Volume III: Biographies

CHADWICK, Cyril *

Actor (1914)

Thanhouser Career Synopsis: Cyril Chadwick was seen in Thanhouser comedies in 1914.

Biographical Notes: Cyril Chadwick was born in Kensington, London on June 11th (19th century year not known to the author), the son of William and Mary Chadwick. He became a stockbroker, and in England was involved in the securities business. Desiring a change, he came to America to be an actor. His first stage appearance was said to have been in December 1907 at Daly's Theatre in New York City, in The Lancers. For a long time he was associated with Nora Bayes and Jack Norworth and was known for his portrayals of English comedy characters. Among his successes were his roles in The Eternal Waltz, Nearly a Hero, The Noble Spaniard, Pillars of Society, Mr. Buttles, Marriage a la Carte, Trelawney of the Wells, Little Miss Fixit, Excuse Me, A Modern Eve, The Actress, and Richard of Bordeaux.

Chadwick was an actor for Thanhouser in 1914. The March 14, 1914 issue of Reel Life reported: "Another popular comedian of the stage has deserted for moving pictures.... Cyril Chadwick...has signed a contract with the Thanhouser Company. Lloyd Lonergan is working on a series of comedies especially for the new star. An actor doesn't lose his individuality when he goes into pictures. A wise producer invariably fits the play to the player and develops his own particular line. The Lonergan playlets, written for Mr. Chadwick, may result in giving us a funnier Cyril Chadwick than the musical stage ever knew."

Despite this auspicious beginning, Cyril Chadwick remained with the Thanhouser studio for only a few months. During that time he was best known for his work in the "Algy" series of comedies. He maintained contact with the studio, and during the first week of March 1915 visited Thanhouser to observe the production of a film.

In June 1914 he appeared in Doc, a four-reel film distributed on a states rights basis by The Eleanor Gates Photo-Play Company, of New York City. In 1917 he was in Mrs. Dane's Defense, a Paramount film. By 1920 he was with Selznick, playing that year in His Wife's Money and Out Yonder. In December 1920 Chadwick was seen in Metro's The Misleading Lady. Chadwick appeared in many other films through the early 1930s, including Three Live Ghosts, Till We Meet Again (Associated Exhibitors, 1922), The Stranger's Banquet (Goldwyn, 1922), Peter Pan (Paramount, 1924), The 13th Chair (MGM, 1929), and Sensation Hunters (Monogram, 1933).

Thanhouser Filmography:

1914: Percy's First Holiday (2-8-1914), The Cat's Paw (3-17-1914), Their Cousin From England (3-22-1914), When Algy Froze Up (4-24-1914), Getting Rid of Algy (5-3-1914), The Somnambulist (5-17-1914), Algy's Alibi (5-24-1914)

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