James Gunnis Davis (21 December 1873 – 23 March 1937) was a British-born American actor and director who had a career in films in the US.

Early life

He was born as Joseph Gunnis Davis on 21 December 1873 in

Sunderland Sunderland () is a port city in Tyne and Wear, England. It is the City of Sunderland's administrative centre and in the Historic counties of England, historic county of County of Durham, Durham. The city is from Newcastle-upon-Tyne and is on t ...

, the son of Janet (1845-1905) and Alfred Davis (1828-1899) and educated in London. He made his first appearance as an actor in 1876 age 3 years. In 1902 he married Mary Isabel ''née'' Michael in London. In 1904 he and his wife

Mary Mary may refer to: People * Mary (name), a feminine given name (includes a list of people with the name) Religious contexts * New Testament people named Mary, overview article linking to many of those below * Mary, mother of Jesus, also calle ...

moved to New York as stage manager for Charles Frohman and Henry W. Savage. In 1925 they became naturalized American citizens.Naturalization petitions for the Southern District Of California, 1887-1949 – J. Gunnis Davis
/ref>

Career

After a period treading the boards, including as Little Billee in the

Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a " consulting detective" in the stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with observation, deduction, forensic science and ...

parody A parody, also known as a spoof, a satire, a send-up, a take-off, a lampoon, a play on (something), or a caricature, is a creative work designed to imitate, comment on, and/or mock its subject by means of satiric or ironic imitation. Often its subj ...

Sheerluck Jones, or Why D’Gillette Him Off ''Sheerluck Jones, or Why D'Gillette Him Off'' is a burlesque on the popular 1899 play ''Sherlock Holmes (play), Sherlock Holmes''. The comedy starred Clarence Blakiston as Sheerluck Jones and ran at Terry's Theatre (1901-02) for 138 performanc ...

'' (1901), Davis entered the film world in 1912.Motion Picture News Blue Book 1930 Davis was best known for ''

The Hazards of Helen ''The Hazards of Helen'' is an American adventure film serial (or possibly a film series) of 119 twelve-minute episodes released over a span of slightly more than two years by the Kalem Company between November 7, 1914, and February 24, 1917. At 2 ...

'' (1914), but he appeared in 51 films, a number of stage productions, and has a significant number or directing credits, generally as James Davis. He played the auction clerk in '' Captain Blood'' (1935), Uncle Glutz in ''

Bride of Frankenstein ''Bride of Frankenstein'' is a 1935 American science fiction horror film, and the first sequel to Universal Pictures' 1931 film ''Frankenstein''. As with the first film, ''Bride of Frankenstein'' was directed by James Whale starring Boris Karlo ...

'' (1935), Secretary in '' The White Angel'' (1936) and Doctor in ''

Show Boat ''Show Boat'' is a musical with music by Jerome Kern and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. It is based on Edna Ferber's best-selling 1926 novel of the same name. The musical follows the lives of the performers, stagehands and dock worke ...

'' (1936).

Personal life and family

James Gunnis Davis belonged to the Troupers and the

Veteran Thespians A veteran () is a person who has significant experience (and is usually adept and esteemed) and expertise in a particular occupation or field. A military veteran is a person who is no longer serving in a military. A military veteran that h ...

. He was of average height, 5 feet, 6 1/2 inches, with blue eyes and brown hair, weighing 112 pounds. In 1902 in London Gunnis Davis married actress Mary Davis (professional name Miss Denton Garden) with whom he had one child, James Gunnis Davis (1906–1992). She had been married to the actor

Spencer Trevor Spencer Trevor (29 May 1875 – 22 May 1945) was a British stage and film actor. He was born as Spencer Trevor Andrews. In 1897 he married the actress Mary Davis (1870–1944) and with her had a son, John Spencer Trevor Andrews (1897–1984); t ...

from 1897 to their divorce in 1901 as a result of her adultery with Gunnis Davis.

Death

Davis died on 23 March 1937 at St. Vincent Hospital in Los Angeles after a brief illness following which the Troupers arranged his funeral at the

Hollywood Forever Cemetery Hollywood Forever Cemetery is a full-service cemetery, funeral home, crematory, and cultural events center which regularly hosts community events such as live music and summer movie screenings. It is one of the oldest cemeteries in Los Angeles ...

.Obituary for James Gunnis Davis – ''

The Los Angeles Times ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

'', Los Angeles, California – Wednesday, 24 March 1937 – Page 46

Filmography

Stage

* ''

'' (1901) * ''The Arcadians'' Time (1910)J. Gunnis Davis
on

Internet Broadway Database The Internet Broadway Database (IBDB) is an online database of Broadway theatre productions and their personnel. It was conceived and created by Karen Hauser in 1996 and is operated by the Research Department of The Broadway League, a trade assoc ...

* ''Alice in Wonderland'' (1915)

Selected filmography

* ''

'' (1915 – 1917) * ''

The Little Duchess ''The Little Duchess'' is a 1917 American silent drama film directed by Harley Knoles, and starring Madge Evans, Pinna Nesbit, and Jack Drumier. The film was shot at World Film's studios in Fort Lee, New Jersey.Spehr p.126 Cast * Madge Evans ...

'' (1917) * '' Stolen Orders'' (1918) * ''

The Road to France ''The Road to France'' is a 1918 American silent war drama film directed by Dell Henderson and starring Carlyle Blackwell, Evelyn Greeley and Jack Drumier.Connelly p.404 Cast * Carlyle Blackwell as Tom Whitney * Evelyn Greeley as Helen Bemi ...

'' (1918) * ''

The Rough Neck ''The Rough Neck'' is a 1919 American silent drama film directed Oscar Apfel and starring Montagu Love, Robert Broderick and Barbara Castleton.Katchmer p.477 Cast * Montagu Love as John Masters * Robert Broderick as Horace Masters * George De ...

'' (1919) * '' The Secret of the Hills'' (1921) * ''

A Certain Rich Man ''A Certain Rich Man'' is a 1921 American silent drama film directed by Howard Hickman and starring Carl Gantvoort, Claire Adams and Robert McKim.Munden p.116 Cast * Carl Gantvoort as Bob Hendricks * Claire Adams as Molly Culpepper * Robert ...

'' (1921) * ''

The Gray Dawn ''The Gray Dawn'' is a 1922 American silent drama film directed by Jean Hersholt and starring by Carl Gantvoort, Claire Adams and Robert McKim.Munden p.404 Some scenes were also likely directed by others, including producer Benjamin B. Hampton. ...

'' (1922) * '' Refuge'' (1923) * ''

The Midnight Alarm ''The Midnight Alarm'' is a 1923 American silent drama film directed by David Smith and starring Alice Calhoun, Percy Marmont, and Cullen Landis James Cullen Landis (July 9, 1896 – August 26, 1975) was an American motion picture actor an ...

'' (1923) * ''

Chastity Chastity, also known as purity, is a virtue related to temperance. Someone who is ''chaste'' refrains either from sexual activity considered immoral or any sexual activity, according to their state of life. In some contexts, for example when mak ...

'' (1923) * ''

Twinkletoes ''Twinkletoes'' is a 1926 American silent film, silent romantic drama film directed by Charles Brabin and starring Colleen Moore. The film, as with most of Moore's vehicles at this time, was produced by her husband John McCormick (producer), Jo ...

'' (1926) * '' The Notorious Lady'' (1927) * '' Captain Blood'' (1935) * ''

'' (1936) as Doctor

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Davis, J Gunnis 1873 births 1937 deaths People from Sunderland Male actors from Tyne and Wear British actors British directors British emigrants to the United States Burials at Hollywood Forever Cemetery