William Collier Sr. (November 12, 1864 – January 13, 1944), born William Morenus, was an American writer, director and actor. Collier ran away from home when only 11 years old to join a touring company run by

Eddie Foy Edwin Fitzgerald (March 9, 1856 – February 16, 1928Cullen, Frank; Hackman, Florence; and McNeilly, Donald. ''Vaudeville, Old and New: An Encyclopedia of Variety Performers in America''. Routledge Press, September 2006, . pp. 406–410), ...

and in 1879 he appeared as a juvenile in

H.M.S. Pinafore ''H.M.S. Pinafore; or, The Lass That Loved a Sailor'' is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and a libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It opened at the Opera Comique in London on 25 May 1878, and ran for 571 performances, w ...

. After a notable stage career, he tried motion pictures, under producer

Mack Sennett Mack Sennett (born Michael Sinnott; January 17, 1880 – November 5, 1960) was a Canadian-American producer, director, actor, and studio head who was known as the "King of Comedy" during his career. Born in Danville, Quebec, he started acting i ...

. He then went back to the stage for some years but returned to films when the

talkies A sound film is a Film, motion picture with synchronization, 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, bu ...

came along. In 1910, he appeared at the

Elitch Theatre The Historic Elitch Theatre is located at the original Elitch Gardens site in northwest Denver, Colorado. Opened in 1890, it was centerpiece of the park that was the first zoo west of Chicago. The theatre was Denver's first professional thea ...

in Denver, Colorado, while his adopted son, stage named William Collier Jr., was recovering from scarlet fever that was followed by typhoid. His son recovered and was able to join his father in a production of ''The Patriot''. He "once opened ''The Patriot'', one of his own plays, on December 30. On January 2 he advertised with some degree of truthfulness: 'Second Year in New York.'" He was married to the actress Louise Allen; she died in 1909 and he married Paula Marr the following year, adopting her son Charles, whom he renamed William Collier Jr. On Broadway he starred as the gambler Gideon Holtz in

Rudolf Friml Charles Rudolf Friml"Mrs. Rudolf Friml to Receive Divorce"
...

's '' The Wild Rose'' at the

Martin Beck Theatre The Al Hirschfeld Theatre, originally the Martin Beck Theatre, is a Broadway theater at 302 West 45th Street in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City, New York, U.S. Opened in 1924, it was designed by G. Albert Lansburg ...

in 1926. Collier died of

pneumonia Pneumonia is an Inflammation, inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as Pulmonary alveolus, alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of Cough#Classification, productive or dry cough, ches ...

in 1944. He was interred at the

Forest Lawn Memorial Park Forest Lawn may refer to: Cemeteries California * Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks & Mortuaries, a chain of cemeteries in southern California * Forest Lawn Cemetery (Cathedral City), California * Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale), California * Fore ...

Glendale, California Glendale is a city located primarily in the Verdugo Mountains region, with a small portion in the San Fernando Valley, of Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is located about north of downtown Los Angeles. As of 2024, Glendale ha ...

Partial filmography

* ''

Never Again "Never again" is a phrase or slogan which is associated with the lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides. The slogan was used by liberated prisoners at Buchenwald concentration camp to denounce fascism. It was used by Jewish Defense Le ...

'' (1916, Short) * '' Better Late Than Never'' (1916, Short) - The Art Student * ''The No-Good Guy'' (1916) - Jimmy Coghlan * '' The Servant Question'' (1920) - Mr. Butler * ''

Happy Days ''Happy Days'' is an American television sitcom that aired first-run on the American Broadcasting Company, ABC network from January 15, 1974, to July 19, 1984, with a total of 255 half-hour episodes spanning 11 seasons. Created by Garry Marsha ...

'' (1929) - End Man - Minstrel Show * ''

Harmony at Home In music, harmony is the concept of combining different sounds in order to create new, distinct musical ideas. Theories of harmony seek to describe or explain the effects created by distinct pitches or tones coinciding with one another; harm ...

'' (1930) - Joe Haller * '' Free and Easy'' (1930) - Himself - Master of Ceremonies at Premiere * ''

High Society Blues ''High Society Blues'' is a 1930 American pre-Code film starring Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell. The movie was written by Howard J. Green from the story by Dana Burnett, and directed by David Butler. Gaynor and Farrell made almost a doze ...

