Richard Talmadge (born Sylvester Alphonse Metz; 3 December 1892 – 25 January 1981) also known as Sylvester Metzetti, Ricardo Metzetti, or Sylvester Ricardo Metzetti, was a

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

-born actor,

stuntman A stunt performer, often called a stuntman or stuntwoman and occasionally stuntperson or stunt-person, is a trained professional who performs daring acts, often as a career. Stunt performers usually appear in films or on television, as opposed ...

and

film director A film director controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects and visualizes the screenplay (or script) while guiding the film crew and actors in the fulfilment of that vision. The director has a key role in choosing the cast members, p ...

Early life

Born in Germany in 1892, Talmadge arrived in

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood, ...

in 1910 and began his career as a stuntman (including a stint with

Douglas Fairbanks Douglas Elton Fairbanks Sr. (born Douglas Elton Thomas Ullman; May 23, 1883 – December 12, 1939) was an American actor, screenwriter, director, and producer. He was best known for his swashbuckling roles in silent films including '' The Thie ...

) before becoming an actor himself. He began starring in silent action pictures in 1921, and began producing his own vehicles in 1923. His last silent feature, ''The Poor Millionaire'' (1930), was the very last silent production filmed in Hollywood (except for two

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 ...

silent features that were released well after the advent of sound).

Career

Richard Talmadge spoke fluent English, but with a German accent that became obvious when talkies arrived. Still acting as his own producer, he began starring in lower-budgeted features. His accent didn't matter much in these pictures, which had Talmadge in almost constant motion, doing spectacular stunts throughout the films. During the Depression he gave up his production company and signed with a major studio,

Universal Pictures Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Ameri ...

, where he starred in the 12-chapter serial ''

Pirate Treasure ''Pirate Treasure'' is a 1934 Universal film serial. It was the twenty-first sound serial released by Universal, of the sixty-nine they released in total (it was the eighty-ninth serial if Universal's silent serials are considered as well, of a ...

'' (1934). Independent producers Bernard B. Ray and Harry S. Webb then signed Talmadge for a series of action features, with titles emphasizing Talmadge's breakneck speed: ''Never Too Late'', ''Step on It'', ''The Live Wire'', etc. These were his last starring efforts. Talmadge then began working behind the cameras as assistant director, stunt coordinator, and director. His later work included '' How the West Was Won'', ''

The Greatest Story Ever Told ''The Greatest Story Ever Told'' is a 1965 American epic film produced and directed by George Stevens. It is a retelling of the Biblical account about Jesus of Nazareth, from the Nativity through to the Ascension. Along with the ensemble cast ...

'' and '' Casino Royale''.

Personal life

He was the stepfather of American polo pioneer and Polo's Grande Dame Sue Sally Hale. His brothers, Otto and Victor Metzetti, both had success as stunt performers, and were members of the vaudeville troupe the Flying Metzettis, (or the Five Metzettis) who were the first to perform the quadruple back somersault in 1917, at

Barnum and Bailey's The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus (also known as the Ringling Bros. Circus, Ringling Bros., the Barnum & Bailey Circus, Barnum & Bailey, or simply Ringling) is an American traveling circus company billed as The Greatest Show on Ear ...

, with Richard as ''voltiguer''. The family was close, with brothers Otto, Victor, and Leon working on the Richard Talmadge productions of the 1930s.

Death

Talmadge died of cancer at the age of 88 on 25 January 1981, in

Carmel Carmel may refer to: * Carmel (biblical settlement), an ancient Israelite town in Judea * Mount Carmel, a coastal mountain range in Israel overlooking the Mediterranean Sea * Carmelites, a Roman Catholic mendicant religious order Carmel may also ...

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 ...

. He is interred at

Inglewood Park Cemetery Inglewood Park Cemetery, 720 East Florence Avenue in Inglewood, California, was founded in 1905. A number of notable people, including entertainment and sports personalities, have been interred or entombed there. History The proposed est ...

, his grave marked with the name "Richard Metzetti Talmadge".

Selected filmography

*''

The Cub Reporter ''The Cub Reporter'' is a 1922 American silent action film directed by John Francis Dillon and starring Richard Talmadge, Jean Calhoun and Edwin B. Tilton.Munden p.157 Plot Cast * Richard Talmadge as Dick Harvey * Jean Calhoun Jean Calhoun ...

'' (1922) * ''

Wildcat Jordan ''Wildcat Jordan'' is a 1922 American silent comedy action film directed by Alfred Santell and starring Richard Talmadge, Eugenia Gilbert and Harry von Meter.Rainey p.330 Plot Cast * Richard Talmadge as Dick Jordan * Eugenia Gilbert as Sylv ...

'' (1922) * ''

Lucky Dan ''Lucky Dan'' is a 1922 American silent action film directed by William K. Howard and starring Richard Talmadge, George A. Williams and Dorothy Wood.Munden p.466 Plot Cast * Richard Talmadge Richard Talmadge (born Sylvester Alphonse Met ...

'' (1922) *'' Danger Ahead'' (1923) * '' Let's Go'' (1923) *''

On Time ''On Time'' is the debut studio album by American rock band Grand Funk Railroad. The album was released on August 25, 1969, by Capitol Records. Recorded at Cleveland Recording Company, the album was produced by Terry Knight. "Time Machine", th ...

'' (1924) *'' American Manners'' (1924) * '' Stepping Lively'' (1924) * '' Laughing at Danger'' (1924) * '' In Fast Company'' (1924) *''

The Prince of Pep ''The Prince of Pep'' is a 1925 American silent romantic drama film directed by Jack Nelson and starring Richard Talmadge. Plot As described in a film magazine review, a young doctor is struck on the head by his secretary and the injury caus ...

'' (1925) * ''

The Fighting Demon ''The Fighting Demon'' is a 1925 American silent melodrama film. Directed by Arthur Rosson, the film stars Richard Talmadge, Lorraine Eason, and Dick Sutherland Dick Sutherland (born Archibald Thomas Johnson, December 23, 1881 – Febr ...

'' (1925) * ''

Youth and Adventure ''Youth and Adventure'' is a 1925 American silent comedy film directed by James W. Horne and starring Richard Talmadge, Margaret Landis, and Joseph W. Girard. Plot As described in a review in a film magazine, having squandered a million dollar ...

'' (1925) * ''

Tearing Through ''Tearing Through'' is a 1925 American silent action film directed by Arthur Rosson and starring Richard Talmadge, Kathryn McGuire, and Herbert Prior Herbert Prior (2 July 1867 – 3 October 1954) was an English silent film actor. He appea ...

'' (1925) * '' The Wall Street Whiz'' (1925) * ''

Jimmie's Millions ''Jimmie's Millions'' is a 1925 American silent action film directed by James P. Hogan and starring Richard Talmadge, Betty Francisco, and Charles Clary Charles Clary (March 24, 1873 – March 24, 1931) was an American actor of the sil ...

'' (1925) * ''

The Mysterious Stranger ''The Mysterious Stranger'' is a novel attempted by the American author Mark Twain. He worked on it intermittently from 1897 through 1908. Twain wrote multiple versions of the story; each involves a supernatural character called "Satan" or "No. ...

'' (1925) * '' The Blue Streak'' (1926) * '' The Better Man'' (1926) * ''

Doubling with Danger ''Doubling with Danger'' is a 1926 American silent mystery film directed by Scott R. Dunlap and starring Richard Talmadge, Ena Gregory and Joseph W. Girard.Munden p.200 Plot Cast * Richard Talmadge as Dick Forsythe * Ena Gregory as Madeline ...

'' (1926) * ''

The Night Patrol ''The Night Patrol'' is a 1926 American silent crime film directed by Noel M. Smith and starring Richard Talmadge, Rose Blossom, and Mary Carr. Plot As described in a film magazine review, Tom Collins, a Los Angeles policeman, in love with L ...

