William Farnum (July 4, 1876 – June 5, 1953) was an American actor. He was a star of American silent film cinema and became one of the highest-paid actors during that time.

Biography

Farnum was born on July 4, 1876, in Boston, Massachusetts, but he grew up in

Bucksport, Maine Bucksport is a historical town in Hancock County, Maine, United States. The population was 4,944 at the 2020 census. Bucksport is across the Penobscot River estuary from Fort Knox and the Penobscot Narrows Bridge, which replaced the Waldo–H ...

. One of three brothers, Farnum grew up in a family of actors. He made his acting debut at the age of 10 in

Richmond, Virginia (Thus do we reach the stars) , image_map = , mapsize = 250 px , map_caption = Location within Virginia , pushpin_map = Virginia#USA , pushpin_label = Richmond , pushpin_m ...

, in a production of ''

Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (; ; 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC), was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in a civil war, and ...

'', with

Edwin Booth Edwin Thomas Booth (November 13, 1833 – June 7, 1893) was an American actor who toured throughout the United States and the major capitals of Europe, performing Shakespearean plays. In 1869, he founded Booth's Theatre in New York. Some theatri ...

playing the

title character The title character in a narrative work is one who is named or referred to in the title of the work. In a performed work such as a play or film, the performer who plays the title character is said to have the title role of the piece. The title of ...

. He portrayed the title character of '' Ben-Hur'' (1900) on Broadway. Later plays Farnum appeared in there included ''The Prince of India'' (1906), ''The White Sister'' (1909), ''The Littlest Rebel'' (1911) co-starring his brother Dustin, and

Arizona Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...

(1913), also with Dustin. In '' The Spoilers'' in 1914, Farnum and

Tom Santschi Tom or TOM may refer to: * Tom (given name), a diminutive of Thomas or Tomás or an independent Aramaic given name (and a list of people with the name) Characters * Tom Anderson, a character in '' Beavis and Butt-Head'' * Tom Beck, a character ...

staged a classic film fight which lasted for a full reel. In 1930, Farnum and Santschi coached

Gary Cooper Gary Cooper (born Frank James Cooper; May 7, 1901May 13, 1961) was an American actor known for his strong, quiet screen persona and understated acting style. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor twice and had a further three nominations, a ...

and William Boyd in the fight scene for the 1930 version of ''The Spoilers''. Other actors influenced by the Farnum/Santschi scene were

Milton Sills Milton George Gustavus Sills (January 12, 1882 – September 15, 1930) was an American stage and film actor of the early twentieth century. Biography Sills was born in Chicago, Illinois, into a wealthy family. He was the son of William Henr ...

and

Noah Beery Noah Nicholas Beery (January 17, 1882 – April 1, 1946) was an American actor who appeared in films from 1913 until his death in 1946. He was the older brother of Academy Award-winning actor Wallace Beery as well as the father of prominen ...

in 1923 and Randolph Scott and

John Wayne Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne and nicknamed The Duke or Duke Wayne, was an American actor who became a popular icon through his starring roles in films made during Hollywood's Gol ...

1942 Events Below, the events of World War II have the "WWII" prefix. January * January 1 – WWII: The Declaration by United Nations is signed by China, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Soviet Union, and 22 other nations, in wh ...

. From 1915 to 1952, Farnum devoted his life to motion pictures. While becoming one of the most popular actors in Hollywood, he also became one of the highest-paid, earning $10,000 a week. Farnum's silent pictures ''

Drag Harlan ''Drag Harlan'' is a 1920 American silent Western film produced and released by the Fox Film Corporation and directed by J. Gordon Edwards. The film is based on an original story for the screen and stars William Farnum along with Jackie Saund ...

'' (1920) and ''

If I Were King ''If I Were King'' is a 1938 American biographical and historical film starring Ronald Colman as medieval poet François Villon, and featuring Basil Rathbone and Frances Dee. It is based on the 1901 play and novel, both of the same name, by Just ...

'' (1921) survive from his years contracted to

Fox Film The Fox Film Corporation (also known as Fox Studios) was an American Independent film production studio formed by William Fox (1879–1952) in 1915, by combining his earlier Greater New York Film Rental Company and Box Office Attractions Film C ...

s. Nearly all of Fox's silent films made before 1932 were destroyed in a vault fire in 1937.

