separate ...
'' (1923)
* '' Other Men's Daughters'' (1923)
* '' The Santa Fe Trail'' (1923)
* ''Condemned
Condemned or The Condemned may refer to:
Legal
* Persons awaiting execution
* A condemned property, or condemned building, by a local authority, usually for public health or safety reasons
* A condemned property seized by power of eminent domain
...
'' (1923)
* '' Notch Number One'' (1924)
* '' The Desert Hawk'' (1924)
* '' Two Fisted Justice'' (1924)
* '' Branded a Bandit'' (1924)
* ''The Mystery Box'' (1925)
* '' White Thunder'' (1925)
* ''Wild Horse Canyon
''Wild Horse Canyon'' is a 1938 American Western film directed by Robert F. Hill and written by Robert Emmett Tansey. The film stars Jack Randall, Dorothy Short, Frank Yaconelli, Warner Richmond, Walter Long and Dennis Moore. The film wa ...
'' (1925)
* ''A Two-Fisted Sheriff
''A Two-Fisted Sheriff'' is a 1925 American silent Western film directed by Ben F. Wilson and starring Yakima Canutt, Ruth Stonehouse and Joe Rickson.Connelly p.110
Cast
* Yakima Canutt as Jerry O'Connell
* Ruth Stonehouse as Midge Blair
* Ar ...
'' (1925)
* ''Scar Hanan
''Scar Hanan'' is a 1925 American silent Western film directed by Edward Linden and Ben F. Wilson and starring Yakima Canutt, Dorothy Wood and Helen Broneau.Munden, p. 684
Cast
* Yakima Canutt as Scar Hanan
* Dorothy Wood as Marian Fleming
* H ...
'' (1925)
* ''The Human Tornado
''The Human Tornado'' is a 1976 American blaxploitation film directed by Cliff Roquemore. The film is a sequel to ''Dolemite''.
Plot
After coming off a successful comedy tour, Dolemite throws a get-together at his mansion. The party is crashe ...
'' (1925)
* ''A Daughter of the Sioux
''A Daughter of the Sioux'' is a 1925 American silent Western film directed by Ben Wilson. It stars Ben Wilson, Neva Gerber, and Robert Walker, and was released on December 28, 1925.
Plot summary
John Field (Ben Wilson) is a U.S. Governmen ...
'' (1925)
* ''Vic Dyson Pays
''Vic Dyson Pays'' is a 1925 American silent Western film directed by Jacques Jaccard and starring Ben F. Wilson, Neva Gerber and Joseph W. Girard.Langman, p. 486
Cast
* Ben F. Wilson as 'Mad' Vic Dyson
* Archie Ricks as Skip
* Neva Gerber as ...
'' (1925)
* ''Romance and Rustlers
''Romance and Rustlers'' is a 1925 American silent Western film directed by Ben F. Wilson and starring Yakima Canutt, Dorothy Wood and Joseph W. Girard.Langman, p. 378
Cast
* Yakima Canutt as Bud Kane
* Dorothy Wood as Ruth Larrabee
* Harris ...
'' (1925)
* ''Tonio, Son of the Sierras
''Tonio, Son of the Sierras'' is a 1925 American silent Western film directed by Ben F. Wilson and starring Wilson, Neva Gerber, Robert Walker and Ruth Royce.Connelly p.422 It is based on the novel of the same name by Charles King.
Cast
* Be ...
'' (1925)
* '' The Fugitive'' (1925)
* ''Where Romance Rides
''Where Romance Rides'' is a 1925 American silent Western film directed by Ward Hayes and starring Dick Hatton, Marilyn Mills and Roy Laidlaw.Langman, p. 505
Synopsis
A wealthy New York banker and his daughter take a vacation in the West. Whil ...
'' (1925)
* '' The Riding Comet'' (1925)
* ''Tentacles of the North
''In the Tentacles of the North'' is a 1926 American silent adventure film directed by Louis Chaudet and starring Gaston Glass, Alice Calhoun and Joseph W. Girard.Munden p.791 Two ships, on a journey lead by Captin Van Horn, become trapped in i ...
'' (1926)
* ''The Baited Trap
''The Baited Trap'' is a 1926 American silent film, silent Western (genre), Western film directed by Stuart Paton and starring Ben F. Wilson, Neva Gerber and Al Ferguson.
Cast
* Ben F. Wilson as Jim Banning
* Neva Gerber as Helen Alder
* Al F ...
'' (1926)
* '' The Wolf Hunters'' (1926)
* ''West of the Law
''West of the Law'' is a 1942 American Western film directed by Howard Bretherton and written by Adele Buffington. This is the eighth film in Monogram Pictures' ''Rough Riders'' series, and stars Buck Jones as Marshal Buck Roberts, Tim McCoy ...
'' (1926)
* '' Wolves of the Desert'' (1926)
* ''Fort Frayne
''Fort Frayne'' is a 1926 American silent Western film directed by Ben F. Wilson and starring Wilson, Neva Gerber, Ruth Royce, and Lafe McKee. It is based on the 1901 novel of the same name by Charles King. It is now considered to be a lost ...
'' (1926)
* ''Officer 444
''Officer 444'' is a 1926 film serial directed by Francis Ford and Ben F. Wilson, produced by Goodwill Productions and released by the independent Davis Distributing Division.
Plot
Officer 444, a heroic policeman, does battle with The Frog, ...
'' (1926)
* ''Rainbow Riley
''Rainbow Riley'' is a 1926 American silent comedy film directed by Charles Hines and starring Johnny Hines, Brenda Bond, and Bradley Barker.
Plot
As described in a film magazine review, Steve Riley, a cub reporter, is sent out to cover a fe ...
'' (1926)
* ''The Range Riders
''The Range Riders'' is a 1927 American silent Western film directed by Ben F. Wilson and starring Wilson, Neva Gerber, Al Ferguson.Connelly p.227
Cast
* Ben F. Wilson as Sra. Shannon
* Neva Gerber as Betty Grannan
* Al Ferguson as 'Sundown ...
'' (1927)
* ''Speeding Hoofs
''Speeding Hoofs'' is a 1927 American silent Western film directed by Louis Chaudet and starring Dick Hatton, Elsa Benham and Ray Turner (actor), Ray Turner.Langman, p. 329
Cast
* Dick Hatton as Richard Stanton
* Elsa Benham
Elsa Benham ( ...
'' (1927)
* ''The Fighting Stallion
''The Fighting Stallion'' is a 1950 American Western film directed by Robert Emmett Tansey.
Plot summary
Cast
* Bill Edwards as Lon Evans
*Doris Merrick as Jeanne Barton
*Forrest Taylor as Martin Evans
*Don C. Harvey as Commander Patrick
* ...
'' (1927)
* ''Western Courage
''Western Courage'' is a 1927 American silent Western film directed by Ben Wilson, starring Richard Hatton, Elsa Benham, and Robert Walker.
Cast
* Richard Hatton
* Elsa Benham
* Robert Walker
* Art Mix
* Ed La Niece
* Al Ferguson
Al Fe ...
'' (1927)
* ''His Last Bullet
''His Last Bullet'' is a 1928 American silent Western film directed by Ben F. Wilson and starring Al Hoxie and Peggy O'Day.
Cast
* Al Hoxie as Tom Randall
* Peggy O'Day as Ethel Thompson
* Ben Wilson Jr. as Phil Randall
* Ellis Houston as Jo ...
'' (1928)
* '' Bye, Bye, Buddy'' (1929)
* '' The Saddle King'' (1929)
* ''The Voice from the Sky
''The Voice from the Sky'' is a 1930 American science fiction film serial directed by Ben F. Wilson and starring Wally Wales and Neva Gerber. The film was considered to be a lost film, but was recently rediscovered. It is the first serial film to ...
'' (1930)
* '' Shadow Ranch'' (1930)
References
External links
*
1876 births
1930 deaths
20th-century American male actors
American male film actors
American male screenwriters
American male silent film actors
People from Corning, Iowa
Film directors from Iowa
Screenwriters from Iowa
Film producers from Iowa
20th-century American male writers
20th-century American screenwriters
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