Charles Douglas MacLean (January 10, 1890 – July 9, 1967) was an American stage and silent film actor who later worked as a producer and

screenwriter A screenplay writer (also called screenwriter, scriptwriter, scribe or scenarist) is a writer who practices the craft of screenwriting, writing screenplays on which mass media, such as films, television programs and video games, are based. ...

in the sound era.

Early life and stage career

Born in

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Since ...

, MacLean was educated at Northwestern University and Lewis Institute of Technology, in

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = List of sovereign states, Count ...

. Although he came from a Navy family and was slated for Annapolis, he chose a different career path.MacLean, Barbara Barondess. ''One Life is Not Enough''. New York: Hippocrene Books, 1986. After working as a

bond Bond or bonds may refer to: Common meanings * Bond (finance), a type of debt security * Bail bond, a commercial third-party guarantor of surety bonds in the United States * Chemical bond, the attraction of atoms, ions or molecules to form chemical ...

salesman, MacLean enrolled in the

American Academy of Dramatic Arts The American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA) is a private performing arts conservatory with two locations, one in Manhattan and one in Los Angeles. The academy offers an associate degree in occupational studies and teaches drama and related art ...

and later played juvenile leads in

repertory theatre A repertory theatre is a theatre in which a resident company presents works from a specified repertoire, usually in alternation or rotation. United Kingdom Annie Horniman founded the first modern repertory theatre in Manchester after withdrawin ...

and performed as supporting characters in major stage productions such as ''Peter Pan'' starring

Maude Adams Maude Ewing Adams Kiskadden (November 11, 1872 – July 17, 1953), known professionally as Maude Adams, was an American actress who achieved her greatest success as the character Peter Pan, first playing the role in the 1905 Broadway production ...

Film

MacLean's first film was the 1914 production ''As Ye Sow'' with Alice Brady, followed by bit parts in ''

Fuss and Feathers ''Fuss and Feathers'' is a 1918 American silent comedy film directed by Fred Niblo. It is not known whether the film currently survives,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 ...

features, '' Captain Kidd, Jr.'' and ''

Johanna Enlists ''Johanna Enlists'' is a 1918 silent film comedy drama produced by and starring Mary Pickford with distribution by Paramount Pictures. The film was directed by William Desmond Taylor from a short story by Rupert Hughes, ''The Mobilization of Joh ...

''. He went on to appear with

Dorothy Gish Dorothy Elizabeth Gish (March 11, 1898June 4, 1968) was an American actress of the screen and stage, as well as a director and writer. Dorothy and her older sister Lillian Gish were major movie stars of the silent era. Dorothy also had great s ...

in ''

The Hun Within ''The Hun Within'' is a 1918 American silent war drama thriller film directed by Chester Withey and starring Dorothy Gish and George Fawcett. It was written by historic Biograph directors D. W. Griffith and Stanner E. V. Taylor. Cast *Dorothy Gi ...

'', and he co-starred with

Doris May Doris May (born Helen Garrett; October 15, 1902 – May 12, 1984), was an American actress of the silent era. She appeared in 29 films between 1917 and 1927, generally as a leading lady. Most of her roles were in westerns and comedies, althoug ...

in the romantic comedy '' 23 1/2 Hours' Leave'', which was a big hit. From 1922 to 1929 he starred in 14 other features for Paramount and First National, all maintaining the standard light romantic comedy formula that continued to prove successful for him. MacLean during his film career was often billed as "The Man With the Million Dollar Smile". In 1929 he was cast in his only "

talkie A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, but decades passed before ...

", ''

Divorce Made Easy ''Divorce Made Easy'' is a 1929 American Pre-Code sound comedy film directed by Neal Burns and Walter Graham and written by Alfred A. Cohn, Wilson Collison, and Garrett Graham. The film stars Douglas MacLean, Marie Prevost, Johnny Arthur, Fr ...

''; he then retired from acting.

Producer and screenwriter

In 1932, MacLean made his debut as a producer with '' Ladies of the Jury''. He produced a total of eight films for Paramount, including ''

Tillie and Gus ''Tillie and Gus'' is a 1933 American pre-Code comedy film directed by Francis Martin, co-written by Martin and Walter DeLeon, and starring W.C. Fields, Alison Skipworth, Baby LeRoy, Julie Bishop, and Clarence Wilson. It is based on a short st ...

'' starring

W.C. Fields WC or wc may refer to: * Water closet or flush toilet Arts and entertainment * ''W.C.'' (film), an Irish feature film * WC (band), a Polish punk rock band * WC (rapper), a rapper from Los Angeles, California * Westside Connection, former h ...

, ''

Ladies Should Listen ''Ladies Should Listen'' is a 1934 American comedy film directed by Frank Tuttle and starring Cary Grant, Edward Everett Horton, Frances Drake, and Nydia Westman. Plot The switchboard operator Anna Mirelle (Frances Drake) in an apartment buil ...

'' starring

Cary Grant Cary Grant (born Archibald Alec Leach; January 18, 1904November 29, 1986) was an English-American actor. He was known for his Mid-Atlantic accent, debonair demeanor, light-hearted approach to acting, and sense of comic timing. He was one of ...

, and '' Two for Tonight''. He retired from film production in 1937 but continued to work as a

freelance ''Freelance'' (sometimes spelled ''free-lance'' or ''free lance''), ''freelancer'', or ''freelance worker'', are terms commonly used for a person who is self-employed and not necessarily committed to a particular employer long-term. Freelance ...

writer for movies and television during the 1940s and 1950s.

Personal life and death

MacLean married actress Faith Cole while both were performing in stock theater. They divorced in 1930. MacLean married actress Lorraine Eddy on March 3, 1931. He met his third wife,

Barbara Barondess Barbara Barondess (July 4, 1907 – May 31, 2000) was an American stage and film actress. Pitts p.234 She was married to the actor Douglas MacLean from 1938 to 1948. Selected filmography * '' The Reckless Lady'' (1926) * ''Summer Bachelors'' (1 ...

, in a producer's office in April 1932, six years before they wed. At the time they were already aware of each others' work and recognized each other's voices. In her 1986 autobiography ''One Life is Not Enough'', Barondess recalls, "There was something in this man's manner and speech that made an indelible impression on me." She describes him as having a vaulted, almost regal presence: MacLean, at age 77, died in 1967 in his

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. ...

home from the effects of a

stroke A stroke is a disease, medical condition in which poor cerebral circulation, blood flow to the brain causes cell death. There are two main types of stroke: brain ischemia, ischemic, due to lack of blood flow, and intracranial hemorrhage, hemorr ...

. His gravesite is located 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, United States. At the 2020 U.S. Census the population was 196,543, up from 191,719 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth-larges ...

Filmography

Actor

* ''

'' (1929) * '' The Carnation Kid'' (1929) (*Library of Congress) * ''

Soft Cushions ''Soft Cushions'' is a 1927 American comedy film directed by Edward F. Cline and featuring Boris Karloff. It is a comic take by actor and producer Douglas MacLean on the 1911 play '' Kismet'' and the 1920 silent film adaptation. It is listed ...

'' (1927) * '' Let It Rain'' (1927) * '' Hold That Lion'' (1926) * '' That's My Baby'' (1926) * ''

Seven Keys to Baldpate Seven Keys to Baldpate may refer to: * '' Seven Keys to Baldpate'', a novel by Earl Derr Biggers * ''Seven Keys to Baldpate'' (play), a 1913 play by George M. Cohan based on the novel * ''Seven Keys to Baldpate'' (1916 film), a 1916 Australian si ...

'' (1925) * ''

Introduce Me ''Introduce Me'' is a 1925 American silent comedy film directed by George J. Crone and produced by and starring Douglas MacLean. It was released through Associated Exhibitors.

