John Conrad Nagel (March 16, 1897 – February 24, 1970) was an American film, stage, television and radio actor. He was considered a famous matinée idol and leading man of the 1920s and 1930s. He was given an

Academy Honorary Award The Academy Honorary Award – instituted in 1950 for the 23rd Academy Awards (previously called the Special Award, which was first presented at the 1st Academy Awards in 1929) – is given annually by the Board of Governors of the Academy of Moti ...

in 1940 and three stars on the

Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a historic landmark which consists of more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, Calif ...

in 1960.

Early life

Born in Keokuk, Iowa, into an upper-middle-class family, he was the son of a musician father, Dr. Frank L. Nagel, who was of German descent, and a mother, Frances (née Murphy), who was a locally praised singer. Nagel's mother died early in his life, and he always attributed his artistic inclination to growing up in a family environment that encouraged self-expression. When Nagel was three, his father, Frank, became dean of the music conservatory at Highland Park College in Des Moines, and the family moved there. After graduating from Highland Park College, Nagel left for California to pursue a career in the relatively new medium of motion pictures where he garnered instant attention from the Hollywood studio executives. With his frame, blue eyes, and wavy blond hair; the young, Midwestern Nagel was seen by studio executives as a potentially wholesome matinee idol whose unpretentious all-American charm would appeal to the nation's nascent film-goers.

Film career

Nagel was immediately cast in film roles that cemented his ''unspoiled lover'' image. His first film was the 1918 retelling of ''Little Women'', which quickly captured the public's attention and set Nagel on a path to silent film stardom. His breakout role came in the 1920 film, '' The Fighting Chance'', opposite Swedish starlet

Anna Q. Nilsson Anna Quirentia Nilsson (March 30, 1888 – February 11, 1974) was a Swedish-American actress who achieved success in American silent movies. Early life Nilsson was born in Ystad, Sweden in 1888. Her middle name Quirentia is derived from her ...

. In 1918, Nagel was elected to

The Lambs The Lambs, Inc. (also known as The Lambs Club) is a social club in New York City for actors, songwriters, and others involved in the theatre. It is America's oldest theatrical organization. "The Lambs" is a registered trademark of The Lambs, Inc ...

, the theatrical club. In 1927, Nagel starred alongside

Lon Chaney Sr. Leonidas Frank "Lon" Chaney (April 1, 1883 – August 26, 1930) was an American actor. He is regarded as one of the most versatile and powerful actors of cinema, renowned for his characterizations of tortured, often grotesque and affli ...

Marceline Day Marceline Day (born Marceline Newlin; April 24, 1908 – February 16, 2000) was an American motion picture actress whose career began as a child in the 1910s and ended in the 1930s. Early life Marceline Newlin was born in Colorado Springs, Color ...

Henry B. Walthall Henry Brazeale Walthall (March 16, 1878 – June 17, 1936) was an American stage and film actor. He appeared as the Little Colonel in D. W. Griffith's ''The Birth of a Nation'' (1915). Early life Henry B. Walthall was born March 16, 1878 on a ...

and

Polly Moran Pauline Theresa Moran (June 28, 1883 – January 25, 1952) billed as Polly Moran, was an American actress of vaudeville, stage and screen and comedian. Career Born in Chicago, Illinois, Moran started in vaudeville, and widely toured North A ...

in the now lost

Tod Browning Tod Browning (born Charles Albert Browning Jr.; July 12, 1880 – October 6, 1962) was an American film director, film actor, screenwriter, vaudeville performer, and carnival sideshow and circus entertainer. He directed a number of films of vari ...

directed horror film, '' London After Midnight''. Unlike many other silent films stars, Nagel had little difficulty transitioning to sound films. His baritone voice was judged to be perfect for sound, so he appeared in about thirty films in only two years. He described the time as a "great adventure." He was working so steadily that one night when he and his wife planned to go to the movies, he was in films playing at Grauman's, Loew's, and Paramount's theaters. "We couldn't find a theater where I wasn't playing. So we'd go back home. I was an epidemic." He spent the next several decades being very well received in high-profile films as a character actor. He was also frequently heard on radio and made many notable appearances on television.

