Ward Crane (May 18, 1890 – July 21, 1928) was an American

silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized Sound recording and reproduction, recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) ...

actor popular in comedies and dramas. Out of dozens of films, he is remembered as the handsome

heavy Heavy may refer to: Measures * Heavy (aeronautics), a term used by pilots and air traffic controllers to refer to aircraft capable of 300,000 lbs or more takeoff weight * Heavy, a characterization of objects with substantial weight * Heavy, ...

to Buster Keaton's hero in ''

Sherlock Jr. ''Sherlock Jr.'' is a 1924 American silent comedy film directed by and starring Buster Keaton and written by Clyde Bruckman, Jean Havez, and Joseph A. Mitchell. It features Kathryn McGuire, Joe Keaton, and Ward Crane. In 1991, ''Sherlock J ...

'' (1924). Crane died aged 38 in

Saranac Lake, New York Saranac Lake is a village in the state of New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 5,406, making it the largest community by population in the Adirondack Park. The village is named after Upper, Middle and Lower Saran ...

, from

pneumonia Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of productive or dry cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. The severi ...

.''Silent Film Necrology'', p.110 2nd Edition c.2001 by Eugene M. Vazzana Crane was the son of John J. Crane. He was born and educated in

Albany, New York Albany ( ) is the capital of the U.S. state of New York, also the seat and largest city of Albany County. Albany is on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River, and about north of New York C ...

. He served in the Navy during World War I. He was buried in St. Agnes Cemetery in Albany.

Selected filmography

*'' The Dark Star'' (1919) *''

The Scoffer ''The Scoffer'' is a surviving 1920 American silent drama film produced and directed by Allan Dwan and starring Mary Thurman. It was released through Associated First National Pictures. Plot As described in a film magazine, Dr. Stannard Wayne ...

'' (1920) *'' In the Heart of a Fool'' (1920) *''

Harriet and the Piper ''Harriet and the Piper'' is a 1920 American drama film directed by Bertram Bracken and written by Monte M. Katterjohn. It is based on the 1920 novel ''Harriet and the Piper'' by Kathleen Norris. The film stars Anita Stewart, Ward Crane, Char ...

'' (1920) *''

The Frisky Mrs. Johnson ''The Frisky Mrs. Johnson'' is a 1920 silent film comedy starring Billie Burke. It was produced by Famous Players-Lasky and distributed through Paramount Pictures. It is based on a 1903 Broadway stage play by Clyde Fitch. On the stage Burke's ...

'' (1920) *'' The Luck of the Irish'' (1920) *'' Something Different'' (1920) *'' Heedless Moths'' (1921) *'' French Heels'' (1922) *'' No Trespassing'' (1922) *'' Broadway Rose'' (1922) * ''

Destiny's Isle ''Destiny's Isle'' is a 1922 American silent drama film directed by William P.S. Earle and starring Virginia Lee, Ward Crane and Florence Billings.Munden p.183 Cast * Virginia Lee as Lola Whitaker * Ward Crane as Tom Proctor * Florence Bi ...

'' (1922) *''

The Famous Mrs. Fair ''The Famous Mrs. Fair'' is a 1923 American silent drama film produced by Louis B. Mayer, distributed through Metro Pictures, and directed by Fred Niblo. The film is based on the Broadway play of the same name by James Forbes that had starred ...

'' (1923) *'' Within the Law'' (1923) *'' Enemies of Children'' (1923) * ''

Pleasure Mad ''Pleasure Mad'' is a 1923 American silent drama film directed by Reginald Barker and starring Huntley Gordon, Mary Alden, and Norma Shearer.Jacobs & Braum p. 71 The film was written by A.P. Younger based upon the novel ''The Valley of Conten ...

'' (1923) * ''

The Meanest Man in the World Not to be confused with the 1920 George M. Cohan play or The Meanest Man in the World (1923 film) ''The Meanest Man in the World'' is a 1943 American comedy film directed by Sidney Lanfield, starring Jack Benny and Priscilla Lane, based upon ...

'' (1923) *'' Gambling Wives'' (1924) *''

'' (1924) *'' Bread'' (1924) *''

Empty Hands ''Empty Hands'' is a 1924 American silent romantic drama film directed by Victor Fleming, and starring Jack Holt and Norma Shearer. The film was produced by the Famous Players-Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures. Cast Preservati ...

'' (1924) *''

The Phantom of the Opera ''The Phantom of the Opera'' (french: Le Fantôme de l'Opéra) is a novel by French author Gaston Leroux. It was first published as a serial in from 23 September 1909 to 8 January 1910, and was released in volume form in late March 1910 by Pier ...

'' (1925) *'' How Baxter Butted In'' (1925) * ''

The Million Dollar Handicap ''The Million Dollar Handicap'' is a 1925 American silent sports drama film directed by Scott Sidney and starring Edmund Burns, Ralph Lewis, and Ward Crane. It is based on the 1902 novel ''Thoroughbreds'' by William Alexander Fraser. The film w ...

'' (1925) *'' Peacock Feathers'' (1925) *'' Classified'' (1925) *'' Borrowed Finery'' (1925) * '' The Crimson Runner'' (1925) *'' The Blind Goddess'' (1926) *''

The Flaming Frontier ''The Flaming Frontier'' is a 1926 American silent Western film directed by Edward Sedgwick and starring Hoot Gibson. It was produced and distributed by Universal Pictures. Plot As described in a film magazine review, General Custer, who i ...

'' (1926) * '' Under Western Skies'' (1926) *'' That Model from Paris'' (1926) *''

Upstage Upstage may refer to: * UpStage, an open source server-side application that has been purpose built for cyberformance * ''Upstage'' (film), (also known as The Mask of Comedy) is a 1926 American silent romantic drama film *The Upstage Gallery, feat ...

'' (1926) *'' The Lady in Ermine'' (1927) with Corinne Griffith and Francis X. Bushman * ''

The Beauty Shoppers ''The Beauty Shoppers'' is a 1927 American silent comedy film directed by Louis J. Gasnier and starring Mae Busch, Doris Hill and Ward Crane.Munden p.46 Cast * Mae Busch as Mabel Hines * Doris Hill as Peggy Raymond * Ward Crane as Sloane M ...

'' (1927) *'' The American'' (1927) (not released) *''

The Rush Hour ''The Rush Hour'' is a 1928 American silent comedy film directed by E. Mason Hopper and starring Marie Prevost, Harrison Ford and Seena Owen. Cast * Marie Prevost as Margie Dolan * Harrison Ford as Dan Morley * Seena Owen as Yvonne Dor� ...

'' (1928) *''

Honeymoon Flats ''Honeymoon Flats'' is a 1928 American silent comedy film directed by Millard Webb and starring George J. Lewis, Dorothy Gulliver and Kathlyn Williams.Munden p.361 Synopsis Disappointed that her daughter has not married into money, a mother at ...

'' (1928)

References

External links

*
Ward Crane on right in ''The Frisky Mrs. Johnson'' with Billie Burke, 1920
Univ. of Wash./Sayre collection)
Ward Crane passport picture, 1920kinotv.com
1890 births 1928 deaths American male film actors American male silent film actors Actors from Albany, New York Male actors from New York (state) 20th-century American male actors {{US-film-actor-1890s-stub