Personal life

Married three times, Farnum was the father of screenwriter

Dorothy Farnum Dorothy Farnum (10 June 1900 – 27 January 1970) was an American actress and screenwriter. She was noted for her work at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer during the silent era and later in Britain during the 1930s. Career Farnum was the daughter of actor Wi ...

with Mabel Eaton. He had a daughter, Sara Adele, with his second wife, Olive White. He had three children with his third wife, Isabelle, named Isabelle, Elizabeth, and William Farnum Jr. Farnum died from

uremia Uremia is the term for high levels of urea in the blood. Urea is one of the primary components of urine. It can be defined as an excess of amino acid and protein metabolism end products, such as urea and creatinine, in the blood that would be no ...

and

cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal b ...

on June 5, 1953 at

Cedars of Lebanon Hospital Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is a nonprofit, tertiary, 886-bed teaching hospital and multi-specialty academic health science center located in Los Angeles, California. Part of the Cedars-Sinai Health System, the hospital employs a staff of over ...

. He is interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in

Glendale, California Glendale is a city in the San Fernando Valley and Verdugo Mountains regions of Los Angeles County, California, Los Angeles County, California, United States. At the 2020 United States Census, 2020 U.S. Census the population was 196,543, up from ...

. On February 8, 1960, Farnum 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 ...

for his contributions to the motion pictures industry at 6322

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 ...

. He was the younger brother of major film actor

Dustin Farnum Dustin Lancy Farnum (May 27, 1874 – July 3, 1929) was an American singer, dancer, and actor on the stage and in silent films. Although he played a wide variety of roles, he tended toward westerns and became one of the biggest stars of the genr ...

. He had another brother,

Marshall Farnum Marshall Farnum (December 19, 1879 – February 19, 1917) was an American actor and film director. The youngest of the three Farnum boys, Dustin Farnum and William Farnum.Liebman p.89 Having directed first on stage, from 1913 he established hims ...

, who was a silent film director who died in 1917.

Filmography

Silent

*''

The Redemption of David Corson ''The Redemption of David Corson'' is a lost 1914 silent film drama directed by Frederick A. Thomson and starring William Farnum. It was produced by Daniel Frohman and Adolph Zukor. This story was based on a novel ''The Redemption of David Corso ...

'' (1914, Short) as David Corson *'' The Spoilers'' (1914) as Roy Glenister *'' The Sign of the Cross'' (1914, ''extant''; Library of Congress) as Marcus Superbus *''

Samson Samson (; , '' he, Šīmšōn, label= none'', "man of the sun") was the last of the judges of the ancient Israelites mentioned in the Book of Judges (chapters 13 to 16) and one of the last leaders who "judged" Israel before the institution o ...

'' (1915) as Maurice Brachard *''A Gilded Fool'' (1915) as Chauncey Short *''The Governor'' (1915) as Philip Morrow *'' The Plunderer'' (1915) as Bill Matthews *''The Wonderful Adventure'' (1915) as Martin Stanley / Wilton Demarest *''The Broken Law'' (1915) as Daniel Esmond - later Known as Lavengro *'' A Soldier's Oath'' (1915) as Pierre Duval *''Fighting Blood'' (1916) as Lem Hardy *''

The Bondman ''The Bondman'' is a later Jacobean era stage play, a tragicomedy written by Philip Massinger, first published in 1624. The play has been called "the finest of the more serious tragicomedies" of Massinger. Performance and publication ''The ...

'' (1916) as Stephen Orry / Jason Orry *''

A Man of Sorrow ''A Man of Sorrow'' is a lost 1916 American drama film produced and distributed by Fox Film Corporation and starring William Farnum. Oscar Apfel directed and wrote the scenario based on a play, ''Hoodman Blind'', by Wilson Barrett.

'' (1916) as Jack Hewlitt *''

The Battle of Hearts ''The Battle of Hearts'' is a 1916 American silent drama film written and directed by Oscar Apfel, and produced and distributed by Fox Film Corporation. It starred William Farnum and Elda Furry (later known as Hedda Hopper). The story was by F ...

