Samuel Alfred De Grasse (June 12, 1875 – November 29, 1953) was a

Canadian Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...

actor. He was the uncle of

cinematographer The cinematographer or director of photography (sometimes shortened to DP or DOP) is the person responsible for the photographing or recording of a film, television production, music video or other live action piece. The cinematographer is the c ...

Robert De Grasse.

Biography

Samuel Alfred De Grasse was born in Bathurst,

New Brunswick New Brunswick (french: Nouveau-Brunswick, , locally ) is one of the thirteen Provinces and territories of Canada, provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime Canada, Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic Canad ...

to Lange De Grasse (1828–1891) and Helene ( Comeau; 1836-?), both of

French-Canadian French Canadians (referred to as Canadiens mainly before the twentieth century; french: Canadiens français, ; feminine form: , ), or Franco-Canadians (french: Franco-Canadiens), refers to either an ethnic group who trace their ancestry to Fren ...

descent. He trained to be a dentist, and married Annie McDonnell in 1904. Their daughter, Clementine Bell, was born in 1906. Annie died in 1909 while giving birth to another daughter, Olive, who also died. In 1910, Samuel was practicing dentistry and he and his daughter Clementine were living in Providence,

Rhode Island Rhode Island (, like ''road'') is a state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area and the seventh-least populous, with slightly fewer than 1.1 million residents as of 2020, but i ...

along with his older sister, Mrs. Clementine Fauchy, and her 14-year-old son, Jerome Fauchy. He married British actress Ada Fuller Golden and became a step-father to her three children. His own elder brother, Joe, went into the fledgling movie business and Sam decided to also give it a try. He traveled to

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the U ...

and, in 1912, he appeared in his first motion picture. At first he played standard secondary characters such as Dr. Robert Armstrong in '' Blind Husbands'' (1919), but when fellow Canadian

Mary Pickford Gladys Marie Smith (April 8, 1892 – May 29, 1979), known professionally as Mary Pickford, was a Canadian-American stage and screen actress and producer with a career that spanned five decades. A pioneer in the US film industry, she co-founde ...

set up her own studio with her husband

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 Thi ...

, he joined them. He portrayed the villainous Prince John in

' 1922 ''

Robin Hood Robin Hood is a legendary heroic outlaw originally depicted in English folklore and subsequently featured in literature and film. According to legend, he was a highly skilled archer and swordsman. In some versions of the legend, he is de ...

''. Afterward, he began to specialize in crafty or slimy villainous roles, such as Senator Charles Summer in ''

The Birth of a Nation ''The Birth of a Nation'', originally called ''The Clansman'', is a 1915 American silent epic drama film directed by D. W. Griffith and starring Lillian Gish. The screenplay is adapted from Thomas Dixon Jr.'s 1905 novel and play '' The Clansm ...

'' (1915), the mill owner Arthur Jenkins in '' Intolerance'' (1916), John Carver in ''

The Courtship of Miles Standish ''The Courtship of Miles Standish'' is an 1858 narrative poem by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow about the early days of Plymouth Colony, the colonial settlement established in America by the ''Mayflower'' Pilgrims. Overview ''Th ...

'' (1923), Colonel Lestron in ''

The Eagle of the Sea ''The Eagle of the Sea'' is a 1926 American silent drama film directed by Frank Lloyd, starring Florence Vidor and featuring Boris Karloff in an uncredited role. Incomplete prints of the film exist. Cast See also * List of American film ...

'' (1926), a

pirate Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence by ship or boat-borne attackers upon another ship or a coastal area, typically with the goal of stealing cargo and other valuable goods. Those who conduct acts of piracy are called pirates, v ...

lieutenant in '' The Black Pirate'' (1926), a

Pharisee The Pharisees (; he, פְּרוּשִׁים, Pərūšīm) were a Jewish social movement and a school of thought in the Levant during the time of Second Temple Judaism. After the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, Pharisaic beliefs be ...

in ''

The King of Kings King of Kings; grc-gre, Βασιλεὺς Βασιλέων, Basileùs Basiléōn; hy, արքայից արքա, ark'ayits ark'a; sa, महाराजाधिराज, Mahārājadhirāja; ka, მეფეთ მეფე, ''Mepet mepe'' ...

'' (1927) and King James in ''

The Man Who Laughs ''The Man Who Laughs'' (also published under the title ''By Order of the King'' from its subtitle in French) is a novel by Victor Hugo, originally published in April 1869 under the French title ''L'Homme qui rit''. It takes place in England beg ...

