Charles J. Richman (January 12, 1865 – December 1, 1940) was an American stage and

film actor An actor (masculine/gender-neutral), or actress (feminine), is a person who portrays a character in a production. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. ...

who appeared in more than 60 films between 1914 and 1939. Richman was born in the Kenwood Section of

Chicago, Illinois Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

. After receiving a public-school education, he attended the Chicago College of Law at night. His interest turned from

law Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior, with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been variously described as a science and as the ar ...

to theater after he began acting in amateur productions at the Carleton Club and a millionaire offered to sponsor a touring company headed by Richman. That project led Richman to New York. Long before entering films Richman acted in the legitimate theatre. His work on Broadway began with portraying Horst von Neuhoff in ''The Countess Gucki'' (1896) and ended with playing Grandfather Trenchard in ''And Stars Remain'' (1936). In 1906 he founded The Garrick Theatre Stock Company, a troupe in residence at Broadway's Garrick Theatre. Richman served as both star and director for the company's first play, David Gray's '' Gallops'', which premiered on February 12, 1906. In Hollywood, Richman often played supporting roles as a dignified authoritarian figures like General Tufto in the first Technicolor film '' Becky Sharp'' (1935) and Judge Thatcher in ''

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer ''The Adventures of Tom Sawyer'' (also simply known as ''Tom Sawyer'') is a novel by Mark Twain published on June 9, 1876, about a boy, Tom Sawyer, growing up along the Mississippi River. It is set in the 1830s-1840s in the town of St. Petersbu ...

'' (1938). Richman was married to the former Jane Grey for 40 years. They had a son and a daughter. On December 1, 1940, Richman died in the Brady Nursing Home in

The Bronx, New York The Bronx ( ) is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the U.S. state of New York. It shares a land border with Westchester County to its north; to its south and west, the New York City bo ...

, aged 70.

Partial filmography

*'' The Man From Home'' (1914) as Daniel Voorhees Pike *''The Idler'' (1914) as Mark Cross *'' The Battle Cry of Peace'' (1915) as John Harrison *''The Heights of Hazard'' (1915) as Billy Williams * '' The Surprises of an Empty Hotel'' (1916) as Francis Trehurn Marchmont *'' The Hero of Submarine D-2'' (1916) as Lt. Commander Colton *''The Dawn of Freedom'' (1916) as Richard Cartwright *''The Secret Kingdom'' (1916) as Prince Philip / Phil Barr *''The More Excellent Way'' (1917) as John Warburton * '' Public Be Damned'' (1917) as John Black * '' Over There'' (1917) as Montgomery Jackson *'' The Hidden Truth'' (1919) as Charles Taylor *'' The Echo of Youth'' (1919) as Peter Graham * '' Everybody's Business'' (1919) as Tom Oakes *'' Harriet and the Piper'' (1920) as Richard Carter *'' Half an Hour'' (1920) as Richard Garson *''

Curtain A curtain is a piece of cloth or other material intended to block or obscure light, air drafts, or (in the case of a shower curtain) water. Curtains are often hung on the inside of a building's windows to block the passage of light. For instan ...

'' (1920) as Dick Cunningham *''Trust Your Wife'' (1921) *'' The Sign on the Door'' (1921) as 'Lafe' Regan *'' My Friend the Devil'' (1922) as George Dryden *'' Has the World Gone Mad!'' (1923) as Mr. Bell *'' The College Hero'' (1927) as The Dean (uncredited) *'' The Struggle'' (1931) as Mr. Craig *'' Take a Chance'' (1933) as Andrew Raleigh *'' His Double Life'' (1933) as Witt *'' The President Vanishes'' (1934) as Judge Corcoran *'' Biography of a Bachelor Girl'' (1935) as Mr. Orrin Kinnicott *'' After Office Hours'' (1935) as Jordan *''

George White's 1935 Scandals ''George White's 1935 Scandals'' is an American musical film, written by Jack Yellen, directed by George White and Harry Lachman, and produced in 1935 by Fox Film Corporation. It was a follow-up to (but not a sequel to) the 1934 release, ' ...

'' (1935) as Charlie Harriman (uncredited) *'' The Case of the Curious Bride'' (1935) as C. Phillip Montaine *'' Becky Sharp'' (1935) as Gen. Tufto *'' The Glass Key'' (1935) as Senator John T. Henry *'' Thanks a Million'' (1935) as Gov. Wildman (uncredited) *'' In Old Kentucky'' (1935) as Pole Shattuck *'' Strike Me Pink'' (1936) as Professor (uncredited) *'' My Marriage'' (1936) as H.J. Barton *'' Champagne Charlie'' (1936) as Avory (uncredited) *'' The Ex-Mrs. Bradford'' (1936) as Mr. Curtis, Turf Club President (uncredited) *'' Parole!'' (1936) as John 'Jack' Driscoll *''

I'd Give My Life ''I'd Give My Life'' is a 1936 American drama film directed by Edwin L. Marin and written by George O'Neil based upon the play '' The Noose''. The film stars Guy Standing, Frances Drake, Tom Brown, Janet Beecher, Robert Gleckler, and Helen Lowe ...

