John Halliday (September 14, 1880 – October 17, 1947) was an American actor of stage and screen, who often played suave aristocrats and foreigners.

Biography

Halliday was born in

Brooklyn, New York Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...

. In infancy, he moved with his parents to

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...

, and he lived abroad until he was 18. He served with the

British Army The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...

1901-02 in the

Boer War The Second Boer War ( af, Tweede Vryheidsoorlog, , 11 October 189931 May 1902), also known as the Boer War, the Anglo–Boer War, or the South African War, was a conflict fought between the British Empire and the two Boer Republics (the Sou ...

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

. In 1905 Halliday, a civil/mining engineer from before his South Africa adventure, migrated to

Nevada Nevada ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, Western region of the United States. It is bordered by Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. N ...

and dug up a fortune in gold nuggets and managed to lose the lot. After losing his money in the stock market in Sacramento, Halliday became an actor with a stock theater company headed by

Nat Goodwin Nathaniel Carl "Nat" Goodwin (July 25, 1857 – January 31, 1919) was an American actor and vaudevillian born in Boston. Life and career While clerk in a large shop Goodwin studied for the stage and made his first appearance in 1874 at the How ...

. He progressed from that group to touring the world as leading man in a troupe headed by T. Daniel Frawley. Making his Broadway debut in 1912 in Cecil Raleigh and Henry Hamilton's '' The Whip'', he became a familiar presence there, especially in sophisticated comedies such as

W. Somerset Maugham William Somerset Maugham ( ; 25 January 1874 – 16 December 1965) was an English writer, known for his plays, novels and short stories. Born in Paris, where he spent his first ten years, Maugham was schooled in England and went to a German un ...

's ''The Circle'' (1921), Vincent Lawrence's ''Sour Grapes'' (1926), Louis Verneuil's ''Jealousy'' (1928) and S. N. Behrman's ''Rain from Heaven'' (1934). He was also well known for his film roles. He was one of the leading actors in the drama film ''

Millie Millie is a feminine given name or diminutive form of various other given names, such as Emily, Millicent, Mildred, Camilla or sometimes Amelia. People with the given name Notable people with the given name include: * Millie Bailey (1918–20 ...

''. His best-known movie appearance was as "Seth Lord", father of Tracy Lord (

Katharine Hepburn Katharine Houghton Hepburn (May 12, 1907 – June 29, 2003) was an American actress in film, stage, and television. Her career as a Hollywood leading lady spanned over 60 years. She was known for her headstrong independence, spirited perso ...

) in the film adaptation of

Philip Barry Philip Jerome Quinn Barry (June 18, 1896 – December 3, 1949) was an American dramatist best known for his plays ''Holiday (play), Holiday'' (1928) and ''The Philadelphia Story (play), The Philadelphia Story'' (1939), which were both made into ...

's '' The Philadelphia Story'' (1940). The following year he played his final role in ''

Lydia Lydia (Lydian language, Lydian: ‎𐤮𐤱𐤠𐤭𐤣𐤠, ''Śfarda''; Aramaic: ''Lydia''; el, Λυδία, ''Lȳdíā''; tr, Lidya) was an Iron Age Monarchy, kingdom of western Asia Minor located generally east of ancient Ionia in the mod ...

'' (1941).

Personal life

In 1912, Halliday's wife, Camille Personi, sued May Buckley for

alienation of affections Alienation of affections is a common law tort, abolished in many jurisdictions. Where it still exists, an action is brought by a spouse against a third party alleged to be responsible for damaging the marriage, most often resulting in divorce. The ...

. "'May Buckley has broken up my home and ruined my life,' Mrs. Halliday said, 'and I am determined that she shall suffer.'" His second wife was actress Eva Lang; they married in 1917, and divorced in 1928. In 1929, Halliday married actress Eleanor Griffith in Greenwich, Connecticut. He died from a heart ailment at the age of 67 on October 17, 1947 in

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only stat ...

Partial filmography

* ''

The Devil's Toy ''The Devil's Toy'' is a 1916 American silent drama film directed by Harley Knoles and starring Adele Blood, Edwin Stevens and Montagu Love.Langman p.25 Cast * Adele Blood as Helen Danvier * Edwin Stevens as The Devil * Montagu Love as Wilfr ...

'' (1916) - Paul La France * ''

The Woman Gives ''The Woman Gives'' is a 1920 American silent drama film directed by Roy William Neill and starring Norma Talmadge, John Halliday, and Edmund Lowe. Plot As described in a film magazine, artist Inga Sonderson (Talmadge) and her betrothed sculp ...

'' (1920) - Daniel Garford * '' The Blue Pearl'' (1920) - Richard Drake * ''

The Love Expert ''The Love Expert'' is a surviving 1920 American silent romantic comedy film directed by David Kirkland and produced by and starring Constance Talmadge. It was an early distribution release by the First National Exhibitor's Company. Plot As desc ...

'' (1920) - Jim Winthrop * ''Masked Lover'' (1928) * ''East Side Sadie'' (1929) * ''

Recaptured Love ''Recaptured Love'' is a 1930 early talkie pre-Code musical drama film based on the play ''Misdeal'' by Basil Woon about a man who experiences a mid life crisis that results in his divorce. It stars Belle Bennett and John Halliday. Plot In this ...