The Academy and SAG

On May 11, 1927, Nagel was among 35 other film industry insiders to found the

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS, often pronounced ; also known as simply the Academy or the Motion Picture Academy) is a professional honorary organization with the stated goal of advancing the arts and sciences of motion ...

(AMPAS); a professional honorary organization dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of motion pictures. Fellow actors involved in the founding included:

Mary Pickford Gladys Marie Smith (April 8, 1892 – May 29, 1979), known professionally as Mary Pickford, was a Canadian-American stage and screen actress and producer with a career that spanned five decades. A pioneer in the US film industry, she co-founde ...

Douglas Fairbanks Douglas Elton Fairbanks Sr. (born Douglas Elton Thomas Ullman; May 23, 1883 – December 12, 1939) was an American actor, screenwriter, director, and producer. He was best known for his swashbuckling roles in silent films including '' The Thi ...

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 w ...

, Jack Holt,

Milton Sills Milton George Gustavus Sills (January 12, 1882 – September 15, 1930) was an American stage and film actor of the early twentieth century. Biography Sills was born in Chicago, Illinois, into a wealthy family. He was the son of William Henr ...

, and

Harold Lloyd Harold Clayton Lloyd, Sr. (April 20, 1893 – March 8, 1971) was an American actor, comedian, and stunt performer who appeared in many silent comedy films.Obituary '' Variety'', March 10, 1971, page 55. One of the most influential film c ...

. He served as president of the organization from 1932 to 1933. He was also a founding member of the

Screen Actors Guild The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) was an American labor union which represented over 100,000 film and television principal and background performers worldwide. On March 30, 2012, the union leadership announced that the SAG membership voted to me ...

(SAG). Nagel was the host of the

3rd Academy Awards The 3rd Academy Awards were held on November 5, 1930 by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), awarding films released between August 1, 1929 and July 31, 1930. AMPAS decided to hold the awards in November to move them closer ...

ceremony held on November 5, 1930, the

5th Academy Awards The 5th Academy Awards were held by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on November 18, 1932, at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California, hosted by Conrad Nagel. Films screened in Los Angeles between August 1, 1931, and J ...

on November 18, 1932, and a co-host with

Bob Hope Leslie Townes "Bob" Hope (May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003) was a British-American comedian, vaudevillian, actor, singer and dancer. With a career that spanned nearly 80 years, Hope appeared in more than 70 short and feature films, with ...

at the

25th Academy Awards The 25th Academy Awards were held on March 19, 1953 at the RKO Pantages Theatre in Hollywood, and the NBC International Theatre in New York City, to honor the films of 1952. It was the first Oscars ceremony to be televised, the first ceremony ...

ceremony on March 19, 1953. The 21-year gap between his appearances in 1932 and 1953 is a record for an Oscar ceremonies host.

Radio and television

Nagel was the announcer for '' Alec Templeton Time'', a musical variety program on

NBC Radio The National Broadcasting Company's NBC Radio Network (known as the NBC Red Network prior to 1942) was an American commercial radio network which was in operation from 1926 through 2004. Along with the NBC Blue Network it was one of the first tw ...

in the summer of 1939. He was the host on ''Silver Theatre'', a summer replacement program that began June 8, 1937. From 1937 to 1947, he hosted and directed the radio program '' Silver Theater''. He then hosted the popular TV game show '' Celebrity Time'' from 1948 to 1952 and the

DuMont Television Network The DuMont Television Network (also known as the DuMont Network, DuMont Television, simply DuMont/Du Mont, or (incorrectly) Dumont ) was one of America's pioneer commercial television networks, rivaling NBC and CBS for the distinction of being ...

program ''

Broadway to Hollywood ''Broadway to Hollywood'' is an American television program broadcast on the now-defunct DuMont Television Network. While the daytime version was mainly a talk show with news, celebrity gossip, and home-viewer quizzes, the quiz portion became a ...

'' from 1953 to 1954. From September 14, 1955, to June 1, 1956, Nagel hosted '' Hollywood Preview'', a 30-minute show on the DuMont Television Network which featured Hollywood stars with clips of upcoming films. In 1961, again on television but in an acting role, he made a guest appearance on the popular courtroom drama ''

Perry Mason Perry Mason is a fictional character, an American criminal defense lawyer who is the main character in works of detective fiction written by Erle Stanley Gardner. Perry Mason features in 82 novels and 4 short stories, all of which involve a c ...

