Raymond Griffith
Born
22 January 1895 (131)
Place of Birth
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Also known as
Ray Griffith
Biography
Raymond Griffith was one of the great silent movie comedians. Later in his career, he worked behind the camera as writer and producer. Griffith was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He lost his voice at an early age, causing him to speak for the rest of his life in a hoarse whisper. Griffith claimed that it was the result of his having to scream at the top of his lungs every night in a stage melodrama as a child actor —others have stated that a childhood disease was more likely the cause. Although ...
Raymond Griffith was one of the great silent movie comedians. Later in his career, he worked behind the camera as writer and producer. Griffith was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He lost his voice at an early age, causing him to speak for the rest of his life in a hoarse whisper. Griffith claimed that it was the result of his having to scream at the top of his lungs every night in a stage melodrama as a child actor —others have stated that a childhood disease was more likely the cause. Although a few comedy films of his are considered classics, Griffith is almost totally forgotten today. Many of his starring feature films have long since been lost, but probably the best known of his films today is Hands Up! (1926), a Civil War comedy feature directed by Clarence G. Badger, and co-starring Mack Swain, which was entered into the National Film Registry in 2005. Also considered a classic is Badger's Paths to Paradise, a caper film that is in all circulating prints missing its final reel. Like many silent comedians, he had a traditional costume; his was a top hat, white tie and tails, often augmented by a cape and/or walking stick. The coming of sound ended Griffith's acting career, but he did have one memorable role in a motion picture before retiring from the screen, playing a French soldier killed by Lew Ayres in the 1930 Lewis Milestone film All Quiet on the Western Front. He then segued into a writing/producing career at Twentieth Century Fox. Griffith choked to death at the Masquers Club in Los Angeles, California, aged 62, on November 25, 1957.
Filmography (36)
All Quiet on the Western Front
1930
The Sleeping Porch
1929
Trent's Last Case
1929
Time to Love
1927
Wedding Bills
1927
You'd Be Surprised
1926
Wet Paint
1926
Hands Up!
1926
He's a Prince!
1925
Fine Clothes
1925
Paths to Paradise
1925
The Night Club
1925
Forty Winks
1925
Miss Bluebeard
1925
Open All Night
1924
Lily of the Dust
1924
Changing Husbands
1924
Nellie, the Beautiful Cloak Model
1924
The Dawn of a Tomorrow
1924
Poisoned Paradise
1924
White Tiger
1923
The Day of Faith
1923
Red Lights
1923
The Eternal Three
1923
Souls for Sale
1923
The Crossroads of New York
1922
Fools First
1922
Love, Honor and Behave
1920
The Follies Girl
1919
The Village Chestnut
1918
His Foothill Folly
1917
A Scoundrel's Toll
1916
The Surf Girl
1916
How Stars are Made
1916
A Dash of Courage
1916
Gertie's Joy Ride
1915