Osgood Perkins facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Osgood Perkins
Perkins as Walter Burns in The Front Page (1928)
Born	James Ridley Osgood Perkins (1892-05-16)May 16, 1892 West Newton, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	September 21, 1937(1937-09-21) (aged 45) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	unknown–1935
Spouse(s)	Janet Esselstyn Rane ​ (m. 1922)​
Children	Anthony Perkins
Relatives	Oz Perkins (grandson) Elvis Perkins (grandson)

James Ridley Osgood Perkins (born May 16, 1892 – died September 21, 1937) was a talented American actor. He was known for his work on both the stage and in movies.

Life and Career

Early Life and Education

Osgood Perkins was born on May 16, 1892, in West Newton, Massachusetts. His parents were Henry Phelps Perkins Jr. and Helen Virginia Anthony. His grandfather, Andrew Varick Stout Anthony, was a famous wood engraver. Osgood Perkins went to Harvard College and graduated from there.

Stage Success

Perkins started his acting career on Broadway in 1924. His first play was Beggar on Horseback, written by George S. Kaufman and Marc Connelly. Over the next 12 years, he acted in 24 Broadway shows. Some of his most famous plays included The Front Page and Uncle Vanya. He was very successful as a leading man (the main male actor) in the theater.

Moving to Movies

Even though he was a star on stage, Hollywood often saw him as a character actor. This means he played interesting, often supporting, roles instead of the main hero. He appeared in 12 silent films, which were movies without spoken dialogue. These included Puritan Passions. Later, he moved on to talkies, which were movies with sound. Some of his talkies were Scarface and Gold Diggers of 1937.

What Made Him Great

Many people admired Osgood Perkins's acting skills. The famous actress Louise Brooks said he was the best actor she ever worked with. She especially liked his "timing," which meant he knew exactly when to deliver his lines to get the perfect reaction from other actors. She compared it to dancing with a perfect partner.

Director Elia Kazan, who helped start the famous Group Theatre (New York City) acting school, was also very impressed. Mr. Kazan noted that Perkins's acting showed great skill and control. He used clear actions and meaningful gestures. Kazan wanted to combine Perkins's precise style with the Group Theatre's focus on deep emotions. He believed this would create a powerful new way of acting.

Later Life and Legacy

On September 21, 1937, Osgood Perkins sadly passed away from a heart attack. This happened shortly after he performed in a play called Susan and God. Years later, in 1981, he was honored for his contributions to theater. He was inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame.

Personal Life

Osgood Perkins married Janet Esselstyn Rane in 1922. They had one child together, who also became a famous actor: Anthony Perkins.

Filmography

Here is a list of some of the movies Osgood Perkins appeared in: