William Armstrong (14 January 1891 – 1 March 1924) was a British-American actor and comedian.

Biography

Armstrong was born on 14 January 1891 in

Bristol, England Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city in S ...

. Armstrong started his career in the British

music hall Music hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment that was popular from the early Victorian era, beginning around 1850. It faded away after 1918 as the halls rebranded their entertainment as variety. Perceptions of a distinction in Bri ...

tradition and appeared in roles for

Fred Karno Frederick John Westcott (26 March 1866 – 17 September 1941), best known by his stage name Fred Karno, was an English theatre impresario of the British music hall. As a comedian of slapstick he is credited with popularising the custard-p ...

from 1910 until 1914 in his native Bristol, before heading to the US and working in films for

Keystone Studios Keystone Studios was an early film studio founded in Edendale, California (which is now a part of Echo Park) on July 4, 1912 as the Keystone Pictures Studio by Mack Sennett with backing from actor-writer Adam Kessel (1866–1946) and Charle ...

, mainly in comedy roles, where he was a regular player in the films of

Charlie Chaplin Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin Jr. (16 April 188925 December 1977) was an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the era of silent film. He became a worldwide icon through his screen persona, the Tramp, and is consider ...

among others. Armstrong died from tuberculosis on 1 March 1924 in Sunland, California.

Partial filmography

*'' His New Job'' (1915) *'' The Champion'' (1915) *''

In the Park ''In the Park'' is Charlie Chaplin's fourth film released in 1915 by Essanay Films. It was his third film while at the Niles Essanay Studio. It was one of several films Charlie Chaplin created in a park setting. The film co-starred Edna Purv ...

'' (1915) *''

The Tramp The Tramp (''Charlot'' in several languages), also known as the Little Tramp, was English actor Charlie Chaplin's most memorable on-screen character and an icon in world cinema during the era of silent film. ''The Tramp'' is also the title of ...

'' (1915) *'' By the Sea'' (1915) *''

Work Work may refer to: * Work (human activity), intentional activity people perform to support themselves, others, or the community ** Manual labour, physical work done by humans ** House work, housework, or homemaking ** Working animal, an animal t ...

'' (1915) *'' A Woman'' (1915) *'' The Bank'' (1915) *''

Shanghaied Shanghaied may refer to: *Shanghaiing, or forced conscription * ''Shanghaied'' (1915 film), a film starring Charlie Chaplin * ''Shanghaied'' (1927 film), a 1927 American silent film * ''Shanghaied'' (1934 film), an animated short film starring Mi ...

'' (1915) *''

Police The police are a constituted body of persons empowered by a state, with the aim to enforce the law, to ensure the safety, health and possessions of citizens, and to prevent crime and civil disorder. Their lawful powers include arrest and t ...

'' (1916) *''

Watch Your Neighbor ''Watch Your Neighbor'' is a 1918 silent film comedy short directed by Hampton Del Ruth and Victor Heerman. It starred Charles Murray and Mary Thurman. It was produced by Mack Sennett in a distribution deal with Paramount Pictures. Cast *Charles ...

'' (1918) *'' Clean Sweep'' (1918) *'' Triple Trouble'' (1918) *''

Hop, the Bellhop ''Hop, the Bellhop'' is a 1919 American silent comedy film featuring Oliver Hardy (credited as Babe Hardy). Cast * Billy Armstrong as Jumping Jupiter * Babe Hardy as Solomon Soop See also * List of American films of 1919 * Oliver Hardy f ...

'' (1919) * ''

Love, Honor and Behave ''Love, Honor and Behave'' is a 1938 American drama film directed by Stanley Logan and starring Wayne Morris and Priscilla Lane. The supporting cast includes John Litel, Thomas Mitchell, Dick Foran and Dickie Moore. " Bei Mir Bist Du Sc ...

'' (1920) *''

Skirts A skirt is the lower part of a dress or a separate outer garment that covers a person from the waist downwards. At its simplest, a skirt can be a draped garment made out of a single piece of fabric (such as pareos). However, most skirts are fi ...

'' (1921) *''

When Knights Were Cold ''When Knights Were Cold'' is a 1923 American comedy film directed by Frank Fouce starring Stan Laurel. Cast * Stan Laurel as Lord Helpus, a Slippery Knight * Mae Laurel as Countess Out, a Classy Eve * Catherine Bennett as Princess Elizabeth Ne ...

'' (1923) *''

The Extra Girl ''The Extra Girl'' is a 1923 American silent comedy film directed by F. Richard Jones and starring Mabel Normand.

'' (1923)

References

External links

* 1891 births 1924 deaths English male film actors English male silent film actors 20th-century English male actors Male actors from Bristol 20th-century deaths from tuberculosis British expatriate male actors in the United States Tuberculosis deaths in California {{British-actor-stub