'' (1930) - Horace Divine * ''

She's My Weakness ''She's My Weakness'' is a 1930 American Pre-Code romantic comedy film directed by Melville W. Brown (assisted by Dewey Starkey) and starring Sue Carol and Arthur Lake (actor), Arthur Lake. The screenplay was written by J. Walter Ruben, based on ...

'' (1930) - David Tuttle * ''

Up the River ''Up the River'' is a 1930 American pre-Code comedy film directed by John Ford, and starring Claire Luce, Spencer Tracy and Humphrey Bogart. The plot concerns escaped convicts, as well as a female convict. It was the feature film debut role o ...

'' (1930) - Pop * ''

Seas Beneath ''Seas Beneath'' is a 1931 American Pre-Code action film directed and produced by John Ford and starring George O'Brien (actor), George O'Brien and Marion Lessing. Plot In the book, ''John Ford'' by Peter Bogdanovich, Ford was interviewed ab ...

'' (1931) - Mugs O'Flaherty (uncredited) * '' Mr. Lemon of Orange'' (1931) - Mr. Blake * ''6 Cylinder Love'' (1931) - Richard Burton * ''

Annabelle's Affairs ''Annabelle's Affairs'' is a 1931 American pre-Code romantic comedy film directed by Alfred L. Werker and starring Victor McLaglen, Jeanette MacDonald and Roland Young. The film is based on the 1916-17 play ''Good Gracious Annabelle'' by Cla ...

'' (1931) - Wickham * ''

The Brat ''The Brat'' is a 1931 American pre-Code comedy film directed by John Ford, starring Sally O'Neil, and featuring Virginia Cherrill. The film is based on the 1917 play by Maude Fulton. A previous silent film had been made in 1919 with Al ...

'' (1931) - Judge Emmett A. O'Flaherty * ''

Stepping Sisters ''Stepping Sisters'' is a 1932 American Pre-Code Hollywood, pre-Code comedy film directed by Seymour Felix and starring Louise Dresser, Minna Gombell and Jobyna Howland.Solomon p.331 Plot A trio of former burlesque dancers now living in high soc ...

'' (1932) - Herbert Ramsey * ''

After Tomorrow ''After Tomorrow'' is a 1932 American pre-Code drama film directed by Frank Borzage and starring Charles Farrell, Marian Nixon, Minna Gombell, Josephine Hull and William Collier, Sr. Plot Peter Piper ( Charles Farrell) and his girlfriend Si ...

'' (1932) - Willie Taylor * '' The Washington Masquerade'' (1932) - Babcock * ''

Hot Saturday ''Hot Saturday'' is a 1932 American pre-Code "programmer" drama film directed by William A. Seiter and starring Cary Grant, Nancy Carroll, and Randolph Scott. This was Grant's first role as a leading man. Based on the novel ''Hot Saturday'' by ...

'' (1932) - Mr. Brock * ''

Madison Square Garden Madison Square Garden, colloquially known as the Garden or by its initials MSG, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in New York City. It is located in Midtown Manhattan between Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh and Eighth Avenue (Manhattan), Eig ...

'' (1932) - Doc Williams * '' All of Me'' (1934) - Jerry Helman * ''

The Crosby Case ''The Crosby Case'' is a 1934 American pre-Code crime film directed by Edwin L. Marin and written by Warren B. Duff and Gordon Kahn. The film stars Wynne Gibson, Onslow Stevens, Richard "Skeets" Gallagher, Alan Dinehart, Warren Hymer, Willia ...

'' (1934) - The Detective-Police Sgt. Melody * ''

Cheaters A cheater is one who engages in cheating, subversion of the rules to obtain an advantage. Cheater(s) may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Films * ''Cheater'' (film), a 2016 Indian Marathi-language film * ''Cheaters'' (1934 film), an Ameri ...

'' (1934) - K.C. Kelly * ''

A Successful Failure ''A Successful Failure'' is a 1934 American film directed by Arthur Lubin. It was Lubin's first film as director. There is no connection between the fictional radio personality "Uncle Dudley" in this film, and the 1935 comedy film '' Your Uncl ...

'' (1934) - Ellery Cushing aka Uncle Dudley * ''

The Murder Man ''The Murder Man'' is a 1935 American crime-drama film starring Spencer Tracy, Virginia Bruce, and Lionel Atwill, and directed by Tim Whelan. The picture was Tracy's first film in what would be a twenty-year career with MGM. Tracy plays an inve ...