'' (1916) as Martin Cane *''

The Man from Bitter Roots ''The Man from Bitter Roots'' is a lost 1916 American silent Western film directed by Oscar Apfel and starring William Farnum. It was produced and released by the Fox Film Corporation.The Fires of Conscience'' (1916) as George Baxter *'' The Price of Silence'' (1917) as Senator Frank Deering *''

A Tale of Two Cities ''A Tale of Two Cities'' is a historical novel published in 1859 by Charles Dickens, set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. The novel tells the story of the French Doctor Manette, his 18-year-long imprisonment in the ...

'' (1917) as Charles Darnay / Sydney Carton *''

American Methods ''American Methods'' is a 1917 American silent drama film directed by Frank Lloyd and starring William Farnum, Jewel Carmen and Bertram Grassby.Solomon p.239 Cast * William Farnum as William Armstrong * Jewel Carmen as Claire de Beaulieu * Bert ...

'' (1917) as William Armstrong *'' The Conqueror'' (1917) as Sam Houston *''

When a Man Sees Red ''When a Man Sees Red'' is a 1917 American silent drama film produced and distributed by the Fox Film Corporation and directed by Frank Lloyd. William Farnum stars in this now lost film. It was remade in 1934 as ''Pursued''. This was the debut ...

'' (1917) as Larry Smith *''

Les Misérables ''Les Misérables'' ( , ) is a French historical novel by Victor Hugo, first published in 1862, that is considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century. In the English-speaking world, the novel is usually referred to by its original ...

'' (1917) as Jean Valjean *''

The Heart of a Lion ''The Heart of a Lion'' is a lost 1917 silent film drama directed by Frank Lloyd and starring William Farnum. Fox Film Corporation produced and distributed the movie. It is based on a novel by Ralph Connor. Cast *William Farnum – Barney Kemper * ...

'' (1917) as Barney Kemper * ''

The Scarlet Car ''The Scarlet Car'' is a 1917 American silent drama film directed by Joe De Grasse and featuring Lon Chaney, Edith Johnson and Franklyn Farnum. The film was written by William Parker, based upon the novel ''The Scarlet Car'' by Richard Harding ...

'' (1917) as Billy Winthrop *'' Rough and Ready'' (1918) as Bill Stratton *'' True Blue'' (1918) as Bob McKeever *''

Riders of the Purple Sage ''Riders of the Purple Sage'' is a Western novel by Zane Grey, first published by Harper & Brothers in 1912. Considered by scholars to have played a significant role in shaping the formula of the popular Western genre, the novel has been called ...

'' (1918) as Lassiter *''

The Rainbow Trail ''The Rainbow Trail'', also known as ''The Desert Crucible'', is Western author Zane Grey's sequel to ''Riders of the Purple Sage''. Originally published under the title ''The Rainbow Trail'' in 1915, it was re-edited and re-released in recent ...

'' (1918) as Lassiter / Shefford *'' For Freedom'' (1918) as Robert Wayne *''

The Man Hunter ''The Man Hunter'' is a 1930 American pre-Code all-talking adventure drama that stars Rin Tin Tin. The film was released by Warner Brothers, and was adapted by James A. Starr (who wrote the screenplay and dialogue) from a story by Lillie Haywar ...

'' (1919) as George Arnold *''The Jungle Trail'' (1919) as Robert Morgan *'' The Lone Star Ranger'' (1919) as Steele *''

Wolves of the Night ''Wolves of the Night'' is a 1919 American silent drama film directed by J. Gordon Edwards and starring William Farnum, Louise Lovely, and Lamar Johnstone. Cast * William Farnum as Bruce Andrews * Louise Lovely as Isabel Hollins * Lamar Johns ...

'' (1919) as Bruce Andrews *'' The Last of the Duanes'' (1919) as Buck Duane *'' Wings of the Morning'' (1919) as Capt. Robert Anstruther / Robert Jenks *'' Heart Strings'' (1920) as Pierre Fournel *''The Adventurer'' (1920) as Don Caesar de Bazan *''The Orphan'' (1920) as The Orphan *''The Joyous Troublemaker'' (1920) as William Steele *''

'' (1920) as François Villon *''

'' (1920) as Drag Harlan *''

The Scuttlers ''The Scuttlers'' is a lost 1920 American silent drama film produced and distributed by the Fox Film Corporation and directed by J. Gordon Edwards. William Farnum and Jackie Saunders star in this adventure. Cast *William Farnum as Jim Landers * ...

