Ned Sparks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ned Sparks
|
|
|---|---|
Ned Sparks in a movie trailer for Gold Diggers of 1933
|
|
| Born |
Edward Arthur Sparkman
November 19, 1883 |
| Died | April 3, 1957 (aged 73) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1912-1956 |
| Spouse(s) | Mercedes Cabalerro (1931-1936) |
Ned Sparks (born Edward Arthur Sparkman, November 19, 1883 – April 3, 1957) was a Canadian-born actor who became famous in American movies and stage plays. He was known for his unique acting style, especially his "deadpan" expression, which means he kept a straight face and showed no emotion. He also had a funny, flat, and nasal voice.
Contents
Ned Sparks' Early Life and Acting Career
Ned Sparks was born in Guelph, Ontario, Canada, but grew up in St. Thomas, Ontario. When he was 16, he left home and tried his luck looking for gold during the Klondike Gold Rush. When his money ran out, he started performing. He sang "Sweet Southern Songs" while wearing a straw hat, short pants, and no shoes. This helped him get a spot on a traveling musical show.
At 19, he went back to Canada and briefly studied at a seminary, which is a school for religious studies. After that, he worked for the railway and in theater in Toronto. In 1907, he moved to New York City to try acting on Broadway, where he first appeared in a show in 1912.
Becoming a Star: From Stage to Silent Films
On Broadway, Ned Sparks developed his famous deadpan expression while playing a hotel clerk in a play called Little Miss Brown. His success caught the eye of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio boss Louis B. Mayer, who signed him to act in six movies.
Sparks acted in many silent films, which were movies without spoken dialogue. He then made his first "talkie" (a movie with sound) in The Big Noise (1928). Between 1915 and 1947, he appeared in about 90 films!
Ned Sparks' Famous Movie Roles
In the 1930s, Ned Sparks became well-known for playing serious-faced, sarcastic characters who often smoked cigars. He was so good at these roles that in 1936, a newspaper called The New York Times even reported that he had his face insured for $100,000! Sparks later said this was a publicity stunt, and he was only insured for $10,000. In another fun stunt, the movie studio offered a $10,000 reward to anyone who could take a picture of Ned Sparks smiling!
Sparks is especially remembered for the funny, serious characters he played in famous movies from the "pre-Code Hollywood" era. This was a time before strict rules were put in place about what could be shown in movies. Some of his well-known films include Blessed Event (1932), 42nd Street (1933), Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933), Lady for a Day (1933), and Sing and Like It (1934).
Ned Sparks in Cartoons
Ned Sparks' unique look and serious expression were often copied in cartoons. He was caricatured as the Jack-in-the-Box character in the Disney short Broken Toys (1935) and as a jester in Mother Goose Goes Hollywood (1938). He also appeared as a hermit crab in Tex Avery's Fresh Fish (1939) and Bob Clampett's Goofy Groceries (1941). Other cartoon appearances include a chicken in Bob Clampett's Slap Happy Pappy (1940), and in Friz Freleng's Warner Bros. cartoon Malibu Beach Party (1940) and Tex Avery's Hollywood Steps Out (1941). He even lent his voice to the cartoon characters Heckle and Jeckle from 1947 to 1951.
Ned Sparks acted in ten Broadway plays and over 80 movies. He decided to retire from films in 1947, saying that everyone should retire by age 65. Interestingly, he is also related to Canadian comedian Ron Sparks.
Ned Sparks' Later Life and Death
Ned Sparks passed away in Victorville, California, on April 3, 1957. He died due to problems with his intestines.
