Berton Churchill (December 9, 1876 – October 10, 1940) was a Canadian stage and film actor.
Early years Churchill was born in Toronto, Ontario. After his family moved to New York City, he graduated from high school there, studied law at night, and was a weekly participant in the William J. Florence Dramatic Society in Jersey City. As a young man interested in the theater, he appeared in stock companies as early as 1903 and worked as a newspaper pressman, eventually becoming a foreman and leader of his union. Progressing in his acting, he began performing with the Berkely Lyceum.
Career Churchill acted for two years with a traveling repertory company, developing skills that eventually took him to Broadway. The death of his father caused him to return home to work as a press foreman. Eventually he returned to acting in small parts. His career received a boost when E. F. Albee saw him perform in Boston. Albee added him to his summer stock company at Pawtucket, where Churchill continued to perform almost every summer for at least two decades.
His first performance on Broadway was in The Barber of New Orleans (1909), and his last was in Five Star Final (1930).
He was one of the earliest members of Actors Equity and sat on the union's Council. In 1919, he was in charge of the New York headquarters during the Equity strike.
Around 1929, Churchill began to perform in motion pictures. Following the use of sound in film, he moved to Hollywood, California. There, he landed numerous supporting roles, usually as the stern or pompous character with such roles as a banker, a state governor, or a land baron. He was much in demand, "establishing what was believed to be a record by appearing in 34 in 1932 alone." In more than 125 films, Churchill worked for some of the great directors such as Otto Preminger, John Ford, and Frank Capra. As well, he performed with many of the most famous stars of the day, such as Bette Davis (The Cabin in the Cotton), Jeanette MacDonald, Tyrone Power, Edward G. Robinson, and Will Rogers. Churchill is perhaps best known for his role as Gatewood, the absconding banker in John Ford's highly acclaimed 1939 film Stagecoach, starring John Wayne.
In 1925, Churchill helped found the Masquers club that led to him and five other actors creating the Screen Actors Guild in 1933.
Death Churchill died in Medical Arts Center Hospital in New York City, of uremic poisoning. His body was returned to the west coast to be interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.
Selected filmography +YearTitleRoleNotes1919The Road Called Straight Robert Swiftmore1923Six Cylinder Love George Stapleton1924Tongues of Flame Boland1929Nothing But the Truth E.M. Burke1931Tarnished Lady Stock SpeculatorUncreditedSecrets of a Secretary Mr. MerrittMy Sin Mr. OsgoodUncreditedHusband's HolidayGerald BurgessAir Eagles Windy J. Bailey1932This Reckless Age BankerTaxi!Judge WestUncreditedImpatient Maiden Cheaters at Play A Fool's Advice Mayor Martin SloanThe Wet ParadeRoger's Uncle DickUncreditedScandal for SaleBunnyweatherIt's Tough to Be Famous Admiral BlaineUncreditedThe MouthpieceJudge, Rocco TrialTwo Seconds The WardenThe Rich Are Always with UsJudge BradshawForgotten CommandmentsScene DeletedThe Dark Horse William A. UnderwoodWeek Ends Only A.S. CarrFast Companions Committee ChairmanThe Washington Masquerade Sen. BitlerAmerican Madness O'BrienUncreditedOkay, America! Jacob BaronThe Crooked Circle Col. WaltersThe Cabin in the CottonLane NorwoodThe Big Stampede Gov. WallaceFalse Faces Dr. John B. ParkerWashington Merry-Go-Round SpeakerI Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang The JudgeAfraid to Talk Mayor William 'Billy' ManningIf I Had a MillionWardenUncreditedMadame Butterfly American ConsulFrisco Jenny Judge Thomas B. ReynoldsUncredited1933Laughter in Hell Mike SlaneyThe Mysterious Rider Mark KingEmployees' EntranceMr. BradfordUncreditedHard to Handle Col. H.D.X. WellsFrom Hell to HeavenToledo JonesPrivate JonesRoger Winthrop The Little Giant Donald Hadley CassSo This Is Africa Movie ProducerElmer, the Great Colonel MoffittHeroes for Sale Mr. WinstonI Love That Man MordantHer First MateDavisThe Big Brain Col. HigginbothamThe Avenger ForsterDoctor Bull Herbert BanningGolden Harvest Eben MartinLadies Must Love GaskinsOnly Yesterday GoodheartUncreditedCollege Coach OtisMaster of Men Mr. Walling1934Frontier Marshal Ben 'Hiram' MeltonHi, Nellie! GrahamMen in WhiteJohn HudsonUncreditedLet's Be RitzyR.M. PembrookStrictly Dynamite Mr. RiversHalf a Sinner Deacon CaswellMurder in the Private Car Luke CarsonBachelor Bait 'Big' Barney NolanFriends of Mr. SweeneyFranklyn P. BrumbaughDamesHarold Ellsworthy ToddTake the Stand Mr. Jerome BurbankJudge PriestSenator Horace MaydewRedhead Mr. BrownKid MillionsCol. Harrison LarrabeeMenace Norman BellamyBabbitt Judge Virgil 'Verge' ThompsonSing Sing Nights Governor DuaneBachelor of Arts Alexander Hamilton Sr.Life Is Worth Living1935Helldorado 'Clarion' EditorThe County Chairman Elias RigbyA Night at the Ritz Stephen VincentVagabond Lady R.D. Spear$10 Raise Mr. BatesDizzy DamesDad HackettPage Miss Glory Mr. YatesSteamboat Round the Bend New MosesI Live for LoveFabianThe Spanish Cape MysteryJudge MacklinThe Rainmakers Simon ParkerCoronado Walter Marvin1936Black GoldJ.C. AndersonYou May Be NextJ.J. HeldThe Dark Hour Paul BernardColleen LoganThree of a Kind 'Con' CorneliusParole! Rex GavinBunker BeanProfessor Ed BalthazerDimples Col. LoringUnder Your Spell Judge1937Racing Lady Parnell The O'Gorman MahonSing and Be Happy John MasonYou Can't Beat Love Police Chief BrennanThe Singing Marine J. Montgomery MadisonPublic WeddingH. Theodore LaneWild and WoollyEdward RalstonQuick Money Bluford H. Smythe1938In Old Chicago Senator ColbyHe Couldn't Say No Senator MabbyWide Open FacesL.D. CrawfordFour Men and a Prayer Mr. Martin CherringtonKentucky Moonshine J.B.Ladies in DistressFred MorganDanger on the AirCaesar KluckDown in 'Arkansaw' JudgeThe Cowboy and the Lady HendersonSweethearts Sheridan1939Stagecoach Ellsworth Henry GatewoodSo This Is London Hiram DraperDaughters Courageous Judge Henry HornsbyShould Husbands Work? BarnesThe Angels Wash Their FacesMayor DooleyHero for a Day E.A. DowOn Your Toes Donald Henderson1940Brother Rat and a BabyMr. Norman20 Mule Team 'Jackass' BrownSaturday's Children Mr. NormanTurnaboutJulian MarloweThe Way of All FleshReginald L. MortenCross-Country Romance Col. ConwayPublic Deb No. 1MagistrateI'm Nobody's Sweetheart NowSenator Henry Lowell
See also
Canadian pioneers in early Hollywood
References
External links