'' (1930) - Brentwood Parr * ''

Scarlet Pages ''Scarlet Pages'' is a 1930 pre-Code American crime drama film with songs starring Elsie Ferguson and directed by Ray Enright. It was produced and distributed by First National Pictures, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. The film stars Elsie Fergus ...

'' (1930) - John Remington * ''

Once a Sinner Once a Sinner may refer to: * Once a Sinner (1950 film) ''Once a Sinner'' is a 1950 British drama film directed by Lewis Gilbert and starring Pat Kirkwood, Jack Watling and Joy Shelton. Plot Bank clerk John Ross (Jack Watling) falls for good ...

'' (1931) - Richard Kent * '' Captain Applejack'' (1931) - Ambrose Applejohn * ''

'' (1931) - Jimmy Damier * '' 50 Million Frenchmen'' (1931) - Michael Cummins * '' Father's Son'' (1931) - Dr. Franklin * '' The Spy'' (1931) - Sergei Krasnoff * ''

Transatlantic Transatlantic, Trans-Atlantic or TransAtlantic may refer to: Film * Transatlantic Pictures, a film production company from 1948 to 1950 * Transatlantic Enterprises, an American production company in the late 1970s * ''Transatlantic'' (1931 film), ...

'' (1931) - Henry D. Graham * '' Smart Woman'' (1931) - Sir Guy Harrington * ''

Consolation Marriage ''Consolation Marriage'' is a 1931 American Pre-Code drama film directed by Paul Sloane and written by Humphrey Pearson. The film stars Irene Dunne, Pat O'Brien, John Halliday, Myrna Loy, and Matt Moore. The film was released on November 21, 1 ...

'' (1931) - Jeff Hunter * ''

The Ruling Voice ''The Ruling Voice'' is a 1931 American pre-Code gangster drama directed by Rowland V. Lee, starring Walter Huston, Loretta Young, and Doris Kenyon. It had an alternate title ''Upper Underworld'', and was produced by First National Pictures an ...

'' (1931) - Dexter Burroughs * ''

Men of Chance ''Men of Chance'' is a 1931 American Pre-Code Hollywood, pre-Code Drama (genre), drama film directed by George Archainbaud, starring Ricardo Cortez, Mary Astor, and John Halliday (actor), John Halliday. Plot A destitute Marthe Preston is in dir ...

'' (1931) - Dorval * ''

The Impatient Maiden ''The Impatient Maiden'' is a 1932 American pre-Code drama film directed by James Whale, starring Lew Ayres and Mae Clarke, and released by Universal Pictures. The screenplay was written by Richard Schayer and Winifred Dunn, based on the novel ...

'' (1932) - Albert Hartman * ''

Week Ends Only ''Week Ends Only'' is a 1932 American pre-Code film directed by Alan Crosland and starring Joan Bennett, Ben Lyon and John Halliday. It was made by Fox Film Corporation. The screenplay was written by William M. Conselman and Samuel Hopkins Adam ...

'' (1932) - Arthur Ladden * ''

The Man Called Back ''The Man Called Back'' is a 1932 American Pre-Code film directed by Robert Florey. This film was independently produced for the bargain-basement price of $68,000, partly because Florey was allowed to re-use the tropical set constructed for the ...

'' (1932) - Gordon St. Claire * '' Bird of Paradise'' (1932) - Mac * '' The Age of Consent'' (1932) - Prof. David Mathews * '' Perfect Understanding'' (1933) - Ivan Ronnson * ''

The Woman Accused ''The Woman Accused'' is a 1933 American pre-Code drama film directed by Paul Sloane and starring Nancy Carroll and Cary Grant as a young engaged couple on a sea cruise, with the woman being implicated in the death of her former lover. The suppo ...

'' (1933) - Stephen Bessemer * ''

Terror Aboard ''Terror Aboard'' is a 1933 American pre-Code mystery film directed by Paul Sloane, written by Robert Presnell Sr., Manuel Seff and Harvey F. Thew, and starring John Halliday, Charlie Ruggles, Shirley Grey, Neil Hamilton, Jack La Rue, Verree T ...

'' (1933) - Maximilian Kreig * ''

Bed of Roses A bed is an item of furniture that is used as a place to sleep, rest, and relax. Most modern beds consist of a soft, cushioned mattress on a bed frame. The mattress rests either on a solid base, often wood slats, or a sprung base. Many b ...

'' (1933) - Stephen Paige * ''

The House on 56th Street ''The House on 56th Street'' is a 1933 American Pre-Code Hollywood, pre-Code drama film. The film's plot involves a miscarriage of justice, wrongful conviction and imprisonment, and alienation of a prisoner from her only living relative. Plot ...

'' (1933) - Lyndon Fiske * '' A Woman's Man'' (1934) - Tom Cleary - Director * ''

Registered Nurse A registered nurse (RN) is a nurse who has graduated or successfully passed a nursing program from a recognized nursing school and met the requirements outlined by a country, state, province or similar government-authorized licensing body to o ...

