George A. Billings (November 22, 1870 – April 15, 1934) was an American actor noted for his portrayals of
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln ( ; February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American lawyer, politician, and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation thro ...
in films of the 1920s.
Biography
Born in Preston, Minnesota in 1870, he the son of Henry Orville Billings and Amanda Melvina Warr. Billings was a carpenter for most of his life. While working for the Los Angeles City Department, he heard Al and Ray Rockett were looking for a man that resembled Lincoln for the 1924 film ''
The Dramatic Life of Abraham Lincoln
''The Dramatic Life of Abraham Lincoln'' is a 1924 American feature film directed by Phil Rosen and written by Frances Marion. By the date of release, the film's title was shortened to ''Abraham Lincoln'', since the previous title was regarded ...
''. He was hired for the film, despite a lack of prior acting experience, due to his striking resemblance to Lincoln, even down to the mole on his face.
[(10 February 1924)]
The Man Who Plays Lincoln
''The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'' Billings went on to portray Lincoln in several more films.
In 1927, he also toured the mid-western United States playing Lincoln in a two-man play with
Henry Fonda. Things started out well, but Fonda finally quit due to Billings prodigious drinking.
It was Fonda's first professional job as an actor.
Filmography (all roles playing Abraham Lincoln)
* ''
The Dramatic Life of Abraham Lincoln
''The Dramatic Life of Abraham Lincoln'' is a 1924 American feature film directed by Phil Rosen and written by Frances Marion. By the date of release, the film's title was shortened to ''Abraham Lincoln'', since the previous title was regarded ...
'' (1924)
* ''
Barbara Frietchie
''Barbara Frietchie, The Frederick Girl'' is a play in four acts by Clyde Fitch and based on the heroine of John Greenleaf Whittier's poem "Barbara Frietchie" (based on a real person: Barbara Fritchie). Fitch takes a good bit of artistic libe ...
'' (1924)
* ''
The Man Without a Country'' (1925)
* ''
Hands Up!'' (1926)
* ''Lincoln'' (1929) (10-minute sound short)
References
External links
*
1870 births
1934 deaths
American male film actors
American male silent film actors
20th-century American male actors
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