Robert McKim (1877 – June 4, 1927) was an American actor of the

silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, w ...

era and a performer in vaudeville. He appeared in nearly 100 films between 1915 and 1927. He played the arch villain opposite

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 ...

's Zorro in '' The Mark of Zorro'' in 1920.

Biography

McKim was born in 1877 in

San Jacinto, California San Jacinto ( ; ; Spanish for " St. Hyacinth") is a city in Riverside County, California. It is located at the north end of the San Jacinto Valley, with Hemet to its south and Beaumont, California, to its north. The mountains associated with ...

and attended schools in San Francisco. He acted with stock theater companies in California, beginning with the Alcazar Stock Company, before he worked in films, beginning with the Ince and Triangle companies. McKim starred with

Lon Chaney Leonidas Frank "Lon" Chaney (April 1, 1883 – August 26, 1930) was an American actor. He is regarded as one of the most versatile and powerful actors of cinema, renowned for his characterizations of tortured, often grotesque and affli ...

in the 1923 silent version of ''

All The Brothers Were Valiant ''All the Brothers Were Valiant'' is a 1953 Technicolor adventure drama film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and directed by Richard Thorpe. The film's screenplay was written by Harry Brown and based on the 1919 novel '' All the Brothers Were Va ...

''. One of his last roles was again as a villain in the unfinished silent ''

The Mysterious Island ''The Mysterious Island'' (french: L'Île mystérieuse) is a novel by Jules Verne, published in 1875. The original edition, published by Hetzel, contains a number of illustrations by Jules Férat. The novel is a crossover sequel to Verne's f ...

'', starring

Lionel Barrymore Lionel Barrymore (born Lionel Herbert Blythe; April 28, 1878 – November 15, 1954) was an American actor of stage, screen and radio as well as a film director. He won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in ''A Free Soul'' (1931 ...

based on the

Jules Verne Jules Gabriel Verne (;''Longman Pronunciation Dictionary''. ; 8 February 1828 – 24 March 1905) was a French novelist, poet, and playwright. His collaboration with the publisher Pierre-Jules Hetzel led to the creation of the '' Voyages extra ...

novel. Though McKim shot its silent sequences in 1927, the film was not released until 1929 and McKim was uncredited. A nervous breakdown caused McKim to leave films. He went on to perform in vaudeville. McKim married fellow actress

Dorcas Matthews Dorcas Neville Matthews (5 November 1890 – 24 January 1969) was an English actress in silent films in the U.S. She had numerous roles as a supporting actress and was well known. Biography Dorcas Neville Matthews was born in Lancashire, Engla ...

and they had two sons. He died on June 4, 1927, in

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...

, hospital, aged 50. His death came three days after he had "a partial stroke of paralysis".

Selected filmography

* ''

The Edge of the Abyss ''The Edge of the Abyss'' is a lost 1915 silent drama film directed by Walter Edwards and distributed by Triangle Film Corporation. It stars Mary Boland, then a stage comedic actress, in her film debut. Thomas H. Ince, one of the three key found ...

'' (1915) * ''

Hell's Hinges ''Hell's Hinges'' is a 1916 American silent Western film starring William S. Hart and Clara Williams. Directed by Charles Swickard, William S. Hart and Clifford Smith, and produced by Thomas H. Ince, the screenplay was written by C. Gardner ...

'' (1916) * ''

The Stepping Stone ''The Stepping Stone'' is a 1916 American silent drama film, directed by Reginald Barker and Thomas H. Ince. It is a lost film.The Return of Draw Egan ''The Return of Draw Egan'' is a 1916 American silent Western film starring William S. Hart, Louise Glaum, Margery Wilson, Robert McKim, and J.P. Lockney. Directed by William S. Hart and produced by Thomas H. Ince for Kay-Bee Pictures and th ...

'' (1916) * ''

The Devil's Double ''The Devil's Double'' is a 2011 English-language Belgian–Dutch film directed by Lee Tamahori, written by Michael Thomas, and starring Dominic Cooper in the dual role of Uday Hussein and Latif Yahia. It was released on 22 January 2011 at the 2 ...

