Frank Albert Daniels (August 15, 1856 – January 12, 1935) was a comedian, an actor on stage, early black-and-white silent films, and a singer.
Daniels was born on August 15, 1856 in
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton () is the sixth-largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County. A small part of the city extends into Greene County. The 2020 U.S. census estimate put the city population at 137,644, while Greater Day ...
to Balinda and Henry Daniels, and was raised in
Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
. He attended business school and the
New England Conservatory of Music
The New England Conservatory of Music (NEC) is a Private college, private music school in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the oldest independent music Music school, conservatory in the United States and among the most prestigious in the world. The ...
.
His first stage appearance was a in production of ''
Trial by Jury
A jury trial, or trial by jury, is a legal proceeding in which a jury makes a decision or findings of fact. It is distinguished from a bench trial in which a judge or panel of judges makes all decisions.
Jury trials are used in a significant ...
'' at the old
Gaiety Theatre. He appeared in ''
The Chimes of Normandy
''Les cloches de Corneville'' (''The Bells of Corneville'', sometimes known in English as ''The Chimes of Normandy'') is an opéra-comique in three acts, composed by Robert Planquette to a libretto by Louis Clairville and Charles Gabet.
The ...
'' in 1879, and then worked with the
McCaull Comic Opera Company
The McCaull Comic Opera Company, also called the McCaull Opera Comique Company, was an American theatral production company founded by Colonel John A. McCaull in 1880. The company produced operetta, comic opera and musical theatre in New York Cit ...
and other light opera companies.
In New York, Daniels played Old Sport in ''A Rag Baby'' (1884); Packingham Giltedge in ''Little Puck'' (1888) (which was based on
F. Anstey
Thomas Anstey Guthrie (8 August 1856 – 10 March 1934) was an English author (writing as F. Anstey), most noted for his comic novel ''Vice Versa'' about a boarding-school boy and his father exchanging identities. His reputation was confirmed b ...
's novel ''
Vice Versa
References
Additional references
*
*
{{Latin phrases
Lists of Latin phrases, V
ca:Locució llatina#V
da:Latinske ord og vendinger#V
fr:Liste de locutions latines#V
id:Daftar frasa Latin#V
it:Locuzioni latine#V
nl:Lijst van Latijns ...
''); Shrimps in ''Princess Bonnie'' (1895); and the title role in
Victor Herbert
Victor August Herbert (February 1, 1859 – May 26, 1924) was an American composer, cellist and conductor of English and Irish ancestry and German training. Although Herbert enjoyed important careers as a cello soloist and conductor, he is be ...
's ''
The Wizard of the Nile'' (1895). Herbert was impressed, and created two roles for Daniels in his plays ''The Idol's Eye'' (1897) and ''The Ameer'' (1899). Later roles included ''The Tattooed Man'' (1907) by Herbert, ''
The Belle of Brittany
''The Belle of Brittany'' is an Edwardian musical comedy in two acts set in 'Daffodil Time' in rustic 18th-century Brittany. It premiered at the Sondheim Theatre, Queen's Theatre in London on 24 October 1908. The music is by Howard Talbot and Ma ...
'' (1909), and ''The Pink Lady'' (1911). He retired in 1912.
![Kernel Nutt Series](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/Kernel_Nutt_Series.jpg)
He was a major star for
Vitagraph Studios
Vitagraph Studios, also known as the Vitagraph Company of America, was a United States motion picture studio. It was founded by J. Stuart Blackton and Albert E. Smith in 1897 in Brooklyn, New York, as the American Vitagraph Company. By 1907, ...
, for whom he developed popular characters such as ''
Captain Jiggs'', ''
Kernel Nutt'', and ''
Mr. Jack
''Mr. Jack'' is an American comic strip by Jimmy Swinnerton which ran in William Randolph Hearst newspapers from August 30, 1903 until 1935. Mr. Jack, a philandering playboy tiger, may be the first developed cartoon animal character, a type ...
''. He appeared in three films with
Harold Lloyd
Harold Clayton Lloyd, Sr. (April 20, 1893 – March 8, 1971) was an American actor, comedian, and stunt performer who appeared in many silent comedy films.Obituary ''Variety'', March 10, 1971, page 55.
One of the most influential film co ...
in
1919
Events
January
* January 1
** The Czechoslovak Legions occupy much of the self-proclaimed "free city" of Pressburg (now Bratislava), enforcing its incorporation into the new republic of Czechoslovakia.
** HMY ''Iolaire'' sinks off the c ...
: ''
Count the Votes
Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...
'', ''
Pay Your Dues
''Pay Your Dues'' is a 1919 American short comedy film featuring Harold Lloyd.
Plot
A chapter of the Ancient Order of Simps lodge is initiating three new members who each must undergo a rough hazing. All three candidates are blindfolded. Ju ...
'', and ''
His Only Father
''His Only Father'' is a 1919 American short comedy film directed by Hal Roach and Frank Terry, and starring Harold Lloyd. This was the last one-reel short Lloyd worked on before going onto two reelers with his next film "Bumping Into Broadway ...
''. His last film was ''
Among Those Present
''Among Those Present'' is a 1921 American "three-reeler" silent comedy film directed by Fred C. Newmeyer and starring Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis and Mary Pickford .
Plot
Mrs. O'Brien (Herring) is eager to be accepted as part of high socie ...
'', in 1921.
He died on January 12, 1935, in
West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach is a city in and the county seat of Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. It is located immediately to the west of the adjacent Palm Beach, which is situated on a barrier island across the Lake Worth Lagoon. The populati ...
, at the age of 78. He was survived by three children.
Selected filmography
*''
Crooky'' (1915)
*''
Flare-Up Sal
''Flare-Up Sal'' is a surviving 1918 American silent drama film directed by Roy William Neill and starring Dorothy Dalton. Thomas H. Ince produced and released through Paramount Pictures.
Cast
* Dorothy Dalton as Flare-Up Sal
*Thurston Hall as ...
'' (1918)
* ''
Pay Your Dues
''Pay Your Dues'' is a 1919 American short comedy film featuring Harold Lloyd.
Plot
A chapter of the Ancient Order of Simps lodge is initiating three new members who each must undergo a rough hazing. All three candidates are blindfolded. Ju ...
'' (1919)
*''
Among Those Present
''Among Those Present'' is a 1921 American "three-reeler" silent comedy film directed by Fred C. Newmeyer and starring Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis and Mary Pickford .
Plot
Mrs. O'Brien (Herring) is eager to be accepted as part of high socie ...
'' (1921)
References
External links
*
*
Frank Daniels portrait gallery NY Public Library, Billy Rose Collection Frank Daniels portraitsUniversity of Louisville, Macauley Theatre Collection)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Daniels, Frank
19th-century American male actors
20th-century American male actors
1856 births
1935 deaths
American male silent film actors
American male stage actors
New England Conservatory alumni
Male actors from Dayton, Ohio