Berton Churchill facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Berton Churchill
Churchill in The Dark Hour (1936)
Born	(1876-12-09)December 9, 1876 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Died	October 10, 1940(1940-10-10) (aged 63) New York City, U.S.
Resting place	Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1919–1940
Spouse(s)	Harriet Gardner ​ (m. 1907)​
Children	1

Berton Churchill (born December 9, 1876 – died October 10, 1940) was a Canadian actor. He was famous for acting on stage and in many movies.

Early Life

Berton Churchill was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. His family later moved to New York City. After high school, he studied law at night. But his real passion was acting. He joined a drama club called the William J. Florence Dramatic Society.

From 1903, he started acting in local theater groups. He also worked as a newspaper pressman, which is someone who operates printing presses. He even became a leader in his union.

Acting Career

Berton Churchill spent two years acting with a traveling theater group. This helped him become a skilled actor. Eventually, he started performing on Broadway, which is the highest level of theater in New York City.

His first Broadway show was The Barber of New Orleans in 1909. He continued to act on stage for many years. His last Broadway performance was in Five Star Final in 1930.

Churchill was also one of the first members of Actors Equity. This is a union that protects actors' rights. In 1919, he helped lead the union's strike in New York.

Around 1929, movies started to include sound. This was a big change for Hollywood! Berton Churchill moved to Hollywood, California to act in these new "talkies." He quickly became very popular. He often played serious or important characters. These included bankers, state governors, or rich landowners.

He was so busy that in 1932 alone, he appeared in 34 movies! That's a lot of films in one year. In total, he acted in over 125 movies. He worked with famous directors like John Ford and Frank Capra. He also acted alongside big stars like Bette Davis, Edward G. Robinson, and John Wayne.

One of his most famous roles was as Gatewood, a dishonest banker, in the 1939 film Stagecoach. This movie also starred John Wayne.

In 1925, Churchill helped start a club for actors called the Masquers. Later, in 1933, he and five other actors created the Screen Actors Guild. This is another important union for actors in movies and TV.

Later Years and Death

Berton Churchill passed away in New York City on October 10, 1940. He was 63 years old. His body was laid to rest in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.

Selected Films

Berton Churchill in Vagabond Lady (1935)

See also

In Spanish: Berton Churchill para niños

• Canadian pioneers in early Hollywood