Raymond Griffith (January 23, 1895 – November 25, 1957) was an American silent movie actor and comedian. Later in his career, he worked behind the camera as writer and producer.
Biography Griffith was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He lost his voice at an early age, causing him to speak for the rest of his life in a hoarse whisper. Griffith claimed that it was the result of his having to scream at the top of his lungs every night in a stage melodrama as a child actor—others have stated that a childhood disease was more likely the cause. Lying about his age, Griffith enlisted in the U.S. Navy at age 15 and served for three years.Raymond Griffith Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 13, 2022.Raymond Griffith at Notré Cinema: Movies and Stars Images. Retrieved July 13, 2022.Raymond Griffith at The Silent Film Still Archive. Retrieved July 13, 2022. He was later drafted for service in World War I but was not inducted because of his vocal problems.
Although a few comedy films of his are considered classics he is almost totally forgotten today. His film debut was for the L-KO Kompany. Many of his starring feature films have long since been lost, but probably the best known of his films today is Hands Up! (1926), a Civil War comedy feature directed by Clarence G. Badger, and co-starring Mack Swain, which was entered into the National Film Registry in 2005. Also considered a classic is Badger's Paths to Paradise, a caper film that is in all circulating prints missing its final reel. Like many silent comedians, he had a traditional costume; his was a top hat, white tie and tails, often augmented by a cape and/or walking stick.
The coming of sound ended Griffith's acting career, but he did have one memorable role in a motion picture before retiring from the screen, playing a French soldier killed by Lew Ayres in the 1930 Lewis Milestone film All Quiet on the Western Front. He then segued into a writing/producing career at Twentieth Century Fox.
As of 1929, Griffith was a Socialist.
Griffith choked to death at the Masquers Club in Los Angeles, California, aged 62, on November 25, 1957.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1918 The Red-Haired Cupid Albert Jones Lost film 1919 The Follies Girl Fredric 1920 Love, Honor and Behave Man with Married Girlfriend Lost film Down on the Farm Writer 1922 The Crossroads of New York Wall Street 'Wolf' Lost film Fools First Tony Lost film Minnie Chewing Gum Salesman Lost film 1923 Red Lights Sheridan Scott Lost film The Eternal Three Leonard Foster The Day of Faith Tom Barnett Lost film White Tiger Roy Donovan Souls for Sale Himself 1924 Poisoned Paradise: The Forbidden Story of Monte Carlo Martel aka The Rat Incomplete film, five of seven reels are preserved The Dawn of a Tomorrow The Dandy Lost film Nellie, the Beautiful Cloak Model Shorty Burchell Changing Husbands Bob Hamilton The Yankee Consul Writer Lily of the Dust Karl Dehnecke Lost film Open All Night Igor 1925 The Night Club Robert White Miss Bluebeard The Honorable Bertie Bird Forty Winks Lord Chumley Lost film Paths to Paradise The Dude from Duluth Incomplete film, final reel is missing Fine Clothes Oscar Lost film A Regular Fellow The Prince Lost film When Winter Went Bookworm 1926 Hands Up! Jack - a Confederate Spy Wet Paint He Lost film You'd Be Surprised Mr. Green - The Coroner The Waiter from the Ritz 1927 Wedding Bills Algernon Schuyler Van Twidder Lost film Time to Love Alfred Sava-Goiu Lost film 1929 Trent's Last Case Philip Trent 1930 All Quiet on the Western Front Gérard Duval Uncredited, (final film role) 1933 Ladies They Talk About Producer Broadway Through a Keyhole Co-producer1934The House of RothschildCo-producer 1936 Private Number Producer 1939 Hotel for Women Producer
References
External links
Classic Images article on Raymond Griffith