Sam De Grasse facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sam De Grasse
De Grasse in Heart o' the Hills (1919)
Born	Samuel Alfred De Grasse (1875-06-12)June 12, 1875 Bathurst, New Brunswick, Canada
Died	November 29, 1953(1953-11-29) (aged 78) Hollywood, California, U.S.
Resting place	Forest Lawn Memorial Park
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1914–1930
Spouse(s)	Annie McDonnell ​ ​ (m. 1904; died 1909)​ Ada Fuller Golden ​ (m. 1912)​
Children	2
Relatives	Joseph De Grasse (brother) Robert de Grasse (nephew)

Samuel Alfred De Grasse (born June 12, 1875 – died November 29, 1953) was a Canadian actor. He was known for playing many different characters in early movies. His nephew, Robert De Grasse, also worked in movies as a cinematographer (someone who films movies).

About Sam De Grasse

Early Life and Family

Samuel Alfred De Grasse was born in Bathurst, New Brunswick, Canada. His parents, Lange De Grasse and Helene Comeau, were of French-Canadian background. Before becoming an actor, Sam trained to be a dentist.

He married Annie McDonnell in 1904. They had a daughter named Clementine Bell in 1906. Sadly, Annie passed away in 1909. In 1910, Sam lived in Providence, Rhode Island, with his daughter Clementine. His older sister and her son also lived with them. Later, he married British actress Ada Fuller Golden. He became a step-father to her three children.

Starting His Acting Career

Sam's older brother, Joe De Grasse, was already working in the new movie business. This inspired Sam to try acting too. He moved to New York City and appeared in his first movie in 1912.

At first, he played regular supporting characters. One of his early roles was Dr. Robert Armstrong in the 1919 film Blind Husbands.

Famous Roles as a Villain

Sam De Grasse became well-known for playing villainous characters. When Canadian actress Mary Pickford started her own movie studio, he joined her team. He played the evil Prince John in the 1922 movie Robin Hood, starring Douglas Fairbanks.

After this, he often played tricky or sneaky bad guys. Some of his famous villain roles include:

• Senator Charles Sumner in The Birth of a Nation (1915)
• Mill owner Arthur Jenkins in Intolerance (1916)
• John Carver in The Courtship of Miles Standish (1923)
• A pirate lieutenant in The Black Pirate (1926)
• A Pharisee in The King of Kings (1927)
• King James in The Man Who Laughs (1928)

Mary Pickford, a very famous actress, even said he was one of her favorite stars to work with.

Later Life and Passing

Sam De Grasse lived on the west coast of the United States. He passed away at the age of 78 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. He died from a heart attack while sleeping. He is buried at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.

Selected Filmography

See also

• Other Canadian pioneers in early Hollywood