William Collier Jr. (born Charles F. Gall Jr.; February 12, 1902 – February 5, 1987) was an American stage performer, producer, and a film actor who in the silent and sound eras was cast in no fewer than 89 motion pictures.

Biography

William Collier (nicknamed "Buster") was born in New York City. When his parents divorced, his mother, the actress Paula Marr, remarried the actor William Collier Sr. who adopted Charles (the two did share a resemblance) and gave the boy the new name William Collier Jr. Collier's acting experience in childhood, having first appeared on stage at age seven, helped him get his first movie role at age 14 in ''The Bugle Call'' (1916). In 1910 his parents were appearing in Denver and Collier was hospitalized with scarlet fever, which was followed by typhoid, but he eventually recovered by the end of the summer and was able to join his parents who were appearing at

Elitch Theatre The Historic Elitch Theatre is located at the original Elitch Gardens site in northwest Denver, Colorado. Opened in 1890, it was centerpiece of the park that was the first zoo west of Chicago. The theatre was Denver's first professional theatr ...

. He appeared in his father's show, ''The Patriot'', as Kid Sugar. He later became a popular leading man in the 1920s and successfully made the transition from silent into

sound film A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, but decades passed befo ...

. Nevertheless, he retired from acting in 1935, and in 1937 traveled to England to work as a movie producer. He returned to the United States in the late 1940s and began producing drama series for television. In February 1960, in recognition of his contributions to the entertainment industry, Collier received a star 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 ...

The Heart of Maryland - march 1921 - scene d - newspaper

Collier died in

San Francisco San Francisco (; Spanish language, Spanish for "Francis of Assisi, Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the List of Ca ...

on February 5, 1987, just a week before his 85th birthday.

Selected filmography as an actor

* ''The Bugle Call'' (1916) - Billy Andrews * ''

Never Again "Never again" is a phrase or slogan which is associated with the lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides. The phrase may originate from a 1927 poem by Yitzhak Lamdan which stated "Never again shall Masada fall!" In the context of geno ...

'' (1916, Short) * ''

Back Stage ''Backstage'', also previously written as ''Back Stage'', is an American entertainment industry trade publication. Founded by Allen Zwerdling and Ira Eaker in 1960, it covers the film and performing arts industry from the perspective of performe ...

'' (1919, Short) - Minor Role (uncredited) * ''

The Servant Question ''The Servant Question'' is a 1920 American silent comedy mystery film directed by Dell Henderson and starring William Collier Sr., Virginia Lee, and William Collier Jr.Parish & Pitts p. 172 Cast * William Collier Sr. as Mr. Butler * Vir ...

'' (1920) - Jack Merrick * ''

The Soul of Youth ''The Soul of Youth'' is a 1920 American silent drama film directed by William Desmond Taylor, produced and distributed by Realart Pictures. Produced under the working title ''The Boy'', it stars Lewis Sargent and Lila Lee. The film has been p ...

'' (1920) - Dick Armstrong * '' Everybody's Sweetheart'' (1920) - John * '' The Heart of Maryland'' (1921) - Lloyd Calvert * ''

The Girl from Porcupine ''The Girl from Porcupine'' is a 1921 American silent Western film directed by Dell Henderson and starring Faire Binney, William Collier Jr. and Jack Drumier. Cast * Faire Binney as Hope Dugan * William Collier Jr. as Jim McTvish * Jack Drumi ...

'' (1921) - Jim McTvish * ''

At the Stage Door ''At the Stage Door'', also known by its working title ''Women of Conquest'', is a 1921 silent American romantic drama film directed by Christy Cabanne. It stars Billie Dove, Huntley Gordon, and Miriam Battista, and was released on December 11, ...

'' (1921) - Arthur Bates * '' Cardigan'' (1922) - Michael Cardigan * ''

The Good Provider ''The Good Provider'' is a 1922 American silent drama film directed by Frank Borzage and written by Fannie Hurst and John Lynch. The film stars Vera Gordon, Dore Davidson, Miriam Battista, Vivienne Osborne, William Collier, Jr., John Roche, ...

'' (1922) - Izzy Binswanger * ''

The Secrets of Paris ''The Secrets of Paris'' is a 1922 American silent drama film directed by Kenneth S. Webb and starring Lew Cody, Gladys Hulette, and Effie Shannon. Cast Preservation No copies of ''The Secrets of Paris'' are located in any archives, making ...

'' (1922) - François * ''

Enemies of Women ''Enemies of Women'' is a 1923 American silent romantic drama film directed by Alan Crosland and starring Lionel Barrymore, Alma Rubens, Gladys Hulette, Pedro de Cordoba, and Paul Panzer. The film was produced by William Randolph Hearst throu ...