'' (1916) * '' The Raiders'' (1916) * ''

The Weaker Sex ''The Weaker Sex'' is a 1948 British drama film directed by Roy Ward Baker and starring Ursula Jeans, Cecil Parker and Joan Hopkins. It was one of the most popular films at the British box office in 1948. The film's subject was what ''The Ne ...

'' (1917) * '' The Iced Bullet'' (1917) * ''

Paws of the Bear ''Paws of the Bear'' is a 1917 American war drama film directed by Reginald Barker and starring William Desmond, Clara Williams and Robert McKim.Taves p.100 Cast * William Desmond as Ray Bourke * Clara Williams as Olga Raminoff * Robert McK ...

'' (1917) * ''

The Dark Road ''There is No Escape'', also known as ''The Dark Road'' and ''The Thurston Story'', is a 1948 British drama film from Hammer Films. It was Michael Ripper's first appearance in a Hammer Film. The film was based on the career of criminal Stanley Th ...

'' (1917) * ''

Time Locks and Diamonds ''Time Locks and Diamonds'' is a 1917 American silent crime film directed by Walter Edwards and starring William Desmond, Gloria Hope and Robert McKim.Katchmer p.168 Cast * William Desmond as Silver Jim Farrel * Gloria Hope as Marjory Farre ...

'' (1917) * '' The Last of the Ingrams'' (1917) * '' Paddy O'Hara'' (1917) * ''

'Blue Blazes' Rawden ''Blue Blazes' Rawden'' is a 1918 American silent drama film directed by William S. Hart and written by J.G. Hawks. The film stars William S. Hart, Maude George, Robert McKim, Gertrude Claire, Robert Gordon, and Jack Hoxie. The film was releas ...

'' (1918) * ''

The Marriage Ring ''The Marriage Ring'' is a lost 1918 American silent drama film directed by Fred Niblo. Cast * Enid Bennett as Anne Mertons * Jack Holt as Rodney Heathe * Robert McKim as Hugo Mertons * Maude George as Aho * Charles K. French as Koske * L ...

'' (1918) * '' When Do We Eat?'' (1918) * '' Fuss and Feathers'' (1918) * '' Partners Three'' (1919) * ''

Wagon Tracks ''Wagon Tracks'' is a 1919 American silent Western film written by C. Gardner Sullivan, produced by Thomas H. Ince and William S. Hart, and directed by Lambert Hillyer. Upon its release, the ''Los Angeles Times'' described it as Hollywood's g ...

'' (1919) * '' Her Kingdom of Dreams'' (1919) * '' The Westerners'' (1919) * '' The Devil to Pay'' (1920) * '' The U.P. Trail'' (1920) * '' The Money Changers'' (1920) * '' Riders of the Dawn'' (1920) * ''

The Woman in Room 13 ''The Woman in Room 13'' is a lost 1920 American silent mystery drama film directed by Frank Lloyd and starring Pauline Frederick. It was produced and distributed by Goldwyn Pictures and is based on a Broadway play of the same name, ''The Woma ...

'' (1920) * '' The Dwelling Place of Light'' (1920) * '' Bullet Proof'' (1920) * '' The Mark of Zorro'' (1920) * '' The Spenders'' (1921) * '' The Mysterious Rider'' (1921) * ''

The Lure of Egypt ''The Lure of Egypt'' is a 1921 American silent drama film directed by Howard C. Hickman and starring Robert McKim, Claire Adams and Joseph J. Dowling.Munden p.468 Plot ‘’The Lure of Egypt’’ is an adaptation of the novel ‘’There ...

'' (1921) * ''

The Man of the Forest ''Man of the Forest'' is a 1921 American silent Western film directed by Howard Hickman and starring Carl Gantvoort, Claire Adams and Robert McKim.Munden, p. 484. Plot Cast * Carl Gantvoort as Milt Dale * Claire Adams as Helen Raynor * ...

