Stuart Armstrong Walker (March 4, 1888 - March 13, 1941) was an American producer and director in theatre and motion pictures.
Biography
Stuart Walker was born March 4, 1888, in
Augusta, Kentucky
Augusta is a home rule-class city in Bracken County, Kentucky, in the United States. It is sited upon the southern bank of the Ohio River. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,190. When Bracken County was organized in 1796, Augusta wa ...
, the son of Cliff Stuart Walker and Matilda Taliaferro Armstrong Walker. After attending public school in Cincinnati and graduating from the
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati (UC or Cincinnati) is a public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded in 1819 as Cincinnati College, it is the oldest institution of higher education in Cincinnati and has an annual enrollment of over 44,0 ...
, he went to work for
David Belasco
David Belasco (July 25, 1853 – May 14, 1931) was an American theatrical producer, impresario, director, and playwright. He was the first writer to adapt the short story ''Madame Butterfly'' for the stage. He launched the theatrical career of ...
and made his debut as an actor in 1909. He became a play reader for Belasco, and directed plays including ''
The Governor's Lady
''The Governor's Lady'' is a 1912 play written by Alice Bradley, directed by David Belasco and produced by Belasco and his son-in-law David Elliott. It is known for its unconventional set.
Production
After previews in Philadelphia and Washingto ...
'' (1912). In 1914 Walker joined
Jessie Bonstelle
Jessie Bonstelle (born Laura Justine Bonesteel; November 18, 1871 – October 14, 1932) was an American theater director, actress, and drama company manager. Encouraged by her mother, she sang and performed in the theater from a young age; she w ...
as a director in Detroit and Buffalo.
In 1915, Walker organized the Portmanteau Theatre, an independent
repertory theatre company. He produced seasons in Baltimore, Chicago, Cincinnati, Dayton, Indianapolis, Louisville and New York City. He staged the first dramatization of
Booth Tarkington
Newton Booth Tarkington (July 29, 1869 – May 19, 1946) was an American novelist and dramatist best known for his novels '' The Magnificent Ambersons'' (1918) and '' Alice Adams'' (1921). He is one of only four novelists to win the Pulitz ...
's bestselling novel ''
Seventeen
Seventeen or 17 may refer to:
*17 (number), the natural number following 16 and preceding 18
* one of the years 17 BC, AD 17, 1917, 2017
Literature
Magazines
* ''Seventeen'' (American magazine), an American magazine
* ''Seventeen'' (Japanese m ...
'',
presented on Broadway in 1918 starring Gregory Kelly and his future wife, newcomer
Ruth Gordon
Ruth Gordon Jones (October 30, 1896 – August 28, 1985) was an American actress, screenwriter, and playwright. She began her career performing on Broadway at age 19. Known for her nasal voice and distinctive personality, Gordon gained internati ...
.
Walker's repertory company was active throughout the 1920s. Its credits include the first American performance of Alberto Casella's supernatural drama ''Death Takes a Holiday'', adapted by Walter Ferris, in 1929.
In 1930, Walker became a screenwriter in Hollywood,
and served as dialogue director on films including ''
Brothers
A brother is a man or boy who shares one or more parents with another; a male sibling. The female counterpart is a sister. Although the term typically refers to a familial relationship, it is sometimes used endearingly to refer to non-familia ...
'' and ''The Last of the Lone Wolf''.
He directed his first feature film the following year, and in 1936 he became a producer for
Paramount Pictures.
Walker died March 13, 1941, at his home in
Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills is a city located in Los Angeles County, California. A notable and historic suburb of Greater Los Angeles, it is in a wealthy area immediately southwest of the Hollywood Hills, approximately northwest of downtown Los Angeles. ...
, California, following a heart attack.
Filmography
Director
Producer
References
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Walker, Stuart
1888 births
1941 deaths
American male actors
American theatre directors
American dramatists and playwrights
Filmmakers from California
People from Augusta, Kentucky
American theatre managers and producers
Film directors from Kentucky
Film producers from Kentucky