'' (1920) as Jim Landers *''His Great Silence'' (1921) as Richard Hall *''Perjury'' (1921) as Robert Moore *'' A Stage of Romance'' (1922) as Edmund Kean (Character) *''

Shackles of Gold ''Shackles of Gold'' is a 1922 American silent drama film directed by Herbert Brenon and starring William Farnum, Alfred Loring, and Marie Shotwell. It is an adaptation of the 1908 play ''Samson (play), Samson'' by Henri Bernstein with the setti ...

'' (1922) as John Gibbs *''

Moonshine Valley ''Moonshine Valley'' is a 1922 American silent Western film. Its working title was ''The Miracle Child: He Giveth and Taketh''.

'' (1922) as Ned Connors *''Without Compromise'' (1922) as Dick Leighton *''

Brass Commandments ''Brass Commandments'' is a 1923 American silent Western film directed by Lynn Reynolds and starring William Farnum, Wanda Hawley, and Tom Santschi. The novel of the same name by Charles Alden Seltzer that the film is based upon was later fil ...

'' (1923) as Stephen 'Flash' Lanning *''

The Gunfighter ''The Gunfighter'' is a 1950 American Western film directed by Henry King and starring Gregory Peck, Helen Westcott, Millard Mitchell and Karl Malden. It was written by screenwriters William Bowers and William Sellers, with an uncredited rewr ...

'' (1923) as Billy Buell *''

The Man Who Fights Alone ''The Man Who Fights Alone'' is a 1924 American silent drama film produced by Famous Players-Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It was directed by Wallace Worsley and starred William Farnum and Lois Wilson. Cast Preservation With ...

'' (1924) as John Marble *'' Tropical Nights'' (1928)

Sound

*'' The Spoilers'' (1930) as Fight Spectator (uncredited) *''

Du Barry, Woman of Passion ''Du Barry, Woman of Passion'' is a 1930 American pre-Code dramatic film starring Norma Talmadge, produced by her husband Joseph Schenck, released through United Artists, and based on a 1901 stage play ''Du Barry'' written and produced by David ...

'' (1930) as Louis XV *''

The Painted Desert ''The Painted Desert'' is a 1931 American pre-Code Western film released by Pathé Exchange. Produced by E. B. Derr, it was directed by Howard Higgin, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Tom Buckingham. The picture stars low-budget Western ...

'' (1931) as Cash Holbrook *'' Ten Nights in a Barroom'' (1931) as Joe Morgan *'' A Connecticut Yankee'' (1931) as King Arthur / Inventor *''

The Pagan Lady ''The Pagan Lady'' is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film directed by John Francis Dillon and starring Evelyn Brent. It is based on the Broadway play ''Pagan Lady'' (1930) written by William DuBois. Cast * Evelyn Brent as Dorothy 'Dot' Hunter ...

'' (1931) as Malcolm 'Mal' Todd *'' Law of the Sea'' (1931) as Captain Len Andrews *'' The Drifter'' (1932) as The Drifter *''

Mr. Robinson Crusoe ''Mr. Robinson Crusoe'' is a 1932 Pre-Code American film. It is one of the few "talkie" films starring Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., in his penultimate film role; Fairbanks also produced the film and provided the story during the Great Depression. Th ...

'' (1932) as William Belmont *''

Flaming Guns ''Flaming Guns'' is a 1932 American Western film directed by Arthur Rosson and written by Jack Cunningham. The film stars Tom Mix, William Farnum, Ruth Hall, Clarence Wilson, George Hackathorne and Duke R. Lee. The film was released on Decem ...

'' (1932) as Henry Ramsey *''

Supernatural Supernatural refers to phenomena or entities that are beyond the laws of nature. The term is derived from Medieval Latin , from Latin (above, beyond, or outside of) + (nature) Though the corollary term "nature", has had multiple meanings si ...

'' (1933) as Nick 'Nicky' Hammond *''

Fighting with Kit Carson ''Fighting with Kit Carson'' is a 1933 American pre-Code Mascot Pictures film serial. It was edited into a feature film by Al Dezel Productions in 1946 and released to theaters as a movie. Johnny Mack Brown starred as Kit Carson, and Betsy Kin ...

