Richard Barthelmess facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Richard Barthelmess
Barthelmess in 1934
Born	(1895-05-09)May 9, 1895 New York City, U.S.
Died	August 17, 1963(1963-08-17) (aged 68) Southampton, New York, U.S.
Resting place	Ferncliff Cemetery
Alma mater	Trinity College
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1916–1942
Spouse(s)	Mary Hay ​ ​ (m. 1920; div. 1927)​ Jessica Stewart Sargent ​ (m. 1928)​
Children	2

Richard Semler Barthelmess (born May 9, 1895 – died August 17, 1963) was a famous American film actor. He was best known for his roles during the silent movie era in Hollywood.

Richard Barthelmess starred in important films like Broken Blossoms (1919) and Way Down East (1920). In these movies, he acted alongside the well-known actress Lillian Gish. He also helped start the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1927. The next year, he was nominated for the first-ever Academy Award for Best Actor for his work in The Patent Leather Kid and The Noose.

Early Life and Beginnings

Richard Barthelmess was born in New York City. His mother, Caroline W. Harris, was a stage actress. His father passed away when Richard was only one year old.

Because his mother was an actress, Richard grew up around the theater. He started doing small "walk-on" parts in plays when he was very young. Even with this early start in acting, he also went to school. He studied at Hudson River Military Academy and later at Trinity College. He continued acting in college plays and other amateur shows. By 1919, he had already gained five years of experience working with theater groups.

A Star's Journey

A family friend, Russian actress Alla Nazimova, helped Richard get his start in professional acting. She was taught English by Richard's mother. Nazimova convinced Richard to try acting in movies.

His first movie appearance was in 1916 in a series called Gloria's Romance. He was an extra, meaning he didn't have a main role. He also played supporting parts in several films with actress Marguerite Clark.

With Lillian Gish in the 1920 movie Way Down East

His next role was in the movie War Brides, where he acted opposite Nazimova. This role caught the eye of director D.W. Griffith. Griffith gave Richard several important roles. He finally cast him as the main actor with Lillian Gish in two very famous films: Broken Blossoms (1919) and Way Down East (1920).

Richard Barthelmess then started his own movie company called Inspiration Film Company. He worked with Charles Duell and Henry King. One of their movies, Tol'able David (1921), was a huge success. In this film, Richard played a teenage mailman who learns to be brave. In 1922, a magazine called Photoplay said he was the "idol of every girl in America."

Silverscreen magazine, 1922

Richard Barthelmess was very popular with female fans during the 1920s. He soon became one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood. He starred in classic movies like The Patent Leather Kid in 1927 and The Noose in 1928. For his acting in both these films, he was nominated for Best Actor at the very first Academy Awards. He also received a special award for producing The Patent Leather Kid.

When movies started having sound (called "talkies"), Richard Barthelmess remained a star for several years. He played many main roles in talkie films. Some of his notable movies include Son of the Gods (1930), The Dawn Patrol (1930), and The Cabin in the Cotton (1932). He often chose movies that dealt with important social topics.

However, his popularity began to decrease in the 1930s. He was getting older and was no longer suited for the young, boyish roles he often played. In his later films, from 1939 until he retired in 1942, he took on character roles. This meant he played supporting parts rather than the main hero. A good example is his role in Only Angels Have Wings (1939), where he played a pilot.

Life After Acting

Richard Barthelmess did not stay as famous as he was during the silent film days. He slowly left the entertainment world. During World War II, he joined the United States Navy Reserve and served as a lieutenant commander. He never went back to acting after the war. Instead, he chose to live off the money he made from his real estate investments.

Personal Life

On June 18, 1920, Richard Barthelmess married Mary Hay. She was also a star on stage and in movies. They had one daughter, Mary Barthelmess. They divorced on January 15, 1927.

In April 1928, Richard Barthelmess married Jessica Stewart Sargent. He later adopted her son, Stewart, from a previous marriage. Richard and Jessica remained married for the rest of his life, until he passed away in 1963.

Passing Away

Richard Barthelmess died from throat cancer on August 17, 1963. He was 68 years old. He passed away in Southampton, New York. He was buried at the Ferncliff Cemetery and Mausoleum in Hartsdale, New York.

His Legacy

Richard Barthelmess left behind an important legacy in the film world:

• He was one of the people who helped create the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. This is the organization that gives out the Academy Awards (Oscars).
• In 1960, Richard Barthelmess received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His star is at 6755 Hollywood Boulevard, honoring his contributions to movies.
• In 1957, he was one of the second group of people to receive the George Eastman Award. This award is given by the George Eastman House for great contributions to the art of film.
• A composer named Katherine Allan Lively dedicated a piano song to him in 1923. She was inspired by watching his movie Broken Blossoms.

Filmography

Richard Barthelmess appeared in many films throughout his career. Here are some of his feature films:

Collage of various characters portrayed by Barthelmess, 1920

Another collage of stills from various films, 1930

See also

In Spanish: Richard Barthelmess para niños

• List of actors with Academy Award nominations