'' (1925) * '' Never Say Die'' (1924) * ''

The Yankee Consul ''The Yankee Consul'' is a 1924 American black-and-white silent comedy film directed by James W. Horne and written by Raymond Cannon. With a screen adaptation by Lewis Milestone and Raymond Griffith, the film is based upon the 1904 Broadway ...

'' (1924) * '' Going Up'' (1923) * '' A Man of Action'' (1923) * '' The Sunshine Trail'' (1923) * ''

Bell Boy 13 ''Bell Boy 13'' is a 1923 American silent comedy film directed by William A. Seiter, and starring Douglas MacLean, John Steppling, Margaret Loomis, William Courtright, Emily Gerdes, and Eugene Burr. The film was released by First National Pictu ...

'' (1923) (*Library of Congress) * '' The Hottentot'' (1922) * '' Passing Through'' (1921) * '' One a Minute'' (1921) (*Library of Congress) * ''

The Home Stretch ''The Home Stretch'' is a surviving 1921 American silent drama film directed by Jack Nelson and written by Louis Stevens. The film stars Douglas MacLean, Beatrice Burnham, Walt Whitman, Margaret Livingston, Wade Boteler, Mary Jane Irving, ...

'' (1921) (*Library of Congress) * ''

Chickens The chicken (''Gallus gallus domesticus'') is a domesticated junglefowl species, with attributes of wild species such as the grey and the Ceylon junglefowl that are originally from Southeastern Asia. Rooster or cock is a term for an adult m ...

'' (1921) * '' The Rookie's Return'' (1920) * ''

The Jailbird ''The Jailbird'' is a 1920 American silent comedy film directed by Lloyd Ingraham and written by Julien Josephson. The film stars Douglas MacLean, Doris May, Louis Morrison, William Courtright, Wilbur Higby, and Otto Hoffman. The film was r ...

'' (1920) (*Library of Congress) * ''

Let's Be Fashionable ''Let's Be Fashionable'' is a lost 1920 American silent comedy film directed by Lloyd Ingraham and written by Mildred Considine and Luther Reed. The film stars Douglas MacLean, Doris May, Wade Boteler, Grace Morse, George Webb, and Wilbur ...

'' (1920) * ''

Mary's Ankle ''Mary's Ankle'' is a 1920 American silent comedy film directed by Lloyd Ingraham and written by Luther Reed based upon the play of the same name by May Tully. The film stars Douglas MacLean, Doris May, Victor Potel, Neal Burns, James Gordo ...

'' (1920) * ''

What's Your Husband Doing? ''What's Your Husband Doing?'' is a 1920 American silent comedy film directed by Lloyd Ingraham and written by R. Cecil Smith based upon the play of the same name by George V. Hobart. The film stars Douglas MacLean, Doris May, Walter Hiers, ...

'' (1920) (*Library of Congress) * '' 23 1/2 Hours' Leave'' (1919) * '' Captain Kidd, Jr.'' (1919) * '' The Homebreaker'' (1919) * ''

Happy Though Married ''Happy Though Married'' is a 1919 American silent comedy film directed by Fred Niblo. Plot As described in a film magazine, Jim Montjoy (MacLean), who is engaged to Millicent Lee (Bennett), goes with his brother Jim (Cooley) to Mexico to make ...

'' (1919) * ''

Fuss and Feathers ''Fuss and Feathers'' is a 1918 American silent comedy film directed by Fred Niblo. It is not known whether the film currently survives,Mirandy Smiles ''Mirandy Smiles'' is a 1918 American silent drama film directed by William C. deMille and written by Edith Kennedy based upon a short story by Belle K. Maniates. The film stars Vivian Martin, Douglas MacLean, William Freeman, and Frances Bee ...