'' (1933, Serial) as Elliott (Ch. 1) *'' Another Language'' (1933) as C. Forrester (uncredited) *''

Marriage on Approval ''Marriage on Approval'' is a 1933 pre-Code American drama film directed by Howard Higgin and starring Barbara Kent, Don Dillaway and William Farnum.Pitts p.162 It was released in the United Kingdom by British Lion under the alternative title of ...

'' (1933) as Reverend John MacDougall *''

Good Dame ''Good Dame'' is a 1934 American pre-Code drama film directed by Marion Gering and written by Sam Hellman, Vincent Lawrence and William R. Lipman. The film stars Sylvia Sidney, Fredric March, Jack La Rue, Noel Francis, Russell Hopton, Bradley P ...

'' (1934) as Judge Flynn *''

School for Girls ''School for Girls'' is a 1935 American drama film directed by William Nigh and starring Sidney Fox, Paul Kelly and Lois Wilson.

'' (1934) as Charles Waltham *'' Are We Civilized?'' (1934) as Paul Franklin, Sr. *''

The Count of Monte Cristo ''The Count of Monte Cristo'' (french: Le Comte de Monte-Cristo) is an adventure novel written by French author Alexandre Dumas (''père'') completed in 1844. It is one of the author's more popular works, along with ''The Three Musketeers''. Li ...

'' (1934) as Captain Leclere *'' Happy Landing'' (1934) as Col. Curtis *''

The Scarlet Letter ''The Scarlet Letter: A Romance'' is a work of historical fiction by American author Nathaniel Hawthorne, published in 1850. Set in the Puritan Massachusetts Bay Colony during the years 1642 to 1649, the novel tells the story of Hester Prynne, ...

'' (1934) as Gov. Bellingham *''

Cleopatra Cleopatra VII Philopator ( grc-gre, Κλεοπάτρα Φιλοπάτωρ}, "Cleopatra the father-beloved"; 69 BC10 August 30 BC) was Queen of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt from 51 to 30 BC, and its last active ruler.She was also a ...

'' (1934) as Lepidus *''

The Brand of Hate ''The Brand of Hate'' is a 1934 American Western film directed by Lewis D. Collins and starring Bob Steele, Lucile Browne and William Farnum. Cast * Bob Steele as Rod Camp *Lucile Browne as Margie Larkins *William Farnum as Joe Larkins *M ...

'' (1934) as Joe Larkins *''

The Silver Streak ''The Silver Streak'' is a 1934 American black-and-white film drama from RKO, loosely based on the record-setting "dawn-to-dusk" run of the '' Pioneer Zephyr'' on May 26, 1934. The film stars Sally Blane, Charles Starrett, William Farnum, and ...

'' (1934) as Barney J. Dexter *'' Million Dollar Haul'' (1935) as Mr. Mallory - Sheila's Dad *''

The Crusades The Crusades were a series of religious wars initiated, supported, and sometimes directed by the Latin Church in the medieval period. The best known of these Crusades are those to the Holy Land in the period between 1095 and 1291 that were i ...

'' (1935) as Hugo - Duke of Burgundy *'' Powdersmoke Range'' (1935) as Sam Oreham - Banker *'' The Eagle's Brood'' (1935) as El Toro *'' Between Men'' (1935) as John Wellington - aka Rand *'' The Irish Gringo'' (1935) as Pop Wiley *'' The Fighting Coward'' (1935) as Jim Horton *''

Custer's Last Stand The Battle of the Little Bighorn, known to the Lakota and other Plains Indians as the Battle of the Greasy Grass, and also commonly referred to as Custer's Last Stand, was an armed engagement between combined forces of the Lakota Sioux, Nor ...

'' (1936, Serial) as James Fitzpatrick *''

The Kid Ranger ''The Kid Ranger'' is a 1936 American Western film starring Bob Steele. It was done for Supreme Pictures and was produced by A. W. Hackel. Cast * Bob Steele as Ray Burton * William Farnum as Bill Mason * Joan Barclay as Mary Brokaw * Earl ...