'' (1923) - Gaston * '' Sinner or Saint'' (1923) - Young Artist * ''

Loyal Lives ''Loyal Lives'' is a 1923 American silent drama film directed by Charles Giblyn and starring Brandon Tynan, Mary Carr and Faire Binney.The Age of Desire ''The Age of Desire'' is a 1923 American silent drama film directed by Frank Borzage and starring Josef Swickard, William Collier Jr., and Mary Philbin. It was distributed through Associated First National Pictures. Plot As described in a film ...

'' (1923) - Ranny - Age 21 * ''

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 Content ...

'' (1923) - Howard Benton * ''

Leave It to Gerry ''Leave It to Gerry'' is a 1924 American silent comedy film directed by Arvid E. Gillstrom and starring Billie Rhodes, William Collier Jr., and Claire McDowell. Plot As described in a film magazine review, Geraldine Brent, known as Gerry, goes t ...

'' (1924) - Dan Forbes * ''

Fools Highway ''Fools Highway'' is a 1924 American silent romantic drama film directed by Irving Cummings and starring Mary Philbin. The film was produced and released by Universal Pictures. Plot As described in a film magazine review, Mamie Rose, little me ...

'' (1924) - Max Davidson * ''

The Sea Hawk ''The Sea Hawk'' is a 1915 novel by Rafael Sabatini. The story is set over the years 1588–1593 and concerns a retired Cornish seafaring gentleman, Sir Oliver Tressilian, who is villainously betrayed by a jealous half-brother. After being ...

'' (1924) - Marsak * ''

Wine of Youth ''Wine of Youth'' is a 1924 American silent comedy drama film directed by King Vidor, and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, shortly after the merger which created MGM in April 1924. Vidor did not consider it important enough to mention in his ...

'' (1924) - Max Cooper * '' The Mine with the Iron Door'' (1924) - Chico * '' Great Diamond Mystery'' (1924) - Perry Standish * ''

The Lighthouse by the Sea ''The Lighthouse by the Sea'' is a 1924 American silent adventure film produced by and distributed by Warner Bros. The film's star is canine sensation Rin Tin Tin, the most famous animal actor of the 1920s. The film was directed by Malcolm S ...

'' (1924) - Bob Dorn * ''

The Devil's Cargo ''The Devil's Cargo'' is a 1925 American silent drama film produced by Famous Players-Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It was directed by Victor Fleming and starred Wallace Beery and Pauline Starke. It is based on an original story ...

'' (1925) - John Joyce * ''

The Reckless Sex ''The Reckless Sex'' is a 1925 American melodrama film directed by Alan James from a screenplay by Travers Wells. The film stars Madge Bellamy, William Collier Jr., and Wyndham Standing. Plot Robert Lanning Jr. is sent by his father in Bost ...

'' (1925) - Juan * ''

Eve's Secret ''Eve's Secret'' is a 1925 American silent romantic comedy film produced by Famous Players-Lasky and released by Paramount Pictures. It is based on a Broadway play, ''Moon-Flower'', by Zoë Akins, adapted from a Hungarian play by Lajos Bíró ...

'' (1925) - Pierre * ''

The Verdict ''The Verdict'' is a 1982 American legal drama film directed by Sidney Lumet and written by David Mamet, adapted from Barry Reed's 1980 novel of the same name. It stars Paul Newman, Charlotte Rampling, Jack Warden, James Mason, Milo O'Shea, ...

'' (1925) - Jimmy Mason * ''

Playing with Souls ''Playing with Souls'' is a 1925 American silent drama film directed by Ralph Ince and starring Jacqueline Logan, Mary Astor, and Clive Brook Clifford Hardman "Clive" Brook (1 June 1887 – 17 November 1974) was an English film actor. ...

'' (1925) - Matthew Dale Jr. * '' The Wanderer'' (1925) - Jether * ''

The Lucky Lady ''The Lucky Lady'' is a 1926 American silent romance film produced by Famous Players-Lasky, distributed by Paramount Pictures, directed by Raoul Walsh, and starring Greta Nissen, Lionel Barrymore, William Collier, Jr., and Marc McDermott. Wals ...

'' (1926) - Clarke * '' The Rainmaker'' (1926) - Bobby Robertson * ''

The Lady of the Harem ''The Lady of the Harem'' is a 1926 American silent adventure film directed by Raoul Walsh and written by James Elroy Flecker and James T. O'Donohoe. The film stars Ernest Torrence, William Collier, Jr., Greta Nissen, Louise Fazenda, George Be ...