'', portraying the character Nathan Claver, an art collector and murderer, in the episode "The Case of the Torrid Tapestry". In 1962 he guest-starred on the TV Western ''

Gunsmoke ''Gunsmoke'' is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. It centers on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central chara ...

'' as the vengeful Major Emerson Owen in S7E33's “The Prisoner”.

Personal life

Nagel married and divorced three times. His first wife, actress Ruth Helms, gave birth to a daughter, Ruth Margaret. His second wife was actress

Lynn Merrick Lynn Merrick (born Marilyn Llewelling, November 19, 1919 – March 25, 2007) was an American actress who appeared in over 40 films during the 1940s, mainly for Columbia and Republic Studios. Early life Merrick was born Marilyn Llewelling on ...

. His third wife was Michael Coulson Smith, who gave birth to a son Michael. Nagel died in 1970 in New York City at the age of 72. A spokesman for the office of the Chief Medical Examiner said that Nagel's death was "due to natural causes", more specifically, a heart attack and emphysema. He added that no autopsy was planned. Nagel was cremated at Garden State Crematory in North Bergen, New Jersey. His remains are interred at the Lutheran Cemetery in Warsaw, Illinois.

Awards and honors

In 1940, Nagel was given an

Honorary Academy Award The Academy Honorary Award – instituted in 1950 for the 23rd Academy Awards (previously called the Special Award, which was first presented at the 1st Academy Awards in 1929) – is given annually by the Board of Governors of the Academy of M ...

for his work with the

Motion Picture Relief Fund The Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF) is a charitable organization that offers assistance and care to those in the motion picture and television industries and their families with limited or no resources, including services such as temp ...

. For his contributions to film, radio, and television, Nagel was given three stars on the

at 1719 Vine Street (motion pictures), 1752 Vine Street (radio), and 1752 Vine Street (television).

Filmography

Silent

*''

Little Women ''Little Women'' is a coming-of-age novel written by American novelist Louisa May Alcott (1832–1888). Alcott wrote the book, originally published in two volumes in 1868 and 1869, at the request of her publisher. The story follows the live ...

'' (1918) as Laurie Laurence *''

The Lion and the Mouse The Lion and the Mouse is one of Aesop's Fables, numbered 150 in the Perry Index. There are also Eastern variants of the story, all of which demonstrate mutual dependence regardless of size or status. In the Renaissance the fable was provided wi ...

'' (1919) as Jefferson Ryder *'' Redhead'' (1919) as Matthew Thurlow *'' Romeo's Dad'' (1919, Short) *'' The Fighting Chance'' (1920) as Stephen Siward *''

Unseen Forces ''Unseen Forces'' is an extant 1920 silent film drama directed by Sidney Franklin and starring Sylvia Breamer and Conrad Nagel. It was long thought to be lost until a copy was located in New Zealand. It was produced by the same production compan ...

'' (1920) as Clyde Brunton *'' Midsummer Madness'' (1921) as Julian Osborne *''

Forbidden Fruit Forbidden fruit is a name given to the fruit growing in the Garden of Eden which God commands mankind not to eat. In the biblical story, Adam and Eve eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and are exiled from Eden. As a ...

'' (1921) as Actor in play 'Forbidden Fruit' (uncredited) *'' What Every Woman Knows'' (1921) as John Shand *''

The Lost Romance ''The Lost Romance'' is a surviving 1921 American silent drama film directed by William C. deMille and starring Jack Holt and Lois Wilson. It was produced by Famous Players–Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures. A copy is held by The ...

'' (1921) as Allen Erskine, M.D *''

Sacred and Profane Love ''Sacred and Profane Love'' ( it, Amor Sacro e Amor Profano) is an oil painting by Titian, probably painted in 1514, early in his career. The painting is presumed to have been commissioned by Niccolò Aurelio, a secretary to the Venetian Counci ...