'' (1936) as Bill Mason *''

The Clutching Hand ''The Clutching Hand'' (in full, ''The Amazing Exploits of the Clutching Hand'') is a 15-episode serial produced by the Weiss Brothers in 1936, based on the final Craig Kennedy novel of the 1934 same name by Arthur B. Reeve. A 70-minute feature ...

'' (1936, Serial) as Gordon Gaunt *''

Undersea Kingdom ''Undersea Kingdom'' (1936) is a Republic Pictures 12 chapter film serial released in response to Universal's ''Flash Gordon''. It was the second of the sixty-six serials made by Republic. In 1966, the serial was edited into a 100-minute televi ...

'' (1936, Serial) as Sharad *''

'' (1936) as Minor Role (scenes deleted) *''

The Vigilantes Are Coming ''The Vigilantes Are Coming'' is a 1936 American Republic film serial directed by Ray Taylor and Mack V. Wright. It was the third of the sixty six serials made by Republic Pictures (and the third released in 1936). This serial was filmed betwee ...

'' (1936, Serial) as Father José *''

Maid of Salem ''Maid of Salem'' is a 1937 film made by Paramount Pictures, directed by Frank Lloyd, and starring Claudette Colbert and Fred MacMurray. Plot It tells the story of a young girl in Salem, Massachusetts, 1692, who has an affair with an adventurer. ...

'' (1937) as Crown Justice Sewall *'' Git Along Little Dogies'' (1937) as Mr. Maxwell *'' Public Cowboy No. 1'' (1937) as Sheriff Matt Doniphon *''

The Lone Ranger The Lone Ranger is a fictional masked former Texas Ranger who fought outlaws in the American Old West with his Native American friend Tonto. The character has been called an enduring icon of American culture. He first appeared in 1933 in ...

'' (1938, Serial) as Father McKim *''

'' (1938) as General Barbezier *''

Santa Fe Stampede ''Santa Fe Stampede'' is a 1938 American " Three Mesquiteers" Western film directed by George Sherman and starring John Wayne, Ray Corrigan, and Max Terhune. Wayne played the lead in eight of the fifty-one films in the popular series. Plot s ...

'' (1938) as Dave Carson *''

Shine On, Harvest Moon "Shine On, Harvest Moon" is a popular early-1900s song credited to the married vaudeville team Nora Bayes and Jack Norworth. It was one of a series of moon-related Tin Pan Alley songs of the era. The song was debuted by Bayes and Norworth in the Z ...

'' (1938) as Milt Brower *'' Mexicali Rose'' (1939) as Padre Dominic *'' Should Husbands Work?'' (1939) as Friend (uncredited) *'' Colorado Sunset'' (1939) as Sheriff George Glenn *''

Rovin' Tumbleweeds ''Rovin' Tumbleweeds'' is a 1939 American Western film directed by George Sherman and starring Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette and Mary Carlisle. Written by Betty Burbridge, Dorrell McGowan, and Stuart E. McGowan, the film is about a cowboy congres ...

'' (1939) as Senator Timothy Nolan *'' South of the Border'' (1939) as Padre *''

Convicted Woman ''Convicted Woman'' is a 1940 crime film starring Rochelle Hudson and directed by Nick Grinde Nick Grinde (January 12, 1893 – June 19, 1979) was an American film director and screenwriter. He directed 57 films between 1928 and 1945. Bi ...

'' (1940) as Commissioner McNeill *''

Adventures of Red Ryder ''The Adventures of Red Ryder'' is a 1940 12-chapter Republic movie serial directed by William Witney and John English and starring Don "Red" Barry and Noah Beery, Sr., based on the Western comic strip '' Red Ryder''. This serial is t ...

'' (1940, Serial) as Colonel Tom Ryder h. 1*''

Kit Carson Christopher Houston Carson (December 24, 1809 – May 23, 1868) was an American frontiersman. He was a fur trapper, wilderness guide, Indian agent, and U.S. Army officer. He became a frontier legend in his own lifetime by biographies and n ...

'' (1940) as Don Miguel Murphy *''

Hi-Yo Silver ''Hi-Yo Silver'' is a 1940 American Western film, directed by William Witney and John English. It stars Lee Powell, Hi-Yo Silver, and Chief Thundercloud and was released on April 10, 1940. The film was created by condensing the fifteen chapt ...

