Mack Swain (born Moroni Swain; February 16, 1876 – August 25, 1935) was an early

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

film actor, who appeared in many of Mack Sennett’s comedies at

Keystone Studios Keystone Studios was an early film studio founded in Edendale, California (which is now a part of Echo Park) on July 4, 1912 as the Keystone Pictures Studio by Mack Sennett with backing from actor-writer Adam Kessel (1866–1946) and Charle ...

, including the Keystone Cops series. He also appeared in major features by

Charlie Chaplin Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin Jr. (16 April 188925 December 1977) was an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the era of silent film. He became a worldwide icon through his screen persona, the Tramp, and is consider ...

Early years

Swain was born on February 16, 1876 to Robert Henry Swain and Mary Ingeborg Jensen in Salt Lake City, Utah and was educated in Salt Lake City's public schools. He ran away from home at age 15, joining a minstrel show. His mother took him home after one performance, but he persuaded her to let him continue in entertainment.

Career

In the early 1900s, Swain had his own stock theater company, which performed in the western and midwestern United States. Swain worked in vaudeville before starting in silent film at

under Mack Sennett. While with Keystone, he was teamed up with Chester Conklin to make a series of comedy films. With Swain as "Ambrose" and Conklin as the grand mustachioed "Walrus", they performed these roles in several films including ''The Battle of Ambrose and Walrus'' and ''

Love, Speed and Thrills ''Love, Speed and Thrills'' is a 1915 American short comedy film produced by Mack Sennett, directed by Walter Wright, starring Mack Swain, Chester Conklin and Minta Durfee, and featuring Billy Gilbert, Charley Chase and the Keystone Cops in supp ...

'', both made in 1915. Ambrose's Day Off (1919) - Ad 1

Besides these comedies, the two appeared together in a variety of other films, 26 all told, and they also appeared separately and/or together in films starring

Mabel Normand Amabel Ethelreid Normand (November 9, 1893 – February 23, 1930), better known as Mabel Normand, was an American silent film actress, screenwriter, director, and producer. She was a popular star and collaborator of Mack Sennett in their K ...

, Charles Chaplin,

Roscoe Arbuckle Roscoe Conkling "Fatty" Arbuckle (; March 24, 1887 – June 29, 1933) was an American silent film actor, comedian, director, and screenwriter. He started at the Selig Polyscope Company and eventually moved to Keystone Studios, where he worked ...

and most of the rest of the roster of Keystone players. Swain later took his Ambrose character with him to the L-KO Kompany. Having already worked with Charles Chaplin at Keystone, Swain began working with Chaplin again at First National in 1921, appearing in '' The Idle Class'', '' Pay Day'', and ''

The Pilgrim A pilgrim is one who undertakes a religious journey or pilgrimage. Pilgrim(s) or The Pilgrim(s) may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Film, television, radio and the stage * The Pilgrim (1923 film), ''The Pilgrim'' (1923 film), a si ...

''. He is also remembered for his large supporting role as Big Jim McKay' in the

1925 Events January * January 1 ** The Syrian Federation is officially dissolved, the State of Aleppo and the State of Damascus having been replaced by the State of Syria. * January 3 – Benito Mussolini makes a pivotal speech in the Italia ...

film '' The Gold Rush'', for United Artists, written by and starring Chaplin.

Personal life

Swain was married to actress Cora King.

Death

Swain died in Tacoma, Washington, on August 25, 1935, following an illness that only lasted a few hours.

Legacy

For his contribution to the motion picture industry, Swain received a star on the

Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a historic landmark which consists of more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, Californ ...

, at 1500 Vine Street.

Partial filmography

Images

File:Getting acquainted.jpg, Clockwise from top: Phyllis Allen, Mack Swain, Charles Chaplin and

in ''

Getting Acquainted ''Getting Acquainted'', subsequently retitled ''A Fair Exchange'', is a 1914 American comedy silent film written and directed by Charles Chaplin, starring Chaplin and Mabel Normand, and produced by Mack Sennett for Keystone Studios . Plot In o ...

'' (1914) File:Gentlemen of nerve.jpg, With Charles Chaplin and Mabel Normand in ''

Gentlemen of Nerve ''Gentlemen of Nerve'' is a 1914 American comedy silent film directed by Charles Chaplin, starring Chaplin and Mabel Normand, and produced by Mack Sennett for Keystone Studios. Plot Mabel and her beau go to an auto race and are joined by Cha ...

'' (1914)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Swain, Mack 1876 births 1935 deaths Male actors from Salt Lake City American male film actors American male silent film actors Silent film comedians Vaudeville performers 20th-century American male actors Articles containing video clips 20th-century American comedians Comedians from Utah American male comedy actors