'' (1926) - Rafi * ''

God Gave Me Twenty Cents ''God Gave Me Twenty Cents'' is a 1926 American silent drama film directed by Herbert Brenon and written by Elizabeth Meehan and John Russell. The film stars Lois Moran, Lya De Putti, Jack Mulhall, William Collier, Jr., Adrienne D'Ambricourt ...

'' (1926) - Barney Tapman * ''

Just Another Blonde ''Just Another Blonde'' (also known as ''The Girl From Coney Island'') is a 1926 American silent romantic comedy / adventure film distributed by First National Pictures. Based on the short story "Even Stev'en" by Gerald Beaumont, the film was ...

'' (1926) - Scotty * ''

The Broken Gate ''The Broken Gate'' is a lost 1920 American silent drama film directed by Paul Scardon and starring Bessie Barriscale. It was distributed jointly by W. W. Hodkinson and Pathé Exchange. Cast *Bessie Barriscale as Aurora Lane *Joseph Kilgour as ...

'' (1927) - Don Lane * ''

Backstage Backstage most commonly refers to backstage (theatre), also in motion picture and television production. Backstage may also refer to: Film and television * ''Back Stage'' (1969 film), a silent film starring Oliver Hardy * ''Back Stage'' (1942 fil ...

'' (1927) - Owen Mackay * ''

Convoy A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support and can help maintain cohesion within a unit. It may also be use ...

'' (1927) - John Dodge * ''

The Sunset Derby ''The Sunset Derby'' is a 1927 American silent drama film directed by Albert S. Rogell and starring Mary Astor, William Collier Jr., and Ralph Lewis.

'' (1927) - Jimmy Burke * ''

Dearie "Dearie" is a popular song. The music was written by David Mann, and the lyrics, by Bob Hilliard. The song was published in 1950. The song is about reminiscences, and often sung as a duet. When done as a duet, each one of the singers asks the ...

'' (1927) - Stephen Darling * '' Stranded'' (1927) - Johnny Nash * ''

The Desired Woman ''The Desired Woman'' is a 1927 American silent drama film directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Irene Rich, William Russell and William Collier Jr. It is now considered to be lost. It was produced and distributed by Warner Bros. The film ...

'' (1927) - Lieutenant Larry Trent * '' The College Widow'' (1927) - Billy Bolton * '' So This Is Love?'' (1928) - Jerry McGuire * '' The Tragedy of Youth'' (1928) - Dick Wayne * ''

A Night of Mystery ''A Night of Mystery'' is a 1928 American silent drama film based upon the play by Victorien Sardou, directed by Lothar Mendes and starring Adolphe Menjou and Evelyn Brent. The film is considered to be lost. ''A Night of Mystery'' is now a lo ...

'' (1928) - Jérôme D'Egremont * ''

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 wit ...

'' (1928) - Jefferson Ryder * ''

Women They Talk About ''Women They Talk About'' is a 1928 American comedy drama film directed by Lloyd Bacon and starring Irene Rich and Audrey Ferris. It was a part-talkie Vitaphone film with talking, music, and sou ...

'' (1928) - Steve Harrison * ''

Beware of Bachelors ''Beware of Bachelors'' is a 1928 American part-talkie pre-code comedy drama film produced and released by Warner Bros., and directed by Roy Del Ruth. The movie stars Audrey Ferris, William Collier Jr., Margaret Livingston, Clyde Cook, and Geor ...

'' (1928) - Ed * ''

The Floating College ''The Floating College'' is a 1928 American silent comedy film directed by George Crone and starring Sally O'Neil, William Collier Jr. and Georgia Hale. Two sisters fall in love with a swimming instructor. Cast * Sally O'Neil as Pat Bixby * ...

'' (1928) - George Dewey * ''

The Red Sword ''The Red Sword'' is a 1929 American silent adventure film directed by Robert G. Vignola and starring William Collier Jr., Marian Nixon and Carmel Myers. The film was produced and distributed by FBO Pictures, shortly before it was taken over by R ...

'' (1929) - Paul * ''

One Stolen Night ''One Stolen Night'' is a 1929 American part-talkie adventure crime film directed by Scott R. Dunlap, and starring Betty Bronson, William Collier Jr., Mitchell Lewis, Harry Todd, and Charles Hill Mailes. It is based on the short story ''The ...

