Ernest Torrence (born Ernest Torrance-Thomson, 26 June 1878 – 15 May 1933) was a Scottish film

character actor A character actor is a supporting actor who plays unusual, interesting, or eccentric characters.28 April 2013, The New York Acting SchoolTen Best Character Actors of All Time Retrieved 7 August 2014, "..a breed of actor who has the ability to ...

who appeared in many Hollywood films, including '' Broken Chains'' (1922) with Colleen Moore, '' Mantrap'' (1926) with

Clara Bow Clara Gordon Bow (; July 29, 1905 – September 27, 1965) was an American actress who rose to stardom during the silent film era of the 1920s and successfully made the transition to "talkies" in 1929. Her appearance as a plucky shopgirl in the ...

and '' Fighting Caravans'' (1931) with

Gary Cooper Gary Cooper (born Frank James Cooper; May 7, 1901May 13, 1961) was an American actor known for his strong, quiet screen persona and understated acting style. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor twice and had a further three nominations, a ...

and Lili Damita. A towering (6' 4") figure, Torrence frequently played cold-eyed and imposing villains.

Biography

Education and early work

He was born to Colonel Henry Torrence Thayson and Jessie (née Bryce) on 26 June 1878, in

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to th ...

, and as a child was an exceptional pianist and operatic baritone and graduated from the Stuttgart Conservatory,

Edinburgh Academy The Edinburgh Academy is an independent day school in Edinburgh, Scotland, which was opened in 1824. The original building, on Henderson Row in the city's New Town, is now part of the Senior School. The Junior School is located on Arboretum Roa ...

before earning a scholarship at London's

Royal Academy of Music The Royal Academy of Music (RAM) in London, England, is the oldest conservatoire in the UK, founded in 1822 by John Fane and Nicolas-Charles Bochsa. It received its royal charter in 1830 from King George IV with the support of the first Duke ...

. He toured with the

D'Oyly Carte Opera Company The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company is a professional British light opera company that, from the 1870s until 1982, staged Gilbert and Sullivan's Savoy operas nearly year-round in the UK and sometimes toured in Europe, North America and elsewhere. T ...

in such productions as ''

The Emerald Isle ''The Emerald Isle''; ''or, The Caves of Carrig-Cleena'', is a two-act comic opera, with music by Arthur Sullivan and Edward German, and a libretto by Basil Hood. The plot concerns the efforts of an Irish patriot to resist the oppressive "re-edu ...

'' (1901), ''

Little Hans Andersen ''Little Hans Andersen'' is a 1903 musical fairy pantomime in two acts and seven scenes for children with lyrics by Basil Hood and music by Walter Slaughter. Wearing, J. P.br>''The London Stage 1900–1909: A Calendar of Productions, Performers, ...

'' (1903) and ''The Talk of the Town'' (1905) before disarming vocal problems set in and he was forced to abandon this career path. Ernest Torrence as Captain Hook in the film Peter Pan (1924)

Ernest Torrence as Captain Hook in the film Peter Pan (1924)

Sometime prior to 1900, he changed the spelling of Torrance to Torrence and dropped the name Thomson. Both Ernest and his actor brother David Torrence went to America, with Ernest joining David in New York in September 1911."New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JJLT-7TY : 16 August 2019), Ernest Torrence, 1911. Focusing on a purely acting career, Ernest and his brother developed into experienced players on the

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

New York stage. Ernest received significant acclaim with '' Modest Suzanne'' in 1912, and a prominent role in '' The Night Boat'' in 1920 brought him to the attention of the early Hollywood filmmakers.

Film career

Torrence played the despicable adversary Luke Hatburn in ''

Tol'able David ''Tol'able David'' is a 1921 American silent film based on the 1917 Joseph Hergesheimer short story of the same name. It was adapted to the screen by Edmund Goulding and directed by Henry King for Inspiration Pictures. A rustic tale of violen ...

'' (1921) opposite

Richard Barthelmess Richard Semler Barthelmess (May 9, 1895 – August 17, 1963) was an American film actor, principally of the Hollywood silent era. He starred opposite Lillian Gish in D. W. Griffith's '' Broken Blossoms'' (1919) and '' Way Down East'' (1920) and ...

and immediately settled into films for the rest of his career and life. He played an old codger in the acclaimed classic western '' The Covered Wagon'' (1923) and gained attention from his roles in ''

The Hunchback of Notre Dame ''The Hunchback of Notre-Dame'' (french: Notre-Dame de Paris, translation=''Our Lady of Paris'', originally titled ''Notre-Dame de Paris. 1482'') is a French Gothic novel by Victor Hugo, published in 1831. It focuses on the unfortunate story of ...