'' (1921) as Emilie Diaz, a pianist *'' Fool's Paradise'' (1921) as Arthur Phelps *'' Saturday Night'' (1922) as Richard Prentiss *''

Hate Hatred is an intense negative emotional response towards certain people, things or ideas, usually related to opposition or revulsion toward something. Hatred is often associated with intense feelings of anger, contempt, and disgust. Hatred is s ...

'' (1922) as Dick Talbot *'' The Ordeal'' (1922) as Dr. Robert Acton *'' Nice People'' (1922) as Scotty White *''

The Impossible Mrs. Bellew ''The Impossible Mrs. Bellew'' is a 1922 American silent drama film directed by Sam Wood and starring Gloria Swanson. The film is based on the 1916 novel of the same name by David Lisle. Plot As described in a film magazine review, Lance Bel ...

'' (1922) as John Helstan *''

Singed Wings ''Singed Wings'' is a lost 1922 American silent romantic drama film directed by Penrhyn Stanlaws and starring Bebe Daniels. Famous Players-Lasky served as producers with the usual released through Paramount Pictures.Grumpy'' (1923) as Ernest Heron *'' Bella Donna'' (1923) as Nigel Armine *'' Lawful Larceny'' (1923) as Andrew Dorsey *'' The Rendezvous'' (1923) as Walter Stanford *'' Name the Man'' (1924) as Victor Stowell *'' Three Weeks'' (1924) as Paul Verdayne *''

The Rejected Woman ''The Rejected Woman'' is a 1924 American silent drama film directed by Albert Parker (in New York) and written by John Lynch. The film stars Alma Rubens, Conrad Nagel, and Béla Lugosi in a supporting role as Jean Gagnon. It was produced by Di ...

'' (1924) as John Leslie *'' Tess of the d'Urbervilles'' (1924) as Angel Clare *''

Sinners in Silk ''Sinners in Silk'' is a 1924 silent romantic drama film directed by Hobart Henley. The film stars Eleanor Boardman, Adolphe Menjou, Hedda Hopper, Conrad Nagel, and Jean Hersholt. It was written by Benjamin Glazer and Carey Wilson. The film a ...

'' (1924) as Brock Farley *''

Married Flirts ''Married Flirts'' is a 1924 American silent drama film directed by Robert Vignola and starring Pauline Frederick, Mae Busch, and Conrad Nagel. The screenplay, written by Julia Ivers, is based on Louis Joseph Vance's 1923 best seller ''Mrs. Par ...

'' (1924) as Perley Rex *'' The Snob'' (1924) as Herrick Appleton *''

So This Is Marriage ''So This Is Marriage'' is a lost 1924 American silent drama film directed by Hobart Henley. The film was originally released with sequences filmed in the Technicolor 2-color process that depicted the story of David and Bathsheba from the Book ...

'' (1924) as Peter Marsh *'' Excuse Me'' (1925) as Harry Mallory *''

Cheaper to Marry ''Cheaper to Marry'' is a 1925 American film starring Conrad Nagel, Lewis Stone, Marguerite De La Motte and Paulette Duval. The film was directed by Robert Z. Leonard, and written by Alice D. G. Miller based upon a play by Samuel Shipman. Plo ...

'' (1925) as Dick Tyler *''

Pretty Ladies ''Pretty Ladies'' is a 1925 American silent comedy drama film starring ZaSu Pitts and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The film is a fictional recreation of the famed Ziegfeld Follies. Directed by Monta Bell, the film was written by Alice D. ...

'' (1925) as Maggie's Dream Lover *''

Sun-Up ''Sun-Up'' is a 1925 American silent drama film directed by Edmund Goulding based upon a successful 1924 play of the same name by Lula Vollmer. The film stars Lucille La Verne, replaying her successful New York stage role, Pauline Starke, and C ...

'' (1925) as Rufe *''

Lights of Old Broadway ''Lights of Old Broadway'' is a 1925 American silent drama film directed by Monta Bell, produced by William Randolph Hearst's Cosmopolitan Productions, and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The film stars Marion Davies in a dual role and Conrad ...

'' (1925) as Dirk de Rhonde *''

The Only Thing ''The Only Thing'' (also known under its working title ''Four Flaming Days'') is a 1925 American silent romantic drama film starring Eleanor Boardman. The film's scenario was written by author Elinor Glyn (who also oversaw the film's productio ...

