David Dunbar (14 September 1886 – 7 November 1953) was an Australian

film actor An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), lit ...

. Dunbar was a prominent actor in American and British

silent films 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) ...

, particularly in westerns,Wooley p.19 but switched to playing more minor roles after the arrival of

sound In physics, sound is a vibration that propagates as an acoustic wave, through a transmission medium such as a gas, liquid or solid. In human physiology and psychology, sound is the ''reception'' of such waves and their ''perception'' by ...

. In later years he appeared mostly in British-themed Hollywood films. He was one of the first film actors beginning his screen career with Pathe Freres,

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. ...

in 1910. Previously he was an actor on the legitimate stage both in Australia, his homeland and in

Britain Britain most often refers to: * The United Kingdom, a sovereign state in Europe comprising the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands * Great Britain, the largest island in the United King ...

. On 7 March 1926 his wife Blanche was killed in a car collision in the

Hollywood Hills The Hollywood Hills are a residential neighborhood in the central region of Los Angeles, California. Geography The Hollywood Hills straddle the Cahuenga Pass within the Santa Monica Mountains. The neighborhood touches Studio City, Unive ...

. He had one sister, Miriam Kathleen (Strachan) Dunbar who remained in Petersham,

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

. Miriam married William Thomas Strachan, the children of that marriage being Miriam Kathleen and William James Strachan. William James (Bill) returned from the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

to Australia and settled with his wife Barbara (Grant) Strachan in Sydney and later in

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/ Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a me ...

, Victoria, bringing up three children, Susan Marion, William Grant and Scott James Strachan. The Strachan family included Graeme Ronald (Shirley) Strachan, a media personality and lead singer of the 1970s rock group ''

Skyhooks Skyhook, sky hook or skyhooks may refer to: Fiction * 'Skyhooks' or 'Skyhooks II', parts 1 and 8 respectively of the Adventure Time Elements miniseries. * ''Sky Hook'', a Hugo-award nominated science fiction fanzine * ''Sky Hook'' (film), a ...

''. Miriam Kathleen married Ronald George Fordham, who perished as a prisoner of war in

Malaya Malaya refers to a number of historical and current political entities related to what is currently Peninsular Malaysia in Southeast Asia: Political entities * British Malaya (1826–1957), a loose collection of the British colony of the Straits ...

during the Second World War. Miriam Kathleen died in 1944, leaving Brian Ronald and Joan Fordham.

Partial filmography

*'' Leatherstocking'' (1924) - Chingachgook *'' The Fortieth Door'' (1924) - Andy McLean *'' Trail Dust'' (1924) - Joe Paden *''Shootin' Square'' (1924) - (uncredited) *'' North of 36'' (1924) - Dell Williams *''

Ridin' the Wind ''Ridin' the Wind'' is a 1925 American silent Western film directed by Del Andrews and starring Fred Thomson, Jacqueline Gadsdon Jacqueline Gadsden (August 3, 1900 – August 10, 1986) was an American film actress during the silent era. ...

'' (1924) * '' Fair Play'' (1925) - Bull Mong *'' Galloping Vengeance'' (1925) - Duke Granby *''

The White Desert ''The White Desert'' is a 1925 American silent drama film directed by Reginald Barker. The film stars Claire Windsor and Pat O'Malley, with Robert Frazer, Frank Currier, and Sōjin Kamiyama. It is written by Monte M. Katterjohn and Gordon Rig ...

'' (1925) * '' The Bloodhound'' (1925) - Rambo *''

'' (1925) - Leader of the Black Hat Gang *''A Man of Nerve'' (1925) - Rangey Greer *'' The Cowboy Musketeer'' (1925) - Tony Vaquerrelli *'' Beyond the Rockies'' (1926) - Cottle *''

The Non-Stop Flight The Non-Stop Flight is a 1926 American silent melodrama directed by Emory Johnson. FBO released the film in March 1926. The film's "All-Star" cast included Knute Erickson and Marcella Daly. Emilie Johnson, Johnson's mother, wrote both the stor ...

'' (1926) - Captain Karl Kruger *''

The Galloping Cowboy ''The Galloping Cowboy'' is a 1926 American silent Western film directed by William James Craft and starring Bill Cody and Edmund Cobb.Darby p.404 Cast * Bill Cody as Bill Crane * Alex Hart as Pete Perry (Bill's Uncle) * Edmund Cobb as Jack ...

'' (1926) - Pedro *''The Fighting Marine'' (1927) *'' The Arizona Whirlwind'' (1927) - Bert Hawley *''

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) - (uncredited) *''

The Broncho Buster ''The Bronco Buster'' (also ''The Broncho Buster'' per convention at the time of sculpting) is a sculpture made of bronze copyrighted in 1895 by American artist Frederic Remington. It portrays a rugged cowboy character fighting to stay aboard ...