'' (1940) as Father McKim (archive footage) *''

The Villain Still Pursued Her ''The Villain Still Pursued Her'' is a 1940 American comedy film directed by Edward F. Cline and starring Billy Gilbert and Buster Keaton. It is a parody of old stage melodramas but is based primarily on ''The Drunkard'', a 19th-century prohibit ...

'' (1940) as Vagabond (uncredited) *''

Cheers for Miss Bishop ''Cheers for Miss Bishop'' is a 1941 American drama film based on the novel ''Miss Bishop'' by Bess Streeter Aldrich. It was directed by Tay Garnett and stars Martha Scott in the title role. The other cast members include William Gargan, Edmund ...

'' (1941) as Judge Peters *''

A Woman's Face ''A Woman's Face'' is a 1941 American Drama (film and television), drama film directed by George Cukor and starring Joan Crawford, Melvyn Douglas and Conrad Veidt. It tells the story of Anna Holm, a facially disfigured blackmailer, who because of ...

'' (1941) as Court Attendant *''

Gangs of Sonora ''Gangs of Sonora'' is a 1941 American Western "Three Mesquiteers" B-movie directed by John English. Cast * Bob Livingston as Stony Brooke * Bob Steele as Tucson Smith * Rufe Davis as Lullaby Joslin * June Johnson as June Conners * Malcolm M ...

'' (1941) as Ward Beecham *'' Last of the Duanes'' (1941) as Texas Ranger Major McNeil *''

The Corsican Brothers ''The Corsican Brothers'' (french: Les Frères corses) is a novella by Alexandre Dumas, père, first published in 1844. It is the story of two conjoined brothers who, though separated at birth, can still feel each other's physical distress. It h ...

'' (1941) as Priest *''

Today I Hang Today (archaically to-day) may refer to: * Day of the present, the time that is perceived directly, often called ''now'' * Current era, present * The current calendar date Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Today'' (1930 film), a 1930 ...

'' (1942) as Warden Burke *'' The Lone Star Ranger'' (1942) as Texas Ranger Major McNeil *'' The Spoilers'' (1942) as Wheaton *'' Men of Texas'' (1942) as General Sam Houston *'' The Silver Bullet'' (1942) as Dr. Thad Morgan *''

Boss of Hangtown Mesa ''Boss of Hangtown Mesa'' is a 1942 American Western film directed by Joseph H. Lewis and written by Oliver Drake. The film stars Johnny Mack Brown, Fuzzy Knight, William Farnum, Rex Lease, Helen Deverell and Hugh Prosser. The film was releas ...

'' (1942) as Judge Ezra Binns *''

Tish ''TISH'' was a Canadian poetry newsletter founded by student-poets at the University of British Columbia in 1961. The publication was edited by a number of Vancouver poets until 1969. The newsletter's poetics were built on those of writers associa ...

'' (1942) as John (uncredited) *''

Deep in the Heart of Texas "Deep in the Heart of Texas" is an American popular song about Texas. The 1941 song features lyrics by June Hershey and music by Don Swander. There were no fewer than five versions in the Billboard charts in 1942. "Deep in the Heart of Texas" s ...

'' (1942) as Colonel Mallory *''

American Empire American imperialism refers to the expansion of American political, economic, cultural, and media influence beyond the boundaries of the United States. Depending on the commentator, it may include imperialism through outright military conquest ...

'' (1942) as Louisiana Judge *''

Tennessee Johnson ''Tennessee Johnson'' is a 1942 American film about Andrew Johnson, the 17th president of the United States, released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed by William Dieterle and written by Milton Gunzburg, Alvin Meyers, John Balderston, and We ...

'' (1942) as Senator Huyler *'' Calaboose'' (1943) as Checkers Player (uncredited) *''

Prairie Chickens ''Prairie Chickens'' is a 1943 American Western film and a sequel to ''Dudes are Pretty People'' (1942) and '' Calaboose'' (1943), Western films from "Hal Roach's Streamliners", a series of approximately 50-minute comedic movies, in this case d ...

'' (1943) as Cache Lake Townsman (uncredited) *''

Hangmen Also Die! ''Hangmen Also Die!'' is a 1943 noir war film directed by the Austrian director Fritz Lang and written by John Wexley from a story by Bertolt Brecht (credited as Bert Brecht) and Lang. The film stars Hans Heinrich von Twardowski, Brian Donlevy, W ...

