Charles Emmett Mack (November 25, 1900 – March 17, 1927), was an American film actor during the

silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, when ...

era. He appeared in 17 films between 1916 and 1927.

Biography

Born Charles Emmett McNerney in

Scranton Scranton is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, Lackawanna County. With a population of 76,328 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 U ...

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

, to an Irish family, at a young age Mack could speak three or four languages. One of Mack's early jobs was as a peanut vendor at the

Ringling Brothers Circus Ringling Bros. World's Greatest Shows is a circus founded in Baraboo, Wisconsin, United States in 1884 by five of the seven Ringling brothers: Albert, August, Otto, Alfred T., Charles, John, and Henry. The Ringling brothers were sons of a Ge ...

. After that, he appeared in

vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment born in France at the end of the 19th century. A vaudeville was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a dramatic composition ...

, specializing in buck-and-wing dancing. Later he became a tour guide for

D.W. Griffith David Wark Griffith (January 22, 1875 – July 23, 1948) was an American film director. Considered one of the most influential figures in the history of the motion picture, he pioneered many aspects of film editing and expanded the art of the na ...

Mamaroneck Mamaroneck ( ) is a town in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 31,758 at the 2020 United States census over 29,156 at the 2010 census. There are two villages contained within the town: Larchmont and the Village of M ...

Studios. After that he was Griffith's prop man, fetching all sorts of props for the director. Charles Emmett Mack in Motion Picture Classic, July 1926

Charles Emmett Mack in Motion Picture Classic, July 1926

One day, Griffith invited Mack to rehearse a scene from ''

Dream Street Dream Street were an American pop music, pop boy band that was formed in 1999 by Louis Baldonieri and Brian Lukow. The band disbanded in 2002 following a legal dispute between parents of the band members and the band's managers. History The ...

'' with him. Mack enjoyed the part he had and thought Griffith was friendly. He ended up playing the lead. While filming ''

America The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

'' in 1924, a soldier's arm was blown off. As Mack recalls, " Neil Hamilton and I went to neighboring towns and raised a fund for him—I doing a song and dance and Neil collecting a coin." After signing with

Warner Brothers Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American Film studio, film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank, Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, Califo ...

, Mack was killed in an automobile accident on his way to a racetrack to film an auto racing scene for the film ''

The First Auto ''The First Auto'' is a 1927 film about the transition from horses to cars and the rift it causes in one family. It stars Charles Emmett Mack and Patsy Ruth Miller, with Barney Oldfield having a guest role in the movie. While mainly a silent f ...

'' (1927). He was 26 years old. Mack was survived by his wife, Marion Mack and her twelve-year-old adopted daughter and three-year-old son. She was born in

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

and came to the United States when she was three. A 1929 issue of ''Picture-Play'' revealed that it was anticipated that she would perhaps become a leading actress, but it doesn't seem her career ever went past bit parts. She is not to be confused with the other

Marion Mack Joey Marion McCreery Lewyn (April 8, 1902–May 1, 1989), known professionally as Marion Mack, was an American film actress and screenwriter. Mack is best known for co-starring with Buster Keaton in the 1926 silent comedy film, '' The General ...

Filmography

* ''

Dolly's Scoop ''Dolly's Scoop'' is a 1916 American silent drama film directed by Joe De Grasse and featuring Lon Chaney. It was written by Ida May Park, based on a story by Hugh Weir. This was one of the few silent films that subtitled the actors' dialogue a ...

'' (1916) * ''

'' (1921) * '' One Exciting Night'' (1922) * '' Driven'' (1923) * ''

The White Rose The White Rose (german: Weiße Rose, ) was a non-violent, intellectual resistance group in Nazi Germany which was led by five students (and one professor) at the University of Munich: Willi Graf, Kurt Huber, Christoph Probst, Alexander Schmo ...

'' (1923) * '' The Daring Years'' (1923) * ''

'' (1924) * ''

The Sixth Commandment ''The Sixth Commandment'' is a 1924 American silent drama film directed by Christy Cabanne and starring William Faversham. Plot John Brant, a devoted minister, is in love with Marian Calhoun, but must keep it a secret because she is engaged to ...

'' (1924) * ''

Youth for Sale ''Youth for Sale'' is a 1924 silent American drama film directed by Christy Cabanne and starring May Allison, Sigrid Holmquist, and Richard Bennett. It was released on August 1, 1924. Cast list * May Allison as Molly Malloy * Sigrid Holmq ...

'' (1924) * ''

Bad Company Bad Company are an English rock supergroup that was formed in 1973 by singer Paul Rodgers, guitarist Mick Ralphs, drummer Simon Kirke and bassist Boz Burrell. Bad Company ''AllMusic'' Peter Grant, who managed the rock band Led Zeppelin, a ...

'' (1925) * ''

Down Upon the Suwanee River ''Down Upon the Suwanee River'' is a 1925 American silent drama film directed by Lem F. Kennedy and starring Charles Emmett Mack, Mary Thurman and Arthur Donaldson.Hunter p.252 The spelling of the film's titled varied with uses of both ''Swanee'' ...

'' (1925) * ''

A Woman of the World ''A Woman of the World'' is a 1925 American silent comedy-drama film starring Pola Negri, directed by Mal St. Clair, produced by Famous Players-Lasky, and distributed by Paramount Pictures. Plot As described in a review in a film magazine, ...

'' (1925) * ''

The Devil's Circus ''The Devil's Circus'' is a 1926 American silent drama film directed by Danish director Benjamin Christensen, based upon his screenplay. The film stars Norma Shearer and Charles Emmett Mack. It was the first of seven films directed by Christens ...

'' (1926) * '' The Unknown Soldier'' (1926) * ''

Old San Francisco ''Old San Francisco'' is a 1927 American silent historical drama film starring Dolores Costello and featuring Warner Oland. The film, which was produced and distributed by Warner Bros., was directed by Alan Crosland. Plot Chris Buckwell, cruel ...

'' (1927) * ''

'' (1927) * '' The Rough Riders'' (1927)

References

External links

* 1900 births 1927 deaths American male film actors American male silent film actors Actors from Scranton, Pennsylvania Road incident deaths in California 20th-century American male actors Male actors from Pennsylvania {{US-film-actor-1900s-stub