'' (1925) as Harry Vane - the Duke of Chevenix *''

Dance Madness ''Dance Madness'' is a 1926 American silent comedy film directed by Robert Z. Leonard based upon a script by Frederica Sagor. The film starred Claire Windsor, Conrad Nagel, and Hedda Hopper. According to the credited screenwriter, Frederic ...

'' (1926) as Roger Halladay * '' Memory Lane'' (1926) as Jimmy Holt *''

The Exquisite Sinner ''The Exquisite Sinner'' is a 1926 American silent drama film directed by Josef von Sternberg and adapted by Alice Duer Miller from the novel ''Escape'' by Alden Brooks. Starring Conrad Nagel and Renée Adorée, the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) n ...

'' (1926) as Dominique Prad *''

The Waning Sex ''The Waning Sex'' is a 1926 American silent romantic comedy film directed by Robert Z. Leonard. Based on the 1923 play of the same name by Fanny and Frederic Hatton, the film starred Norma Shearer and Conrad Nagel. Synopsis Nina Duane (Norma ...

'' (1926) as Philip Barry *''

There You Are! ''There You Are!'' is a 1926 American silent comedy film directed by Edward Sedgwick. Based on the play of the same name by F. Hugh Herbert, the film starred Conrad Nagel and Edith Roberts. ''There You Are!'' is now considered lost. Plot G ...

'' (1926) as George Fenwick *'' Tin Hats'' (1926) as Jack Benson *'' Heaven on Earth'' (1927) as Edmond Durand *''

Slightly Used ''Slightly Used'' is a 1927 American comedy film directed by Archie Mayo and written by C. Graham Baker and Jack Jarmuth. The film stars May McAvoy, Conrad Nagel, Robert Agnew, Audrey Ferris, Anders Randolf and Eugenie Besserer. The film was ...

'' (1927) as Major John Smith *'' Quality Street'' (1927) as Dr. Valentine Brown *''

The Girl from Chicago ''The Girl from Chicago'' is a 1932 American Pre-Code drama film produced and directed by Oscar Micheaux, with an all-African-American cast including lead actors Grace Smith and Carl Mahon. The story concerns a federal agent who falls in love ...

'' (1927) as Handsome Joe *'' London After Midnight'' (1927) as Arthur Hibbs *''

If I Were Single ''If I Were Single'' is a 1927 American silent comedy film directed by Roy Del Ruth and starring May McAvoy, Conrad Nagel, and Myrna Loy. Cast * May McAvoy as May Howard * Conrad Nagel as Ted Howard * Myrna Loy as Joan Whitley * George ...

'' (1927) as Ted Howard *'' Tenderloin'' (1928) as Chuck White *''

The Crimson City ''The Crimson City'' (1928) is an American silent drama film produced by Warner Bros. written by Anthony Coldeway and directed by Archie Mayo. Actors include Myrna Loy, Anna May Wong, Sōjin Kamiyama, John Miljan, Leila Hyams and Richard Tuc ...

'' (1928) as Ralph Blake *''

Glorious Betsy ''Glorious Betsy'' is a 1928 silent film with talking sequences. It is based on the 1908 play of the same name by Rida Johnson Young, and it stars Dolores Costello. It was produced by Warner Bros. and nominated for an Academy Award for Best Wr ...

'' (1928) as Jérôme Bonaparte *''

Diamond Handcuffs ''Diamond Handcuffs'' is a 1928 American drama silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elemen ...

'' (1928) as John *''

The Michigan Kid ''The Michigan Kid'' is a 1947 American Cinecolor Western film directed by Ray Taylor and starring Jon Hall, Victor McLaglen, Rita Johnson, and Andy Devine. It was Hall's first film after getting out of the army and filming began 15 April 19 ...

'' (1928) as Michigan Kid / Jim Rowen *''

The Mysterious Lady ''The Mysterious Lady'' (1928) is a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer silent film romantic drama, starring Greta Garbo, Conrad Nagel, and Gustav von Seyffertitz, directed by Fred Niblo, and based on the novel ''War in the Dark'' by Ludwig Wolff. The film ...