'' (1928). Mary Pickford named him as one of her favorite stars. In the 1960s,

Jackie Coogan John Leslie Coogan (October 26, 1914 – March 1, 1984) was an American actor and comedian who began his film career as a child actor in silent films. Charlie Chaplin's film classic '' The Kid'' (1921) made him one of the first child stars in t ...

claimed

Jean Harlow Jean Harlow (born Harlean Harlow Carpenter; March 3, 1911 – June 7, 1937) was an American actress. Known for her portrayal of "bad girl" characters, she was the leading sex symbol of the early 1930s and one of the defining figures of the ...

had lived in De Grasse's apartment for two years and was married to him when she was 16. At the time both de Grasse and Harlow were deceased. The claim was untrue -- Harlow was married to Charles McGrew when she was 16. However, she did appear as an extra in the film '' Honor Bound'' (1928), in which De Grasse played "Blood Keller".

Death

De Grasse lived on the west coast until his death at age 78 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) * Hollywoo ...

from a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which m ...

during his sleep. He is interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in

Glendale, California Glendale is a city in the San Fernando Valley and Verdugo Mountains regions of Los Angeles County, California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents ac ...

Selected filmography

* ''

'' (1915) - Sen. Charles Sumner (uncredited) * ''A Man and His Mate'' (1915) - Choo * ''A Child of God'' (1915) - Jim MacPherson * '' Martyrs of the Alamo'' (1915) - Silent Smith * ''Cross Currents'' (1915) - Silas Randolph * ''The Price of Power'' (1916) - James Garwood * ''

Acquitted In common law jurisdictions, an acquittal certifies that the accused is free from the charge of an offense, as far as criminal law is concerned. The finality of an acquittal is dependent on the jurisdiction. In some countries, such as the ...

'' (1916) - Ira Wolcott * '' The Good Bad-Man'' (1916) - The Wolf / Bud Frazer * '' An Innocent Magdalene'' (1916) - Forbes Stewart * '' The Half-Breed'' (1916) - Sheriff Dunn * '' Intolerance'' (1916) - Arthur Jenkins * '' Diane of the Follies'' (1916) - Phillips Christy * '' The Children of the Feud'' (1916) - Dr. Richard Cavanagh * '' Jim Bludso'' (1917) - Ben Merrill * '' Her Official Fathers'' (1917) - Ethan Dexter * '' An Old-Fashioned Young Man'' (1917) - Harold T. King * '' Madame Bo-Peep'' (1917) - Jose Alvarez * ''

Wild and Woolly Wild and Woolly may refer to: * Wild and Woolly (1917 film), an American silent Western comedy film * Wild and Woolly (1932 film), a short animated film * Wild and Woolly (1937 film), an American Western film * Wild and Wooly ''Wild and Wooly ...

'' (1917) - Steve Shelby - Indian Agent * '' The Empty Gun'' (1917, Short) - Jim * '' Anything Once'' (1917) - Herbert Wendling * ''

The Winged Mystery ''The Winged Mystery'' is a 1917 American silent war film directed by Joseph De Grasse and starring Franklyn Farnum, Claire Du Brey and Rosemary Theby.Connelly p.435 Cast * Franklyn Farnum as Capt. August Sieger / Louis Siever * Claire Du Br ...

'' (1917) - Mortimer Eddington * '' The Scarlet Car'' (1917) - Ernest Peabody * ''Six-Shooter Andy'' (1918) - Tom Slade * '' Brace Up'' (1918) - National Jim * '' The Guilt of Silence'' (1918) - Gambler Joe * ''The Mortgaged Wife'' (1918) - Meyer * '' Smashing Through'' (1918) - Earl Foster * ''

Winner Takes All Winner(s) take(s) (it) all may refer to: Competition, economics and politics * Winner-takes-all voting * Winner-take-all (computing) * Winner-take-all market Books Fiction * ''Winner Takes All'' (novel), a BBC Books Doctor Who novel * "Winner ...

'' (1918) - Mark Thorne * '' A Woman's Fool'' (1918) - Minor Role * '' A Law Unto Herself'' (1918) - Kurt Von Klassner * '' The Narrow Path'' (1918) - Malcolm Dion * '' The Hope Chest'' (1918) - Ballantyne, Sr. * '' Sis Hopkins'' (1919) - Vibert * ''The Silk-Lined Burglar'' (1919) - Boston Blackie * '' The Exquisite Thief'' (1919) - Shaver Michael * '' Heart o' the Hills'' (1919) - Steve Honeycutt * '' Blind Husbands'' (1919) - The Husband, Dr. Robert Armstrong * '' Uncharted Channels'' (1920) - Nicholas Schonnn * '' Moon Madness'' (1920) - Adrien * '' The Devil's Pass Key'' (1920) - Warren Goodwright * '' The Skywayman'' (1920) - Dr. Wayne Leveridge * '' The Little Grey Mouse'' (1920) - John Cumberland * '' Unseen Forces'' (1920) - Captain Stanley * '' The Broken Gate'' (1920) - 'Hod' Brooks * '' The Cheater Reformed'' (1921) - Thomas Edinburgh * ''

Courage Courage (also called bravery or valor) is the choice and willingness to confront Suffering, agony, pain, Risk, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation. Valor is courage or bravery, especially in battle. Physical courage is bravery in the face of ...