'' (1929) - Bob * ''

Tide of Empire ''Tide of Empire '' is a 1929 American silent Western film directed by Allan Dwan and starring Renée Adorée and Tom Keene. The film was originally slated to star Joan Crawford in the female lead, but the final filming had Renée Adorée inst ...

'' (1929) - Romauldo Guerrero * ''

Hardboiled Rose ''Hardboiled Rose'' is a 1929 American part-talkie romantic drama film directed by F. Harmon Weight and released by Warner Bros. It starred Myrna Loy, William Collier, Jr., and John Miljan. Plot A Southern belle (Loy) must work in a gambling ...

'' (1929) - Edward Malo * ''

The Donovan Affair ''The Donovan Affair'' is a 1929 American Pre-Code comedic murder-mystery film directed by Frank Capra. It was produced by Harry Cohn for Columbia Pictures and is based upon the play of the same name by Owen Davis. Its original soundtrack, recor ...

'' (1929) - Cornish * ''The Bachelor Girl'' (1929) - Jimmy * ''

New Orleans New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans

Two Men and a Maid ''Two Men and a Maid'' is a 1929 American romantic drama film directed by George Archainbaud and starring William Collier Jr., Alma Bennett and Eddie Gribbon.Pitts p.409 Premise Wrongly believing that his wife has another lover, a man enlists i ...

'' (1929) - Jim Oxford * ''

The College Coquette ''The College Coquette'' is a 1929 American drama film directed by George Archainbaud and written by Norman Houston. The film stars Ruth Taylor, William Collier Jr., Jobyna Ralston, John Holland, Adda Gleason and Gretchen Hartman. The film w ...

'' (1929) - Tom Marion * ''

The Show of Shows ''The Show of Shows'' is a 1929 American pre-Code musical revue film directed by John G. Adolfi and distributed by Warner Bros. The all-talking Vitaphone production cost $850,000 and was shot almost entirely in Technicolor. ''The Show of Sh ...

'' (1929) - Performer in 'Bicycle Built for Two' Number * '' Lummox'' (1930) - Wally Wallenstein * ''

The Melody Man ''The Melody Man'' is a 1930 American Pre-Code drama musical film produced and distributed by Columbia Pictures. It was directed by Roy William Neill and starred John St. Polis, Alice Day and William Collier, Jr. The story is based on a Broadw ...

'' (1930) - Al Tyler * '' A Royal Romance'' (1930) - John Hale * ''

New Movietone Follies of 1930 ''New Movietone Follies of 1930'' is a 1930 American Pre-Code musical film released by Fox Film Corporation, directed by Benjamin Stoloff. The film stars El Brendel and Marjorie White who also costarred in Fox's ''Just Imagine'' in 1930. The ...

'' (1930) - Conrad Sterling * '' Rain or Shine'' (1930) - Bud Conway * ''

The March of Time ''The March of Time'' is an American newsreel series sponsored by Time Inc. and shown in movie theaters from 1935 to 1951. It was based on a radio news series broadcast from 1931 to 1945. The "voice" of both series was Westbrook Van Voorhis. ...

'' (1930) - Himself * '' Reducing'' (1931) - Johnnie Beasley * ''

Little Caesar Little Caesar may refer to: People * Ptolemy XV Philopator Philometor Caesar, nicknamed Caesarion ("Little Caesar"), last pharaoh of Egypt, son of Julius Caesar and Cleopatra * Little Caesar (singer) (1928-1994; birth name Harry Caesar) U.S. sing ...

'' (1931) - Tony Passa * '' Cimarron'' (1931) - The Kid * '' Broadminded'' (1931) - Jack Hackett * ''

Bought ''Bought'' is a 1931 American Pre-Code drama film produced and released by Warner Bros. and directed by Archie Mayo. The movie stars Constance Bennett and features Ben Lyon, Richard Bennett and Dorothy Peterson. It is based on the 1930 novel ' ...

'' (1931) - Reporter (uncredited) * ''

Street Scene A street scene () is a basic model for epic theater set forth by Bertolt Brecht Eugen Berthold Friedrich Brecht (10 February 1898 – 14 August 1956), known professionally as Bertolt Brecht, was a German theatre practitioner, playwright, and ...

'' (1931) - Sam Kaplan * '' The Big Gamble'' (1931) - Johnnie Ames * ''

Sporting Chance Sporting may refer to: *Sport, recreational games and play *Sporting (neighborhood), in Alexandria, Egypt Sports clubs * AC Sporting, a football club from Beirut, Lebanon * Alexandria Sporting Club, a sports club from Alexandria, Egypt *Real Sport ...