'' (1928) as Karl von Raden *'' The Kiss'' (1929) as André

Sound

*'' Caught in the Fog'' (1928) as Bob Vickers *''

State Street Sadie ''State Street Sadie'' is a 1928 American crime drama film directed by Archie Mayo, and released as a silent film with talking sequences using Warner Bros.' Vitaphone sound-on-disc process.

'' (1928) as Ralph Blake *''

The Terror The Reign of Terror (french: link=no, la Terreur) was a period of the French Revolution when, following the creation of the First Republic, a series of massacres and numerous public executions took place in response to revolutionary fervour, ...

'' (1928) as Narrator of Spoken Credit Titles (uncredited) *''

Red Wine Red wine is a type of wine made from dark-colored grape varieties. The color of the wine can range from intense violet, typical of young wines, through to brick red for mature wines and brown for older red wines. The juice from most purple gr ...

'' (1928) as Charles H. Cook *''

The Redeeming Sin ''The Redeeming Sin'' (1929) is a crime drama part- talking silent film with Vitaphone music and sound effects. It was produced and distributed by Warner Bros. and stars Dolores Costello. This film is a lost film. This film is a remake of a ...

'' (1929) as Dr. Raoul de Boise *'' Kid Gloves'' (1929) as Kid Gloves *'' The Idle Rich'' (1929) as William van Luyn *'' The Thirteenth Chair'' (1929) as Richard Crosby *'' The Hollywood Revue of 1929'' (1929) as Himself - Master of Ceremonies *'' The Sacred Flame'' (1929) as Col. Maurice Taylor *''

Dynamite Dynamite is an explosive made of nitroglycerin, sorbents (such as powdered shells or clay), and stabilizers. It was invented by the Swedish chemist and engineer Alfred Nobel in Geesthacht, Northern Germany, and patented in 1867. It rapidl ...

'' (1929) as Roger Towne *''

The Ship from Shanghai ''The Ship from Shanghai'' is a 1930 Pre-Code American action film directed by Charles Brabin and written by John Howard Lawson. The film stars Conrad Nagel, Kay Johnson, Carmel Myers, Holmes Herbert and Zeffie Tilbury. The film was released ...

'' (1930) as Howard Vazey *'' Second Wife'' (1930) as Walter Fairchild *'' Redemption'' (1930) as Victor Karenin *''

The Divorcee ''The Divorcee'' is a 1930 American pre-Code drama film written by Nick Grindé, John Meehan, and Zelda Sears, based on the 1929 novel ''Ex-Wife'' by Ursula Parrott. It was directed by Robert Z. Leonard, who was nominated for the Academy ...

'' (1930) as Paul *'' One Romantic Night'' (1930) as Dr. Nicholas Haller *''

Numbered Men ''Numbered Men'' is a 1930 American pre-Code prison drama film (originally with songs) produced and released by First National Pictures, a subsidiary of Warner Bros., and directed by Mervyn LeRoy. The movie stars Bernice Claire, Conrad Nagel, ...

'' (1930) as 26521 *''

A Lady Surrenders ''A Lady Surrenders'' is a 1930 American Pre-Code romantic drama film directed by John M. Stahl and starring Genevieve Tobin, Rose Hobart, Conrad Nagel, and Basil Rathbone. A copy exists in the Library of Congress. Plot summary A man is left ...

'' (1930) as Winthrop Beauvel *''

Du Barry, Woman of Passion ''Du Barry, Woman of Passion'' is a 1930 American pre-Code dramatic film starring Norma Talmadge, produced by her husband Joseph Schenck, released through United Artists, and based on a 1901 stage play ''Du Barry'' written and produced by David ...

'' (1930) as Cosse de Brissac *''

Today Today (archaically to-day) may refer to: * Day of the present, the time that is perceived directly, often called ''now'' * Current era, present * The current calendar date Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Today'' (1930 film), a 1930 ...

'' (1930) as Fred Warner *''

Free Love Free love is a social movement that accepts all forms of love. The movement's initial goal was to separate the state from sexual and romantic matters such as marriage, birth control, and adultery. It stated that such issues were the concern ...