'' (1943) as Viktorin (uncredited) *''

Frontier Badmen ''Frontier Badmen'' is a 1943 American Western film directed by Ford Beebe and starring Robert Paige, Anne Gwynne and Diana Barrymore. It was produced and distributed by Universal Pictures. Several members of the cast are offspring of silent sc ...

'' (1943) as Dad Courtwright *''

The Mummy's Curse ''The Mummy's Curse'' is a 1944 American Universal Pictures horror film, directed by Leslie Goodwins. It is the third and final sequel to that company's '' The Mummy's Hand'' of 1940. The film is the sequel to '' The Mummy's Ghost'' (1944) and th ...

'' (1944) as Sacristan *''

Wildfire A wildfire, forest fire, bushfire, wildland fire or rural fire is an unplanned, uncontrolled and unpredictable fire in an area of Combustibility and flammability, combustible vegetation. Depending on the type of vegetation present, a wildfire ...

'' (1945) as Judge Polson *''

Captain Kidd William Kidd, also known as Captain William Kidd or simply Captain Kidd ( – 23 May 1701), was a Scottish sea captain who was commissioned as a privateer and had experience as a pirate. He was tried and executed in London in 1701 for murder a ...

'' (1945) as Capt. Rawson *'' God's Country'' (1946) as Sandy McTavish *'' Rolling Home'' (1946) as Rodeo Official *''

My Dog Shep ''My Dog Shep'' is a 1946 American drama film directed by Ford Beebe. It was made by Golden Gate Productions and released through the newly-formed Screen Guild Productions. They had just made ''Flight to Nowhere''. Filming started August 15, 1 ...

'' (1946) as Carter J. Latham *'' The Perils of Pauline'' (1947) as Western Saloon Set Hero *'' Heaven Only Knows'' (1947) as Gabriel (uncredited) *''

Daughter of the West ''Daughter of the West'' is a 1949 American Western (genre), Western film directed by Harold Daniels and starring Martha Vickers, Phillip Reed and Donald Woods (actor), Donald Woods.Goble p.730 The film's sets were designed by the art director ...

'' (1949) as Father Vallejo *'' Bride of Vengeance'' (1949) as Conti Peruzzi *''

Samson and Delilah Samson and Delilah are Biblical figures. Samson and Delilah may also refer to: In music * ''Samson and Delilah'' (opera), an opera by Camille Saint-Saëns * ''Samson & Delilah'' (album), released in 2013 by V V Brown * "Samson and Delilah" (t ...

'' (1949) as Tubal *'' Gun Cargo'' (1949) as Board of Inquiry Chairman *''

Trail of Robin Hood '' Trail of Robin Hood '' is a 1950 American Trucolor Western film directed by William Witney and starring Roy Rogers. Filmed in the San Bernardino Mountains and Big Bear Lake California, it is notable for featuring a large cast of Western stars ...

'' (1950) as Bill Franum *''

Hollywood Story ''Hollywood Story'' is a 1951 American mystery film directed by William Castle and starring Richard Conte and Julie Adams. The supporting cast features Richard Egan (actor), Richard Egan, Henry Hull, Fred Clark and Jim Backus. The film was an at ...

'' (1951) as Himself *'' Lone Star'' (1952) as Senator Tom Crockett *''

Jack and the Beanstalk "Jack and the Beanstalk" is an English fairy tale. It appeared as "The Story of Jack Spriggins and the Enchanted Bean" in 1734 4th edition On Commons and as Benjamin Tabart's moralized "The History of Jack and the Bean-Stalk" in 1807. Henry Cole ...

'' (1952) as The King (final film role)

References

External links

* * *
William Farnum
at Virtual History
Bill Farnum at the end of his theater career and start of his movie career
moviecard)
shipboard portrait of Mrs. William Farnum(Olive White) and daughter Adele Farnum
{{DEFAULTSORT:Farnum, William 1876 births 1953 deaths American male film actors American male silent film actors Vaudeville performers Deaths from cancer in California Male actors from Boston Male Western (genre) film actors 20th-century American male actors Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) 20th Century Studios contract players