'' (1923) as Clopin, king of the beggars, and with

Betty Bronson Elizabeth Ada Bronson (November 17, 1906 – October 19, 1971) was an American film and television actress who began her career during the silent film era. Early years Bronson was born in Trenton, New Jersey, to Frank and Nellie Smith Brons ...

in ''

Peter Pan Peter Pan is a fictional character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie. A free-spirited and mischievous young boy who can fly and never grows up, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood having adventures on the mythi ...

'' (1924) as the dastardly

Captain Hook Captain James Hook is a fictional character and the main antagonist of J. M. Barrie's 1904 play '' Peter Pan; or, the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up'' and its various adaptations, in which he is Peter Pan's archenemy. The character is a pirate capt ...

. He played an Army General who escapes into the circus world and becomes a clown in '' The Side Show of Life'' (1924). Ian and Ernest Torrence

In an offbeat bit of casting he paired up with

in '' Mantrap'' (1926), unusually as a gentle, giant type backwoodsman in search of a wife. He appeared in other silent film classics such as ''

The King of Kings King of Kings; grc-gre, Βασιλεὺς Βασιλέων, Basileùs Basiléōn; hy, արքայից արքա, ark'ayits ark'a; sa, महाराजाधिराज, Mahārājadhirāja; ka, მეფეთ მეფე, ''Mepet mepe'' ...

'' (1927) (as Peter) and '' Steamboat Bill, Jr.'' (1928) as Buster Keaton's steamboat captain father. During the course of his twelve-year film career, Ernest made 49 films, both silent and "talkies".

Death

Torrence made the transition into talking films very well, starring in '' Fighting Caravans'' (1931) with

and Lili Damita. He was able to play a notable nemesis, Dr. Moriarty, to

Clive Brook Clifford Hardman "Clive" Brook (1 June 1887 – 17 November 1974) was an English film actor. After making his first screen appearance in 1920, Brook emerged as a leading British actor in the early 1920s. After moving to the United States ...

's Sherlock in '' Sherlock Holmes'' (1932) in one of his last roles. Filming for ''

I Cover the Waterfront ''I Cover the Waterfront'' is a 1933 American Pre-Code romantic drama film directed by James Cruze and starring Ben Lyon, Claudette Colbert, Ernest Torrence, and Hobart Cavanaugh. Based on the book, by Max Miller, a reporter for the San D ...

'' (1933), in which he starred as a smuggler opposite

Claudette Colbert Claudette Colbert ( ; born Émilie Claudette Chauchoin; September 13, 1903July 30, 1996) was an American actress. Colbert began her career in Broadway productions during the late 1920s and progressed to films with the advent of talking pictur ...

in New York City, had just been completed when he died suddenly on 15 May 1933. While ''en route'' to Europe by ship, Torrence suffered an acute attack of

gall stones A gallstone is a stone formed within the gallbladder from precipitated bile components. The term cholelithiasis may refer to the presence of gallstones or to any disease caused by gallstones, and choledocholithiasis refers to the presence of mig ...

and was rushed back to a New York City hospital. He died of complications following surgery.

Partial filmography

*''A Dangerous Affair'' (1919) - Abner *''

'' (1921) - Luke Hatburn * '' The Prodigal Judge'' (1922) - Solomon Mahaffy *'' Singed Wings'' (1922) - Emilio *'' Broken Chains'' (1922) - Boyan Boone *'' The Kingdom Within'' (1922) - Krieg *'' The Covered Wagon'' (1923) - William Jackson *'' The Trail of the Lonesome Pine'' (1923) - 'Devil' Jud Tolliver *'' The Brass Bottle'' (1923) - Fakresh-el-Aamash *''

'' (1923) - Clopin *''

Ruggles of Red Gap ''Ruggles of Red Gap'' is a 1935 American comedy western film directed by Leo McCarey and starring Charles Laughton, Mary Boland, Charlie Ruggles, and ZaSu Pitts and featuring Roland Young and Leila Hyams. It was based on the best-selling 1915 ...

'' (1923) - Cousin Egbert Floud *'' West of the Water Tower'' (1923) - Rev. Adrian Plummer *'' Heritage of the Desert'' (1924) - August Naab *'' The Fighting Coward'' (1924) - Gen. Orlando Jackson *'' The Side Show of Life'' (1924) - Andrew Lackaday *'' North of 36'' (1924) - Jim Nabours *''

'' (1924) - Captain James Hook *''

The Dressmaker from Paris ''The Dressmaker from Paris'' is a 1925 American silent romantic comedy drama film directed by Paul Bern. The story was written by Howard Hawks and Adelaide Heilbron. Heilbron also wrote the screenplay. The film starred Leatrice Joy and was he ...

