Joseph Kaufman (1882 – February 1, 1918) was an American silent film actor and director prominent during the

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

years. He was born in

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

and died in New York City. Kaufman graduated from

Georgetown University Georgetown University is a private university, private research university in the Georgetown (Washington, D.C.), Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded by Bishop John Carroll (archbishop of Baltimore), John Carroll in 1789 as Georg ...

. His wife was silent film star

Ethel Clayton Ethel Clayton (November 8, 1882 – June 6, 1966) was an American actress of the silent film era. Early years Born in Champaign, Illinois, Clayton attended St. Elizabeth's school in Chicago. Career Clayton debuted on stage as a professional ...

. Kaufman started out as an actor appearing on Broadway in ''Mistakes Will Happen'' (1906) and ''The Pretty Sister of Jose'' (1903) with

Maude Adams Maude Ewing Adams Kiskadden (November 11, 1872 – July 17, 1953), known professionally as Maude Adams, was an American actress who achieved her greatest success as the character Peter Pan, first playing the role in the 1905 Broadway production ...

. His other Broadway credits included ''Three Twins'' (1908), ''Caught in the Rain'' (1906), ''Twiddle-Twaddle'' (1906), and ''La Belle Marseillaise'' (1905). He acted in a troupe of Henry B. Harris. He eventually changed to acting in and then directing silent films, his output being numerous short films. As American films began to expand to feature length, Kaufman followed suit. He proved particularly adept and popular at directing beautiful Broadway actresses, including his wife Ethel Clayton. He directed

Pauline Frederick Pauline Frederick (born Pauline Beatrice Libbey, August 12, 1883 – September 19, 1938) was an American stage and film actress. Early life Frederick was born Pauline Beatrice Libbey (later changed to Libby) in Boston in 1883 (some sources stat ...

Marguerite Clark Helen Marguerite Clark (February 22, 1883 – September 25, 1940) was an American theatre, stage and silent film actress. As a movie actress, at one time, Clark was second only to Mary Pickford in popularity. All but five of her films are co ...

, and

Billie Burke Mary William Ethelbert Appleton Burke (August 7, 1884 – May 14, 1970) was an American actress who was famous on Broadway and radio, and in silent and sound films. She is best known to modern audiences as Glinda the Good Witch of the North ...

. His last film, '' The Song of Songs'' (1918), starred

Elsie Ferguson Elsie Louise Ferguson (August 19, 1883 – November 15, 1961) was an American stage and film actress. Early life Born in New York City, Elsie Ferguson was the only child of Hiram and Amelia Ferguson. Her father was a successful attorney. Raise ...

. Kaufman organized the

Motion Picture Directors Association The Motion Picture Directors Association (MPDA) was an American non-profit fraternal organization formed by 26 film directors on June 18, 1915, in Los Angeles, California. The organization selected a headquarters to be built there in 1921. Its art ...

. As actor he is reported to have had three teeth knocked out in a screen fight with actor

Earl Metcalfe Earl Metcalfe (March 11, 1889 – January 26, 1928) was an American actor. Biography Born in 1889, Metcalfe appeared in the films ''The Fortune Hunter'', ''While New York Sleeps'', ''What Women Will Do'', '' White Eagle'', ''While Justice Waits' ...

. Following his death in February 1918, both of his parents died—his mother on April 9, 1918, and his father on April 18, 1918. Kaufman died of

pneumonia Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of productive or dry cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. The severity ...

on February 1, 1918, at New York's Polyclinic Hospital. He was 35 years old. His funeral was held at the Funeral Church on Broadway and 66th Street "Joseph Kaufman Dead", The Evening World, February 2, 1918

Selected filmography

*''

The Fortune Hunter ''The Fortune Hunter'' is a drama in three acts by W. S. Gilbert. The piece concerns an heiress who loses her fortune. Her shallow husband sues to annul the marriage, leaving her pregnant and taking up with a wealthy former lover. The piece wa ...

'' (1914) *'' The Wolf'' (1914) (*as actor) *''Heartaches'' (1915) A Woman Went Forth 1915

*'' The College Widow'' (1915) (*as actor) *'' The Sporting Duchess'' (1915) *''

The World's Great Snare ''The World's Great Snare'' is a 1916 American silent drama film produced by Adolph Zukor's Famous Players Film Company and distributed through Paramount Pictures. The film is based on a 1900 novel of the same name by E. Phillips Oppenheim and ...

'' (1916) *''

Ashes of Embers ''Ashes of Embers'' is a lost 1916 American silent drama film directed by Joseph Kaufman and Edward José. It was produced by Famous Players Film Company and distributed by Paramount Pictures. Pauline Frederick is the star of the picture. She ...

'' (1916) *''

Nanette of the Wilds ''Nanette of the Wilds'' is a 1916 American drama silent film directed by Joseph Kaufman and written by Willard Mack. The film stars Pauline Frederick, Willard Mack, Macey Harlam, Charles Brandt, Frank Joyner and Daniel Pennell. The film was rel ...

'' (1916) *'' Broadway Jones'' (1917) *'' The Amazons'' (1917) *''

Arms and the Girl Arms or ARMS may refer to: *Arm or arms, the upper limbs of the body Arm, Arms, or ARMS may also refer to: People * Ida A. T. Arms (1856–1931), American missionary-educator, temperance leader Coat of arms or weapons * Armaments or weapons ** ...

'' (1917) *'' The Land of Promise'' (1917) * ''

Shirley Kaye ''Shirley Kaye'' is a lost 1917 American silent comedy-drama film directed by Joseph Kaufman and starring Clara Kimball Young, Corliss Giles and George Fawcett.Spehr p.178 Cast * Clara Kimball Young as Shirley Kaye * Corliss Giles as John Rows ...

'' (1917) *'' The Song of Songs'' (1918)

References

External links

*
portrait of Joseph Kaufman and other silent actors
Wayback Machine) 1882 births 1918 deaths Deaths from the Spanish flu pandemic in New York (state) Deaths from pneumonia in New York City Male actors from Washington, D.C. Film directors from Washington, D.C. American male stage actors American male film actors 20th-century American male actors Georgetown University alumni {{US-film-director-1880s-stub