'' (1935) - 'Pop' Grey * ''

Annapolis Farewell ''Annapolis Farewell'' is a 1935 American drama film directed by Alexander Hall and written by Frank Craven and Jack Wagner. The film stars Guy Standing, Rosalind Keith, Tom Brown, Richard Cromwell, John Howard and Benny Baker. The film was re ...

'' (1935) - Rumboat Charlie * ''

The Bride Comes Home ''The Bride Comes Home'' is a 1935 comedy film made by Paramount Pictures, directed by Wesley Ruggles, and starring Claudette Colbert, Fred MacMurray and Robert Young. It was written by Claude Binyon and Elisabeth Sanxay Holding. Plot After t ...

'' (1935) - Alfred Desmereau * ''

Love on a Bet ''Love on a Bet'' is a 1936 American romantic comedy film directed by Leigh Jason using a screenplay by P. J. Wolfson and Philip G. Epstein, based on a story by Kenneth Earl. The film stars Gene Raymond, Wendy Barrie, and Helen Broderick, and ...

'' (1936) - Uncle Carlton MacCreigh * ''

Give Us This Night ''Give Us This Night'' is one of five movies produced by Paramount Pictures featuring Gladys Swarthout, a very popular Metropolitan Opera mezzo-soprano. The studio was attempting to build on the popularity of Grace Moore, another opera singer, w ...

'' (1936) - Priest * '' Cain and Mabel'' (1936) - Pop Walters * ''

Valiant Is the Word for Carrie ''Valiant Is the Word for Carrie'' is a 1936 American drama film directed by Wesley Ruggles and written by Claude Binyon, based on the 1935 novel of the same name by Barry Benefield. The film stars Gladys George, Arline Judge, John Howard, Du ...

'' (1936) - Ed Moresby * '' Josette'' (1938) - David Brassard Sr. * ''

Thanks for the Memory "Thanks for the Memory" (1938) is a popular song composed by Ralph Rainger with lyrics by Leo Robin. It was introduced in the 1938 film ''The Big Broadcast of 1938'' by Bob Hope and Shirley Ross, and recorded by Shep Fields and His Orchestra ...

'' (1938) - Mr. Platt * ''

Say It in French Say or SAY may refer to: * Speech, the production of a spoken language Music * ''Say'' (album), by Misono, 2008 * Scottish Album of the Year Award Songs * "Say" (The Creatures song), 1999 * "Say" (John Mayer song), 2007 * "Say" (Method Man song ...

'' (1938) - Howland * ''

Persons in Hiding ''Persons in Hiding'' is a 1939 American crime film directed by Louis King and written by William R. Lipman and Horace McCoy. The film stars Lynne Overman, Patricia Morison, J. Carrol Naish, William "Bill" Henry, Helen Twelvetrees and William F ...

'' (1939) - Burt Nast * '' I'm from Missouri'' (1939) - Smith * ''

Invitation to Happiness ''Invitation to Happiness'' is a 1939 American drama film directed by Wesley Ruggles and written by Claude Binyon. The film stars Irene Dunne, Fred MacMurray, Charlie Ruggles, Billy Cook, William Collier, Sr. and Marion Martin. The film was relea ...

'' (1939) - Mr. Wayne * ''

Television Spy ''Television Spy'' is a 1939 American spy drama film directed by Edward Dmytryk and starring William Henry. Plot A scientist, Douglas Cameron invents an advanced television called the Iconoscope that can send television broadcasts across the co ...

'' (1939) - James Llewellyn * ''

Disputed Passage ''Disputed Passage'' is a 1939 American drama war film directed by Frank Borzage and starring Dorothy Lamour, Akim Tamiroff, John Howard, Judith Barrett and William Collier Sr. Set in war-torn China, the film was described by ''The New York Ti ...

'' (1939) - Dr. William Cunningham * '' Miracle on Main Street'' (1939) - Dr. Miles * '' The Hard-Boiled Canary'' (1941) - Dr. Joseph E. Maddy (final film role)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Collier, William Sr. 1864 births 1944 deaths 20th-century American male actors 20th-century American male writers 20th-century American screenwriters American male screenwriters American male film actors Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) Deaths from pneumonia in California Film directors from New York City