'' (1930) as Stephen Ferrier *'' The Right of Way'' (1931) as Charley 'Beauty' Steele *'' East Lynne'' (1931) as Robert Carlyle *'' Bad Sister'' (1931) as Dr. Dick Lindley *''

Three Who Loved ''Three Who Loved'' is a 1931 American Pre-Code drama film directed by George Archainbaud from a screenplay by Beulah Marie Dix based on a story by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Martin Flavin. The film revolves around a love triangle (Betty Comps ...

'' (1931) as John Hanson *'' Son of India'' (1931) as William Darsay *'' The Reckless Hour'' (1931) as Edward 'Eddie' Adams *''

The Pagan Lady ''The Pagan Lady'' is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film directed by John Francis Dillon and starring Evelyn Brent. It is based on the Broadway play ''Pagan Lady'' (1930) written by William DuBois. Cast * Evelyn Brent as Dorothy 'Dot' Hunter ...

'' (1931) as Ernest Todd *''

Hell Divers ''Hell Divers'' is a 1932 American pre-Code black-and-white film from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer starring Wallace Beery and Clark Gable as a pair of competing chief petty officers in early naval aviation. The film, made with the cooperation of the Unite ...

'' (1931) as Lieutenant D.W. "Duke" Johnson *''

The Man Called Back ''The Man Called Back'' is a 1932 American Pre-Code film directed by Robert Florey. This film was independently produced for the bargain-basement price of $68,000, partly because Florey was allowed to re-use the tropical set constructed for the ...

'' (1932) as Dr. David Yorke *''

Divorce in the Family ''Divorce in the Family'' is a 1932 American pre-Code drama film directed by Charles Reisner and written by Delmer Daves. The film stars Jackie Cooper, Conrad Nagel, Lewis Stone, Lois Wilson and Jean Parker. It was released on August 27, 1932, b ...

'' (1932) as Dr. Shumaker *'' Kongo'' (1932) as Kingsland *'' Fast Life'' (1932) as Burton *''

The Constant Woman ''The Constant Woman'' (1933), also known as ''Auction in Souls'' and ''Hell in a Circus'', is an American Pre-Code film directed by Victor Schertzinger. It is based on the 1913 Eugene O'Neill play ''Recklessness''. Plot Marlene Underwood is a ...

'' (1933) as Walt Underwood *'' Ann Vickers'' (1933) as Lindsey Atwell *''

Dangerous Corner ''Dangerous Corner'' was the first play by the English writer J. B. Priestley. It was premiered in May 1932 by Tyrone Guthrie at the Lyric Theatre, London, and filmed in 1934 by Phil Rosen. Priestley had recently collaborated with Edward Kno ...

'' (1934) as Robert Chatfield *''

The Marines Are Coming ''The Marines Are Coming'' is a 1934 American action drama film directed by David Howard and starring William Haines, Conrad Nagel and Esther Ralston. It was produced and distributed by the independent Mascot Pictures. It was the final film ...

'' (1934) as Capt. Edward 'Ned' Benton *''

One Hour Late ''One Hour Late'' is a 1934 American comedy film directed by Ralph Murphy and written by Kathryn Scola and Paul Gerard Smith. The film stars Joe Morrison, Helen Twelvetrees, Conrad Nagel, and Arline Judge. ''One Hour Late'' was released on De ...

'' (1934) as Stephen Barclay *'' Death Flies East'' (1935) as John Robinson Gordon *''

One New York Night ''One New York Night'' (also released as ''The Trunk Mystery'') is a 1935 American comedy film directed by Jack Conway and written by Frank Davis. The film stars Franchot Tone, Una Merkel, Conrad Nagel, Harvey Stephens, Steffi Duna and Charles ...

'' (1935) as Kent *'' Ball at Savoy'' (1936) as John Egan, posing as Baron Dupont *''

The Girl from Mandalay ''The Girl from Mandalay'' is a 1936 American action film directed by Howard Bretherton and written by Wellyn Totman and Endre Bohem. It is based on the 1931 novel ''Tiger Valley'' by Reginald Campbell. The film stars Conrad Nagel, Kay Linaker, ...