'' (1925) - Angus McGregor *'' The Wanderer'' (1925) - Tola *'' Night Life of New York'' (1925) - John Bentley *''

The Pony Express The Pony Express was an American express mail service that used relays of horse-mounted riders. It operated from April 3, 1860, to October 26, 1861, between Missouri and California. It was operated by the Central Overland California and Pike ...

'' (1925) - 'Ascension' Jones *'' The American Venus'' (1926) - King Neptune *'' The Blind Goddess'' (1926) - Mr. Clayton *'' The Rainmaker'' (1926) - Mike *'' Mantrap'' (1926) - Joe Easter *'' The Lady of the Harem'' (1926) - Hassan *''

'' (1927) - Peter *'' Captain Salvation'' (1927) - Captain of the 'Panther' *'' Twelve Miles Out'' (1927) - Red McCue *'' Across to Singapore'' (1928) - Capt. Mark Shore *'' Steamboat Bill, Jr.'' (1928) - William "Steamboat Bill" Canfield Sr. *'' The Cossacks'' (1928) - Ivan *''

Desert Nights ''Desert Nights'' (also known as ''Thirst'') is a 1929 American silent adventure/romantic drama film starring John Gilbert, Ernest Torrence, and Mary Nolan. Directed by William Nigh, the film is the last silent film starring John Gilbert. P ...

'' (1929) - Lord Stonehill *''

The Bridge of San Luis Rey ''The Bridge of San Luis Rey'' is American author Thornton Wilder's second novel. It was first published in 1927 to worldwide acclaim. The novel won the Pulitzer Prize in 1928, and was the best-selling work of fiction that year. Premise ''The B ...

'' (1929) - Uncle Pio *'' Speedway'' (1929) - Jim MacDonald *'' The Unholy Night'' (1929) - Dr. Ballou *'' Untamed'' (1929) - Ben Murchison *''

Officer O'Brien ''Officer O'Brien'' is a 1930 American pre-Code comedy crime film directed by Tay Garnett and starring William Boyd, Ernest Torrence and Dorothy Sebastian. The film's sets were designed by the art director Edward C. Jewell.Munden p.557 It was ...

'' (1930) - John P. O'Brien *'' Strictly Unconventional'' (1930) - Lord Porteous *''

Sweet Kitty Bellairs ''Sweet Kitty Bellairs'' is a 1930 American historical musical comedy film directed by Alfred E. Green. The film is based on the 1900 novel, ''The Bath Comedy'' by Agnes Castle and Egerton Castle. Shot entirely in Technicolor, the film stars C ...

'' (1930) - Sir Jasper Standish *''

Call of the Flesh ''Call of the Flesh'' is a 1930 American Pre-Code musical film directed by Charles Brabin. The film stars Ramon Novarro, Dorothy Jordan, and Renée Adorée. It featured several songs performed by Novarro and originally included a sequence photo ...

'' (1930) - Esteban *'' Fighting Caravans'' (1931) - Bill Jackson *'' Shipmates'' (1931) - Scotty *'' The Great Lover'' (1931) - Potter *'' Sporting Blood'' (1931) - Mr. Jim Rellence *''

New Adventures of Get Rich Quick Wallingford ''New Adventures of Get Rich Quick Wallingford'' is a 1931 American pre-Code crime / romantic comedy film directed by Sam Wood and starring William Haines as a con artist and Jimmy Durante as his pickpocket buddy. The film is based on a series ...

'' (1931) - Blackie Daw *''

The Cuban Love Song ''The Cuban Love Song'' is a 1931 American pre-Code musical film directed by W.S. Van Dyke and written by C. Gardner Sullivan, Bess Meredyth, John Lynch, John Colton, Gilbert Emery, Robert E. Hopkins and Paul Hervey Fox. The film stars Lawrenc ...

'' (1931) - Romance *'' Sherlock Holmes'' (1932) - Professor James Moriarty *'' Hypnotized'' (1932) - Prof. Horace S. Limberly - Hypnotist *''

'' (1933) - Eli Kirk (final film role)

References

External links

* *
Photographs and literature on Ernest Torrence
{{DEFAULTSORT:Torrence, Ernest 1878 births 1933 deaths 20th-century Scottish male opera singers 20th-century Scottish male actors Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) Deaths from digestive disease Scottish male film actors Scottish male silent film actors Scottish operatic baritones Scottish pianists State University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart alumni