'' (1934) - Dr. Hedwig * '' The Witching Hour'' (1934) - Jack Brookfield * ''

Finishing School A finishing school focuses on teaching young women social graces and upper-class cultural rites as a preparation for entry into society. The name reflects that it follows on from ordinary school and is intended to complete the education, wit ...

'' (1934) - Mr. Frank S. Radcliff * ''

Return of the Terror ''Return of the Terror'' is a 1934 American mystery film directed by Howard Bretherton and written by Peter Milne and Eugene Solow. The film stars Mary Astor, Lyle Talbot, John Halliday, and Frank McHugh, and features Robert Barrat and Irving P ...

'' (1934) - Dr. John Redmayne * ''

Housewife A housewife (also known as a homemaker or a stay-at-home mother/mom/mum) is a woman whose role is running or managing her family's home—housekeeping, which includes caring for her children; cleaning and maintaining the home; making, buying an ...

'' (1934) - Paul * '' Desirable'' (1934) - Austin * '' Happiness Ahead'' (1934) - Henry Bradford * ''

Mystery Woman ''Mystery Woman'' is the name of a series of 11 made-for-television mystery films released by the Hallmark Channel between 2003 and 2007, and now appearing regularly on the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. While on the Hallmark Channel, it was broadca ...

'' (1935) - Dr. Theodore Van Wyke * '' The Dark Angel'' (1935) - Sir George Barton * ''

Peter Ibbetson ''Peter Ibbetson'' is a 1935 American black-and-white drama/ fantasy film directed by Henry Hathaway and starring Gary Cooper and Ann Harding. The film is loosely based on the 1891 novel of the same name by George du Maurier. A tale of a love th ...

'' (1935) - The Duke of Towers * '' The Melody Lingers On'' (1935) - Marco Turina * ''

Desire Desires are states of mind that are expressed by terms like "wanting", "wishing", "longing" or "craving". A great variety of features is commonly associated with desires. They are seen as propositional attitudes towards conceivable states of aff ...

'' (1936) - Carlos Margoli * ''

Fatal Lady ''Fatal Lady'' is a 1936 American musical film, musical mystery film directed by Edward Ludwig and starring Walter Pidgeon, Mary Ellis and Ruth Donnelly. It recorded a loss of $296,665. The film's sets were designed by art director Alexander Tol ...

'' (1936) - Martan Fontes * ''

Three Cheers for Love ''Three Cheers for Love'' is a 1936 American musical film directed by Ray McCarey, written by George Marion, Jr., and starring Eleanore Whitney, Robert Cummings, William Frawley, Elizabeth Patterson, Roscoe Karns and John Halliday. It was rel ...

'' (1936) - Charles Dormant * ''

Hollywood Boulevard Hollywood Boulevard is a major east–west street in Los Angeles, California. It begins in the east at Sunset Boulevard in the Los Feliz district and proceeds to the west as a major thoroughfare through Little Armenia and Thai Town, Hollywoo ...

'' (1936) - John Wellington Blakeford * ''

Arsène Lupin Returns ''Arsène Lupin Returns'' is a 1938 American mystery film directed by George Fitzmaurice and written by James Kevin McGuinness, Howard Emmett Rogers, and George Harmon Coxe. The film stars Melvyn Douglas, Virginia Bruce, Warren William, John Hal ...

'' (1938) - Count de Grissac * ''

Blockade A blockade is the act of actively preventing a country or region from receiving or sending out food, supplies, weapons, or communications, and sometimes people, by military force. A blockade differs from an embargo or sanction, which are le ...

'' (1938) - Andre Gallinet * ''

That Certain Age ''That Certain Age'' is a 1938 American musical film directed by Edward Ludwig and starring Deanna Durbin and Melvyn Douglas. Based on a story by Aleen Leslie (Wetstein) that was adapted by F. Hugh Herbert, the film is about a dashing reporter wh ...

'' (1938) - Gilbert Fullerton * ''

Hotel for Women ''Hotel for Women'' (or ''Elsa Maxwell's Hotel for Women'') is a 1939 American drama film directed by Gregory Ratoff and starring Ann Sothern, Linda Darnell, and James Ellison. It was Darnell's screen debut. Plot When she is jilted by her boyfr ...

'' (1939) - John Craig * ''

Intermezzo In music, an intermezzo (, , plural form: intermezzi), in the most general sense, is a composition which fits between other musical or dramatic entities, such as acts of a play or movements of a larger musical work. In music history, the term ha ...

'' (1939) - Thomas Stenborg * ''

Escape to Glory ''Escape to Glory'' is a 1940 American war film directed by John Brahm. It stars Pat O'Brien and Constance Bennett. During World War II, a British freighter carrying a diverse group of passengers is attacked by a German U-boat. Cast *Pat O'Brien ...

'' (1940) - John Morgan * '' The Philadelphia Story'' (1940) - Seth Lord * ''

'' (1941) - Fitzpatrick (final film role)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Halliday, John 1880 births 1947 deaths American male film actors American male silent film actors American male stage actors People from Brooklyn 20th-century American male actors