'' (1926) * '' The Merry Cavalier'' (1926) *''

The Cavalier ''Woodstock, or The Cavalier. A Tale of the Year Sixteen Hundred and Fifty-one'' (1826) is a historical novel by Sir Walter Scott, one of the Waverley novels. Set just after the English Civil War, it was inspired by the legend of the Good Devil ...

'' (1928) * ''

The Bachelor's Club ''The Bachelor's Club'' is a 1921 British silent comedy film directed by A. V. Bramble and starring Ben Field, Ernest Thesiger and Mary Brough. It was based on the 1891 novel ''The Bachelor's Club'' by Israel Zangwill. Cast * Ben Field as ...

'' (1929) *'' Sonny Boy'' (1929) * ''

The Poor Millionaire ''The Poor Millionaire'' is a 1930 American silent drama film directed by George Melford and starring Richard Talmadge, Constance Howard and George Irving. Made after the sound film revolution, it was the last Hollywood film to be released w ...

'' (1930, his last silent feature) *''

Yankee Don ''Yankee Don'' is a 1931 American Western (genre), Western film directed by Noel M. Smith and starring Richard Talmadge, Lupita Tovar and Julian Rivero. Plot Mexican landowner Don Juan hires New Yorker Dick Carsey to oversee construction of a p ...

'' (1931, his first sound feature) * ''

Scareheads ''Scareheads'' is a 1931 American crime film directed by Noel M. Smith and starring Richard Talmadge, Gareth Hughes, Julie Bishop.Pitts p.80 Plot Cast * Richard Talmadge as Dick Tanner * Gareth Hughes * Julie Bishop * Joseph W. Girard * Vi ...

'' (1931) * '' Speed Madness'' (1932) * '' Get That Girl'' (1932) *''

'' (1934, serial) *''

The Fighting Pilot ''The Fighting Pilot'' (aka ''Fighting Pilot'') is a 1935 American action film directed by Noel M. Smith and starring Richard Talmadge, Gertrude Messinger and Robert Frazer. When an inventor develops a new type of aircraft, a crooked businessman ...

'' (1935) *'' Now or Never'' (1935) *'' The Live Wire'' (1935) *'' Never Too Late'' (1935) *'' Step on It'' (1936) * '' The Speed Reporter'' (1936) * ''

Black Eagle The black eagle (''Ictinaetus malaiensis'') is a bird of prey. Like all eagles, it is in the family Accipitridae, and is the only member of the genus ''Ictinaetus''. They soar over forests in the hilly regions of tropical and subtropical South ...

'' (1948) * ''

Fortunes of Captain Blood ''Fortunes of Captain Blood'' is a 1950 pirate film directed by Gordon Douglas. Based on the famous Captain Blood depicted in the original 1922 novel and subsequent collections of stories written by Rafael Sabatini, ''Fortunes'' was produced by ...

'' (1950) * '' Border Outlaws'' (1950) *''

Project Moonbase ''Project Moonbase'' (a.k.a. ''Project Moon Base'') is a 1953 independently made black-and-white science fiction film, produced by Jack Seaman, directed by Richard Talmadge, and starring Ross Ford, Donna Martell, Hayden Rorke. It co-stars Larry ...

'' (1953) (director) *''

I Killed Wild Bill Hickok ''I Killed Wild Bill Hickok'' is a 1956 American Western film directed by Richard Talmadge. It is an entirely fictional account of Wild Bill Hickok ( Tom Brown) who is the villain of the film. The film was produced and written by Johnny Carpe ...

'' (1956) (director) *'' Casino Royale'' (1967) (director) (uncredited)

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Talmadge, Richard 1892 births 1981 deaths Pseudonymous artists German male film actors American stunt performers American film directors American male film actors American male silent film actors People from Saale-Holzland-Kreis 20th-century American male actors 20th-century German male actors Male actors from Munich German emigrants to the United States Deaths from cancer in California Burials at Inglewood Park Cemetery