John Hay Cossar (2 January 1858 – 28 April 1935) was an English actor of the

silent era A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, wh ...

. He appeared in more than 140 films between 1914 and 1929.

Biography

Cossar was born in

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

, England. He was the fifth child of Walter Cossar and his wife Kate Lyster. Walter was in the

Royal Marines The Corps of Royal Marines (RM), also known as the Royal Marines Commandos, are the UK's special operations capable commando force, amphibious light infantry and also one of the five fighting arms of the Royal Navy. The Corps of Royal Marine ...

between 1835 and 1863. In 1865 the family travelled to

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

and thence to

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolita ...

in the USA where John's older brother Walter Lyster Cossar later became City Editor of the Chicago Evening Journal. In 1896, John married Fanny Cohen in Chicago. Fanny was also an actress and the 1930 census of

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

shows them living with two children, Phyllis and Raymond. He died in Hollywood,

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

, in 1935.

Partial filmography

* '' One Wonderful Night'' (1914) * ''

The White Sister ''The White Sister'' is a play in four acts by Francis Marion Crawford and Walter C. Hackett. The play was originally written by Crawford in 1907 and he later adapted the play into a serialized novel which was first published over a six month p ...

'' (1915) * ''

The Alster Case ''The Alster Case'' is a lost 1915 silent film drama directed by J. Charles Haydon and starring Bryant Washburn and Ruth Stonehouse. It was based on a novel, ''The Alster Case'', by Rufus Gillmore. It was produced by the Essanay Company. Plot ...

'' (1915) * '' The Strange Case of Mary Page'' (1916) * ''

The Prince of Graustark Graustark is a fictional country in Eastern Europe used as a setting for several novels by George Barr McCutcheon. Graustark's neighbors, which also figure in the stories, are Axphain to the north and Dawsbergen to the south. Description Gra ...

'' (1916) * '' The Misleading Lady'' (1916) * '' The Trufflers'' (1917) * '' On Trial'' (1917) * ''

Gift O' Gab ''Gift o' Gab'' is a 1917 American silent comedy film directed by W.S. Van Dyke and starring Jack Gardner, Helen Ferguson and John Cossar.Connelly p.353 Cast * Jack Gardner as Tom Bain * Helen Ferguson as Peggy Dinsmore * Frank Morris as Ch ...

'' (1917) * ''

A Pair of Sixes ''A Pair of Sixes'', originally titled ''The Party of the Second Part'', is a farce in three acts by Edward Peple that made its Broadway debut at the Longacre Theatre on March 17, 1914. The piece was produced by Harry Frazee and achieved a run ...

'' (1918) * ''

The Marriage Ring ''The Marriage Ring'' is a lost 1918 American silent drama film directed by Fred Niblo. Cast * Enid Bennett as Anne Mertons * Jack Holt as Rodney Heathe * Robert McKim as Hugo Mertons * Maude George as Aho * Charles K. French as Koske * Lydi ...

'' (1918) * ''

Her Country First ''Her Country First'' is a 1918 American comedy silent film directed by James Young and written by Edith Kennedy and Mary Roberts Rinehart. The film stars Vivian Martin, John Cossar, Florence Oberle, J. Parks Jones, Larry Steers, and Bernadine ...

'' (1918) * '' Common Clay'' (1919) * ''

Thieves Theft is the act of taking another person's property or services without that person's permission or consent with the intent to deprive the rightful owner of it. The word ''theft'' is also used as a synonym or informal shorthand term for some ...

'' (1919) * '' When Fate Decides'' (1919) * '' Vagabond Luck'' (1919) * ''

Made in Heaven ''Made in Heaven'' is the fifteenth studio album by the British rock band Queen, released on 6 November 1995 by Parlophone Records in the United Kingdom and by Hollywood Records in the United States. It was the band's first and only release s ...

'' (1921) * ''

Voices of the City ''Voices of the City'' (also known as ''The Night Rose'', its intended original release title) is a 1921 American silent film, silent crime drama film starring Leatrice Joy and Lon Chaney that was directed by Wallace Worsley, based on the Leroy ...

'' (1921) * ''

The Poverty of Riches ''The Poverty of Riches'' is a 1921 American silent drama film directed by Reginald Barker and starring Richard Dix, Leatrice Joy and Louise Lovely. It was based on a 1914 short story by Leroy Scott.Goble p.914 Cast * Richard Dix as John Colby ...

'' (1921) * '' Hearts and Masks'' (1921) * '' Watch Your Step'' (1922) * '' Thorns and Orange Blossoms'' (1922) * '' When Husbands Deceive'' (1922) * ''

Grand Larceny Larceny is a crime involving the unlawful taking or theft of the personal property of another person or business. It was an offence under the common law of England and became an offence in jurisdictions which incorporated the common law of Engla ...

'' (1922) * ''

The Ghost Patrol ''The Ghost Patrol'' is a 1923 American silent romantic melodrama film directed by Nat Ross from a short story by Sinclair Lewis, produced and distributed by Universal Pictures. It starred Ralph Graves and Bessie Love and is now considered lost ...

'' (1923) * ''

The Hunchback of Notre Dame ''The Hunchback of Notre-Dame'' (french: Notre-Dame de Paris, translation=''Our Lady of Paris'', originally titled ''Notre-Dame de Paris. 1482'') is a French Gothic novel by Victor Hugo, published in 1831. It focuses on the unfortunate story ...

'' (1923) * ''

The Steel Trail ''The Steel Trail'' is a 1923 American drama film serial directed by and starring William Duncan.The Fast Express ''The Fast Express'' is a 1924 American drama film serial directed by and starring William Duncan. The film is considered to be lost, though a "fragmentary print" exists. Cast Chapter titles #Facing the Crisis #Vanishing Diamonds #Woman of ...

'' (1924) * '' My Lady of Whims'' (1925) * '' The Sap'' (1926) * ''

The House Without a Key ''The House Without a Key'' is a 1925 novel by Earl Derr Biggers, the first of the Charlie Chan mysteries. Set in 1920s Hawaii, the novel acquaints the reader with the look and feel of the islands from the standpoint of both white and non-white ...

'' (1926) * '' Melting Millions'' (1927) * ''

Web of Fate ''Web of Fate'' is a 1927 American silent drama film directed by Dallas M. Fitzgerald and starring Lillian Rich, Henry Sedley and Eugene Strong.Langman & Finn p.296 Cast * Lillian Rich as Gloria Gunther / Beverly Townsend * Henry Sedley as ...

'' (1927) * ''

Woman's Law ''Woman's Law'' is a 1927 American silent film, silent drama film directed by Dallas M. Fitzgerald and starring Pat O'Malley (actor), Pat O'Malley, Lillian Rich and Audrey Ferris.Munden p.922 Cast * Pat O'Malley (actor), Pat O'Malley as Trooper ...

'' (1927) * ''

The Fire Detective ''The Fire Detective'' is a 1929 American adventure film serial directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet and Thomas Storey. The film is considered to be lost. Cast * Gladys McConnell as Gladys Samuels * Hugh Allan as Capt. Jeff Tarrant * Leo D. Mal ...

'' (1929)

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Cossar, John 1858 births 1935 deaths English male film actors English male silent film actors Male actors from London 20th-century English male actors British emigrants to the United States