'' (1921) - Stephan Blackmoore * ''

A Wife's Awakening ''A Wife's Awakening'' is a 1921 American silent drama film directed by Louis J. Gasnier and starring William P. Carleton, Fritzi Brunette and Sam De Grasse.Munden p.901 Cast * William P. Carleton William P. Carleton (October 3, 1872 – ...

'' (1921) - George Otis * ''

'' (1922) - Prince John * ''

Forsaking All Others ''Forsaking All Others'' is a 1934 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by W.S. Van Dyke, and starring Robert Montgomery, Joan Crawford and Clark Gable. The screenplay was written by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, which was based upon a 1933 p ...

'' (1922) - Dr. Mason * '' Slippy McGee'' (1923) - Father De Rance * '' Circus Days'' (1923) - Lord * '' The Spoilers'' (1923) - Judge Stillman * ''

A Prince of a King ''A Prince of a King'' is a 1923 American silent historical adventure film directed by Albert Austin and starring Dean Riesner, Virginia Pearson and Eric Mayne.Connelly p.398 Synopsis In a kingdom in fifteenth century Italy, Duke Roberto overthr ...

'' (1923) - Duke Roberto * ''

The Dancer of the Nile ''The Dancer of the Nile'' is a 1923 American silent drama film directed by William P.S. Earle and starring Carmel Myers, Malcolm McGregor, and Sam De Grasse. The film was produced in response to the public fascination following the discovery of ...

'' (1923) - Pasheri * '' In the Palace of the King'' (1923) - King Philip II * '' Tiger Rose'' (1923) - Dr. Cusick * ''

'' (1923) - John Carver * '' Painted People'' (1924) - Henry Parrish * '' Pagan Passions'' (1924) - Frank Langley * '' A Self-Made Failure'' (1924) - Cyrus Cruikshank * '' The Virgin'' (1924) - Ricardo Ruiz * ''On the Threshold'' (1925) - Daniel Masters * ''

The Mansion of Aching Hearts ''The Mansion of Aching Hearts'' is a lost 1925 American silent drama film directed by James P. Hogan and starring Ethel Clayton, Barbara Bedford, and Priscilla Bonner. Plot As described in a film magazine review, believing his wife is unfait ...

'' (1925) - Martin Craig * '' One Year to Live'' (1925) - Dr. Lucien La Pierre * ''

Sun-Up ''Sun-Up'' is a 1925 American silent drama film directed by Edmund Goulding based upon a successful 1924 play of the same name by Lula Vollmer. The film stars Lucille La Verne, replaying her successful New York stage role, Pauline Starke, and C ...

'' (1925) - Sheriff Weeks * '' Heir-Loons'' (1925) * '' Sally, Irene and Mary'' (1925) - Officer O'Dare * '' Mike'' (1926) - Brush * '' The Black Pirate'' (1926) - Pirate Lieutenant * '' Her Second Chance'' (1926) - Beachey * '' Broken Hearts of Hollywood'' (1926) - Defense Attorney * ''

'' (1926) - Col. Lestron * '' Love's Blindness'' (1926) - Benjamin Levy * '' When a Man Loves'' (1927) - Comte Guillot de Morfontaine * '' King of Kings'' (1927) - Pharisee * '' Captain Salvation'' (1927) - Peter Campbell * '' The Fighting Eagle'' (1927) - Talleyrand * '' The Country Doctor'' (1927) - Ira Harding * ''

The Wreck of the Hesperus "The Wreck of the Hesperus" is a narrative poem by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, first published in ''Ballads and Other Poems'' in 1842. It is a story that presents the tragic consequences of a skipper's pride. On an ill-fated voyag ...

'' (1927) - Capt. David Slocum * ''

'' (1928) - King James II * '' Honor Bound'' (1928) - Blood Keller * '' The Racket'' (1928) - District Attorney Welch * ''

Our Dancing Daughters ''Our Dancing Daughters'' is a 1928 American silent drama film starring Joan Crawford and John Mack Brown about the "loosening of youth morals" that took place during the 1920s. The film was directed by Harry Beaumont and produced by Hunt Strom ...

'' (1928) - Freddie's Father * ''Dog Law'' (1928) - Minor Role (uncredited) * '' The Farmer's Daughter'' (1928) - (uncredited) * '' Silks and Saddles'' (1929) - William Morrissey * '' The Last Performance'' (1929) - District Attorney * ''

Wall Street Wall Street is an eight-block-long street in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan in New York City. It runs between Broadway in the west to South Street and the East River in the east. The term "Wall Street" has become a metonym for ...

'' (1929) - John Willard * '' Captain of the Guard'' (1930) - Bazin (final film role)

References

External links

* * De Grasse a
Northernstars.ca
{{DEFAULTSORT:Degrasse, Sam Canadian male silent film actors Canadian male film actors Male actors from New Brunswick 1875 births 1953 deaths People from Bathurst, New Brunswick Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) 20th-century Canadian male actors Canadian expatriate male actors in the United States