'' (1936) as John Foster *''

Wedding Present The Wedding Present are an English indie rock group originally formed in 1985 in Leeds, England, from the ashes of The Lost Pandas. The band's music has evolved from fast-paced indie rock in the vein of their most obvious influences The F ...

'' (1936) as Roger Dodacker *''

Yellow Cargo ''Yellow Cargo'' is a 1936 American Poverty Row crime film written and directed by Crane Wilbur for Grand National Pictures. The film was rereleased in 1947 as ''Sinful Cargo''. Starring Conrad Nagel as Alan O'Connor and producer George A. Hirl ...

'' (1936) as Alan O'Connor *'' Navy Spy'' (1937) as Alan O'Connor *'' The Gold Racket'' (1937) as Alan O'Connor *''

Bank Alarm ''Bank Alarm'' is a 1937 American crime film directed by Louis J. Gasnier and starring Conrad Nagel and Eleanor Hunt in the last of their four film G-Man film series. Plot A G-Man (Conrad Nagel) and his girlfriend ( Eleanor Hunt) follow a trai ...

'' (1937) as Alan O'Connor *''

The Mad Empress ''The Mad Empress'' is a 1939 American historical drama film depicting the 3-year reign of Maximilian I of Mexico (Nagel) and his struggles against Benito Juarez (Robards). Empress Carlotta (Novora) is the "mad" empress who has a breakdown when ...

'' (1939) as Maximilian *''

One Million B.C. ''One Million B.C.'' is a 1940 American fantasy film produced by Hal Roach Studios and released by United Artists. It is also known by the titles ''Cave Man'', ''Man and His Mate'' and ''Tumak''. The film stars Victor Mature as protagonist ...

'' (1940) as Narrator *''

I Want a Divorce ''I Want a Divorce'' is a 1940 Paramount film directed by Ralph Murphy. The screenplay was written by Frank Butler (based on a story by Adela Rogers St. Johns). The film starred then-married actors Joan Blondell and Dick Powell, who would later ...

'' (1940) as David Holland, Sr. *'' Forever Yours'' (1945) as Dr. Randall *''

The Adventures of Rusty ''Adventures of Rusty'' is a 1945 drama film, the first in the "Rusty" series of children's films. The series of eight films were made in the 1940s by Columbia Pictures with stories centered on Rusty, a German shepherd dog. The film is notable f ...

'' (1945) as Hugh Mitchell *'' Stage Struck'' (1948) as Police Lt. Williams * '' The Vicious Circle'' (1948) as Karl Nemesch *'' All That Heaven Allows'' (1955) as Harvey *''

Hidden Fear ''Hidden Fear'' is a 1957 American film noir crime film directed by Andre DeToth, starring John Payne. It was filmed on location in Copenhagen, Denmark. Plot Mike Brent is an American police detective. When his sister is arrested on a charge o ...

'' (1957) as Arthur Miller *''

A Stranger in My Arms ''A Stranger in My Arms'' (also known as ''And Ride a Tiger'') is a 1959 CinemaScope drama film directed by Helmut Käutner and starring June Allyson, Jeff Chandler, Sandra Dee, Charles Coburn, Mary Astor and Peter Graves. Plot A Korean War tes ...

'' (1959) as Harley Beasley *'' The Man Who Understood Women'' (1959) as G.K. Brody

In popular culture

In the ''

M*A*S*H ''M*A*S*H'' (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) is an American media franchise consisting of a series of novels, a film, several television series, plays, and other properties, and based on the semi-autobiographical fiction of Richard Hooker. T ...

'' episode " Abyssinia, Henry" – which featured McLean Stevenson's final appearance on the show – Lt. Col. Blake finds out that his mother-in-law used his brown double-breasted suit to attend a costume party dressed as Conrad Nagel.

Radio appearances

References

External links

* * * *
Silent Ladies and Gents

Conrad Nagel on Golden Silents

Photographs of Conrad Nagel
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nagel, Conrad 1897 births 1970 deaths American people of German descent Academy Honorary Award recipients Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences founders Presidents of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences American male film actors American male silent film actors American male radio actors American male television actors Male actors from Des Moines, Iowa People from Keokuk, Iowa Vaudeville performers 20th-century American male actors Members of The Lambs Club