'' (1921) * '' A Certain Rich Man'' (1921) * '' The Gray Dawn'' (1922) * '' Monte Cristo'' (1922) * ''

Heart's Haven ''Heart's Haven'' is a 1922 American silent drama film directed by Benjamin B. Hampton and starring Robert McKim, Claire Adams and Carl Gantvoort.Munden p.64 Cast * Robert McKim as Adam Breed * Claire Adams as Vivian Breed * Carl Gantvoort ...

'' (1922) * ''

All the Brothers Were Valiant ''All the Brothers Were Valiant'' is a 1953 Technicolor adventure drama film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and directed by Richard Thorpe. The film's screenplay was written by Harry Brown and based on the 1919 novel '' All the Brothers Were Va ...

'' (1923) * '' Dead Game'' (1923) * '' Thundergate'' (1923) * ''

Human Wreckage ''Human Wreckage'' is a 1923 American independent silent drama propaganda film that starred Dorothy Davenport and featured James Kirkwood, Sr., Bessie Love, and Lucille Ricksen. The film was co-produced by Davenport and Thomas H. Ince and d ...

'' (1923) * '' The Spider and the Rose'' (1923) * '' His Last Race'' (1923) * '' The Spoilers'' (1923) * ''

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 ...

'' (1923) (cameo) * '' The Spoilers'' (1923) * ''

Strangers of the Night ''Strangers of the Night'' is a 1923 American silent comedy film directed by Fred Niblo. It was produced by Louis B. Mayer and released through Metro Pictures. The film was adapted by C. Gardner Sullivan from the 1921 stage play, ''Captain A ...

'' (1923) * '' Maytime'' (1923) * ''

Ride for Your Life ''Ride for Your Life'' is a 1924 American silent Western film directed by Edward Sedgwick and featuring Hoot Gibson. Plot As described in a film magazine review, Bud Watkins is in love with Betsy Burke. However, she shows a preference for The ...

'' (1924) * ''

Mademoiselle Midnight ''Mademoiselle Midnight'' is a 1924 American silent drama film starring Mae Murray and directed by Murray's then husband, Robert Z. Leonard. The film was written by Carl Harbaugh and John Russell. The film was the final release of Metro under ...

'' (1924) * '' When a Girl Loves'' (1924) * '' The Torrent'' (1924) * ''

Spook Ranch ''Spook Ranch'' is a 1925 American silent Western film directed by Edward Laemmle (Carl Laemmle's nephew) and starring Hoot Gibson. It was produced and distributed by Universal Pictures. The film featured a white actor in blackface (Ed Cowles) ...

'' (1925) * ''

The Police Patrol ''The Police Patrol'' is a 1925 American silent crime film directed by Burton L. King and starring James Kirkwood, Edna Murphy and Edmund Breese.Munden p.367 Plot A patrolman falls in love with a dressmaker, is ordered to arrest her when a d ...

'' (1925) * '' The Bat'' (1926) * '' The Tough Guy'' (1926) * '' The Dead Line'' (1926) * ''

The Strong Man ''The Strong Man'' is a 1926 American silent comedy film starring Harry Langdon. Along with '' Tramp, Tramp, Tramp'', ''The Strong Man'' is Langdon's best known film. Capra would also direct Langdon's next feature, ''Long Pants'' (1927), which ...

'' (1926) * '' The Wolf Hunters'' (1926) * '' A Regular Scout'' (1926) * '' Kentucky Handicap'' (1926) * '' The Denver Dude'' (1927) *''

The Thrill Seekers ''The Thrill Seekers'' is a 1927 American silent drama film directed by Harry Revier and starring Ruth Clifford, Gloria Grey and Robert McKim.Munden p.808 Cast * Jimmy Fulton as Gerald Kenworth * Ruth Clifford as Adrean Wainwright * Gloria ...

'' (1927) * ''

The Show Girl ''The Show Girl'' is a 1927 American silent drama film directed by Charles J. Hunt and starring Mildred Harris, Gaston Glass and Mary Carr.Munden p.712 Cast * Mildred Harris as Maizie Udell * Gaston Glass as Billy Barton * Mary Carr as Mrs. ...

'' (1927) * ''

'' (1929)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:McKim, Robert 1877 births 1927 deaths 20th-century American male actors American male silent film actors Male actors from California