'' (1918) * ''

'' (1918) (*Library of Congress) * ''

'' (1918) * ''

The Vamp ''The Vamp'' is a musical comedy with music by James Mundy; lyrics by John La Touche; and a musical book by La Touche and Sam Locke which is based on a story by La Touche. The musical opened on Broadway on November 10, 1955 at the Winter Garden ...

'' (1918) * ''

The Fair Barbarian ''The Fair Barbarian'' is a 1917 American silent comedy film directed by Robert Thornby and written by Edith M. Kennedy, based on an 1881 novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The film stars Vivian Martin, Clarence Geldart, Douglas MacLean, Jane Wo ...

'' (1917) * '' Souls in Pawn'' (1917) * ''The Upper Crust'' (1917) * ''A Woman's Power'' (1916) * '' Love's Crucible'' (1916) * '' The Boss'' (1915) * ''The Man Who Found Himself'' (1915) * ''As Ye Sow'' (1914)

Producer

* ''

The Great Awakening ''The Great Awakening'' is the fourth studio album from the Christian rock band Leeland, released on September 20, 2011. ''The Great Awakening'' received a nomination to the 54th Grammy Awards The 54th Annual Grammy Awards were held on Februar ...

'' (1941) also known as ''New Wine'' * ''Suspect'' (1940) (stageplay) * ''23 1/2 Hours' Leave'' (1937) * ''

Great Guy ''Great Guy'' is a 1936 American crime film noir directed by John G. Blystone and starring James Cagney. In the film, an honest inspector for the New York Department of Weights and Measures takes on corrupt merchants and politicians. Plot After ...

'' (1936) * '' So Red the Rose'' (1935) * '' Two for Tonight'' (1935) * '' Accent on Youth'' (1935) * ''

People Will Talk ''People Will Talk'' is a 1951 American romantic comedy/drama film directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz and produced by Darryl F. Zanuck from a screenplay by Mankiewicz, based on the German play by Curt Goetz, which was made into a movie in Germa ...

'' (1935) * ''

Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch ''Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch'' is a 1901 novel by American author Alice Hegan Rice, about a southern family humorously coping with poverty. It was highly popular on its release,Lowell Hayes Harrison, ''A New History of Kentucky'' (1997), p. ...

'' (1934) * ''

'' (1934) * '' Melody in Spring'' (1934) * ''

Six of a Kind ''Six of a Kind'' is an American 1934 pre-Code comedy film directed by Leo McCarey and starring Charles Ruggles, Mary Boland, W.C. Fields, George Burns, and Gracie Allen. It is a whimsical and often absurd road movie about two couples wh ...

'' (1934) * ''

'' (1933) * '' Secrets of Hollywood'' (1933) * '' Ladies of the Jury'' (1932) * ''

Caught Plastered ''Caught Plastered'' is a 1931 American Pre-Code musical comedy film, released by RKO Radio Pictures and starring the comedy team Wheeler & Woolsey. Plot Tommy Tanner (Wheeler) and Egbert G. Higginbotham (Woolsey) are two vaudevillians who were ...

'' (1931) * '' Too Many Cooks'' (1931) * ''

Laugh and Get Rich ''Laugh and Get Rich'' is a 1931 pre-Code American comedy film, directed by Gregory La Cava, from a screenplay he also wrote with contributions from Douglas MacLean, who also was the associate producer, and Ralph Spence. The film stars Doroth ...

'' (1931) * ''

'' (1925) * '' Never Say Die'' (1924) * '' Going Up'' (1923)

Writer

* '' Mama Loves Papa'' (1945) * ''

'' (1934) * '' Mama Loves Papa'' (1933) * ''

'' (1931) * '' Cracked Nuts'' (1931) * ''

'' (1931)

References

External links

*
Douglas MacLean
at Virtual History {{DEFAULTSORT:Maclean, Douglas 1890 births 1967 deaths American male silent film actors American male film actors Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) Paramount Pictures contract players 20th-century American male actors