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, Tyne and Wear, Sunderland, 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 Davis (actress), Mary 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
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Career

After a period treading the boards, including as Little Billee in the Sherlock Holmes parody ''Sheerluck Jones, or Why D’Gillette Him Off'' (1901), Davis entered the film world in 1912.Motion Picture News Blue Book 1930 Davis was best known for ''The Hazards of Helen'' (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 film), Captain Blood'' (1935), Uncle Glutz in ''Bride of Frankenstein'' (1935), Secretary in ''The White Angel (1936 film), The White Angel'' (1936) and Doctor in ''Show Boat (1936 film), Show Boat'' (1936).

Personal life and family

James Gunnis Davis belonged to the Troupers and the Veteran Thespians. 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 (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 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 Medical Center (Los Angeles), St. Vincent Hospital in Los Angeles after a brief illness following which the Troupers arranged his funeral at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.Obituary for James Gunnis Davis – ''The Los Angeles Times'', Los Angeles, California – Wednesday, 24 March 1937 – Page 46

Filmography

Stage

* ''Sheerluck Jones, or Why D’Gillette Him Off'' (1901) * ''The Arcadians'' Time (1910)J. Gunnis Davis
on Internet Broadway Database * ''Alice in Wonderland'' (1915)

Selected filmography

* ''The Hazards of Helen'' (1915 – 1917) * ''The Little Duchess'' (1917) * ''Stolen Orders'' (1918) * ''The Road to France'' (1918) * ''The Rough Neck'' (1919) * ''The Secret of the Hills'' (1921) * ''A Certain Rich Man'' (1921) * ''The Gray Dawn'' (1922) * ''Refuge (1923 film), Refuge'' (1923) * ''The Midnight Alarm'' (1923) * ''Chastity (1923 film), Chastity'' (1923) * ''Twinkletoes'' (1926) * ''The Notorious Lady'' (1927) * ''Captain Blood (1935 film), Captain Blood'' (1935) * ''Show Boat (1936 film), Show Boat'' (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