'' (1936) as Attorney Bill Chase *''

Don't Turn 'Em Loose ''Don't Turn 'Em Loose'' is a 1936 American crime drama film directed by Ben Stoloff and produced by RKO Radio Pictures, who released the film on September 18, 1936. Written by Harry Segall and Ferdinand Reyher, the production's screenplay is a ...

'' (1936) as Paul, the Governor (uncredited) * '' In His Steps'' (1936) as Robert Brewster *''

Under Your Spell ''Under Your Spell'' is a 1936 American romantic comedy film with music directed by Otto Preminger. The screenplay by Frances Hyland and Saul Elkins is based on a story by Sy Bartlett and Bernice Mason. It was a remake of the American Spanish-l ...

'' (1936) as Uncle Bob *''

Sing Me a Love Song ''Sing Me a Love Song'' is a 1936 American musical film directed by Ray Enright and written by Sig Herzig and Jerry Wald. The film stars James Melton, Patricia Ellis, Hugh Herbert, ZaSu Pitts, Allen Jenkins and Nat Pendleton. The Warner Bros. fi ...

'' (1936) as Mr. Malcolm (uncredited) *'' Stella Dallas'' (1937) as Stephen Dallas Sr., Suicide Victim (uncredited) *''

The Life of Emile Zola ''The Life of Emile Zola'' is a 1937 American biographical film about the 19th-century French author Émile Zola starring Paul Muni and directed by William Dieterle. It premiered at the Los Angeles Carthay Circle Theatre to great critical and ...

'' (1937) as M. Delagorgue *'' Make a Wish'' (1937) as Wagner *''

Fit for a King ''Fit for a King'' is a 1937 American comedy film starring Joe E. Brown and directed by Edward Sedgwick. Plot Newspaper reporter "Scoop (term), Scoops" is sent out on assignment, to investigate the failed assassination attempts on Archduke Jul ...

'' (1937) as Reception Guest (uncredited) *'' Nothing Sacred'' (1937) as Mayor (uncredited) *''

Lady Behave! ''Lady Behave!'' is a 1938 American film directed by Lloyd Corrigan. The sophisticated comedy was released by Republic Pictures. Plot Prior to leaving for Haiti, two sisters and their godfather/legal advisor are having a holiday in New Orle ...

'' (1937) as Howell *'' Blondes at Work'' (1938) as Judge Wilson *''

'' (1938) as Judge Thatcher *''

Holiday A holiday is a day or other period of time set aside for festivals or recreation. ''Public holidays'' are set by public authorities and vary by state or region. Religious holidays are set by religious organisations for their members and are often ...

'' (1938) as Thayer (uncredited) *''

Personal Secretary ''Personal Secretary'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by Otis Garrett and written by Betty Laidlaw, Robert Lively and Charles Grayson. The film stars William Gargan, Joy Hodges, Andy Devine, Ruth Donnelly, Samuel S. Hinds and Fran ...

'' (1938) as Judge Barnes (uncredited) *'' The Cowboy and the Lady'' (1938) as Dillon *''

Devil's Island The penal colony of Cayenne ( French: ''Bagne de Cayenne''), commonly known as Devil's Island (''Île du Diable''), was a French penal colony that operated for 100 years, from 1852 to 1952, and officially closed in 1953, in the Salvation Islan ...

'' (1939) as Governor Beaufort *'' The Man Who Dared'' (1939) as Mayor Lawton (uncredited) *''

Dark Victory ''Dark Victory'' is a 1939 American melodrama film directed by Edmund Goulding, starring Bette Davis, and featuring George Brent, Humphrey Bogart, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Ronald Reagan, Henry Travers, and Cora Witherspoon. The screenplay by Casey ...

'' (1939) as Colonel Mantle *'' Torchy Runs for Mayor'' (1939) as Mayor John Saunders *''

Exile Express ''Exile Express'' is a 1939 American drama film directed by Otis Garrett and starring Anna Sten, Alan Marshal and Jerome Cowan. Plot After being wrongly implicated in the murder of her scientist boss by foreign agents, a young immigrant woma ...

'' (1939) as Judge (uncredited)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Richman, Charles 1865 births 1940 deaths Burials at Ferncliff Cemetery American male silent film actors Male actors from Chicago 20th-century American male actors