'' (1931) - Terry Nolan * ''

Soul of the Slums ''Soul of the Slums'' is a 1931 American Pre-Code crime melodrama directed by Frank R. Strayer from an original screenplay by W. Scott Darling. The film stars William Collier Jr., Blanche Mehaffey, and Murray Smith, and was released by Action Pi ...

'' (1931) - Jerry Harris * ''

The Secret Witness ''The Secret Witness'' is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film, directed by Thornton Freeland and starring Una Merkel, William Collier Jr. and Zasu Pitts.Goble p. 946 It is an adaptation of the novel ''Murder in the Gilded Cage'' by Sam Spewack. ...

'' (1931) - Arthur Jones - aka Casey * ''

Dancers in the Dark ''Dancers in the Dark'' is a 1932 American pre-Code film about a taxi dancer (Miriam Hopkins), a big band leader (Jack Oakie), and a gangster (George Raft). George Raft, billed sixth, was listed much lower in the cast than the size of his role ...

'' (1932) - Floyd Stevens * '' The County Fair'' (1932) - Jimmie Dolan * ''

The Phantom Express The Phantom Express is a 1932 American pre-Code mystery crime-drama directed by Emory Johnson and based on the Emory Johnson story. The film stars William Collier, Jr. as Bruce Harrington, Sally Blane as Carolyn Nolan and Hobart Bosworth ...

'' (1932) - Bruce Harrington * ''

Exposed Expose, exposé, or exposed may refer to: News sources * Exposé (journalism), a form of investigative journalism * '' The Exposé'', a British conspiracist website Film and TV Film * ''Exposé'' (film), a 1976 thriller film * ''Exposed'' (1932 ...

'' (1932) - Jim Harper * ''

The Fighting Gentleman ''The Fighting Gentleman'' is a 1932 American pre-Code sports drama film directed by Fred C. Newmeyer with William Collier, Jr. and Josephine Dunn in the leads.Pictorial History of the Talkies, p. 60 c.1958 by Daniel Blum (1958 1st edition on ...

'' (1932) - Jack Duncan aka The Fighting Gentleman * '' Speed Demon'' (1932) - 'Speed' Morrow *''

Behind Jury Doors ''Behind Jury Doors'' is a 1932 American pre-Code mystery film directed by B. Reeves Eason and starring Helen Chandler, William Collier Jr. and Blanche Friderici.Pitts, p. 329 Cast * Helen Chandler as Elsa Lanfield * William Collier Jr. as St ...

'' (1932) - Steve Mannon * ''

File 113 ''File 113'' is a 1933 American pre-Code mystery film directed by Chester Franklin and starring Lew Cody, Mary Nolan and June Clyde.Pitts p.25 Monsieur Lecoq, a Parisian detective solves a series of crimes. It is based on a story by the ninetee ...

'' (1933) - Prosper Botomy * '' Forgotten'' (1933) - Joseph Meyers * ''

The Story of Temple Drake ''The Story of Temple Drake'' is a 1933 American pre-Code drama film directed by Stephen Roberts and starring Miriam Hopkins and Jack La Rue. It tells the story of Temple Drake, a reckless woman in the American South who falls into the hands o ...

'' (1933) - Toddy Gowan *''

Her Secret ''Her Secret'' is a 1933 American comedy drama film directed by Warren Millais and starring Sari Maritza, William Collier Jr. and Alan Mowbray. It was released in the United Kingdom under the alternative title of ''The Girl from Georgia'', and wa ...

'' (1933) - Johnny Norton * ''

Public Stenographer ''Public Stenographer'' is a 1933 American Pre-Code romantic comedy. Stenographer Ann McNair (Lane) en route to a job mistakenly gets in the wrong car and ends up at a wild party thrown by Jim Martin (Collier). While in pursuit of McNair, Martin ...

'' (1934) - James 'Jimmy' Martin Jr. * ''

The People's Enemy ''The People's Enemy'' is a 1935 American crime film directed by Crane Wilbur, from a screenplay by Gordon Kahn and Edward Dean Sullivan, based on Sullivan's story. The film stars Preston Foster, Melvyn Douglas, and Charles Coburn Charle ...

'' (1935) - Tony Falcone (final film role)

References

Bibliography

*John Holmstrom, ''The Moving Picture Boy: An International Encyclopaedia from 1895 to 1995'', Norwich, Michael Russell, 1996, p. 16.

External links

* *
William Collier
at Virtual History American male stage actors American male film actors American male silent film actors 1902 births 1987 deaths 20th-century American male actors Male actors from New York City 20th-century American singers {{US-theat-actor-1900s-stub