'' (1927) - Curtis Harris *'' The Fighting Hombre'' (1927) - 'Goldstud' Hopkins *''

The Boy Rider ''The Boy Rider'' is a 1927 American silent Western film directed by Louis King and starring Buzz Barton, Lorraine Eason and Sam Nelson. Cast * Buzz Barton as David Hepner * Lorraine Eason as Sally Parker * Sam Nelson as Terry McNeil * D ...

'' (1927) - Bill Hargus *''

Gold from Weepah ''Gold from Weepah'' is a 1927 American silent Western film directed by William Bertram and starring Bill Cody, Doris Dawson and Dick La Reno. Cast * Bill Cody as Bill Carson * Doris Dawson as Elsie Blaine * Dick La Reno * Joseph Harrin ...

'' (1927) *'' The Streets of London'' (1929) - Gideon Bloodgood *'' The Second Mate'' (1929) - Jack Arkwright *'' Human Cargo'' (1929) - Inspector Benson *'' Three Men in a Cart'' (1929) *'' Plunging Hoofs'' (1929) - 'Squint' Jones *'' Downstream'' (1929) - Digger Brent *''

The Return of Dr. Fu Manchu ''The Return of Dr. Fu Manchu'' is a 1930 American pre-Code film directed by Rowland V. Lee. It is the second of three films starring Warner Oland as the fiendish Fu Manchu, who returns from apparent death in the previous film, '' The Mysteriou ...

'' (1930) - Detective Lawrence (uncredited) * '' Shock'' (1934) - Sergeant Matthews (uncredited) *'' One More River'' (1934) - Chauffeur at Station (uncredited) *''

Clive of India Robert Clive, 1st Baron Clive, (29 September 1725 – 22 November 1774), also known as Clive of India, was the first British Governor of the Bengal Presidency. Clive has been widely credited for laying the foundation of the Britis ...

'' (1935) - Clerk (uncredited) *''

Les Misérables ''Les Misérables'' ( , ) is a French historical novel by Victor Hugo, first published in 1862, that is considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century. In the English-speaking world, the novel is usually referred to by its original ...

'' (1935) - Gendarme in Prefect's Office (uncredited) *'' A Feather in Her Hat'' (1935) - Truck Driver (uncredited) *'' The Great Impersonation'' (1935) - English Farmer (uncredited) *''

Little Lord Fauntleroy ''Little Lord Fauntleroy'' is a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It was published as a serial in ''St. Nicholas Magazine'' from November 1885 to October 1886, then as a book by Scribner's (the publisher of ''St. Nicholas'') in 1886. The il ...

'' (1936) - Jeffries - Carriage Driver (uncredited) *''

Under Two Flags Under Two Flags may refer to: *Under Two Flags (novel), a novel by British writer Ouida, and its adaptations: **Under Two Flags (play), a 1901 play by Paul M. Potter **Under Two Flags (1912 George Nichols film), ''Under Two Flags'' (1912 George Nich ...

'' (1936) - Chasseur Officer (uncredited) *''

Dracula's Daughter ''Dracula's Daughter'' is a 1936 American vampire horror film produced by Universal Pictures as a sequel to the 1931 film ''Dracula''. Directed by Lambert Hillyer from a screenplay by Garrett Fort, the film stars Otto Kruger, Gloria Holden ...

'' (1936) - Motor Bobby (uncredited) *'' Bulldog Drummond's Peril'' (1938) - Constable (uncredited) *'' A Christmas Carol'' (1938) - (uncredited) *'' Rulers of the Sea'' (1939) - Boatswain (uncredited) *'' The Earl of Chicago'' (1940) - Plowman (uncredited) *'' Escape to Glory'' (1940) - Sailor (uncredited) *''

Those Were the Days! ''Those Were the Days!'' is a 1940 comedy film directed by Theodore Reed and starring William Holden and Bonita Granville.

'' (1940) - Bakeman (uncredited) *'' North West Mounted Police'' (1940) - Vitale (uncredited) *'' Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'' (1941) - Footman (uncredited) *'' The Blonde from Singapore'' (1941) - Turnkey (uncredited) *''

Confirm or Deny ''Confirm or Deny'' is a 1941 film made by 20th Century Fox, directed by Archie Mayo and Fritz Lang (uncredited), and starring by Don Ameche and Joan Bennett. The screenplay was written by Jo Swerling, based on a story by Samuel Fuller and Henry ...

'' (1941) - Workman (uncredited) *'' Mrs. Miniver'' (1942) - Man in Store (uncredited) *'' Green Dolphin Street'' (1947) - Captain's Voice (uncredited) *'' Forever Amber'' (1947) - Ruffian (uncredited) *'' If Winter Comes'' (1947) - Milkman (uncredited) *'' A Woman's Vengeance'' (1948) - Workman (uncredited) *'' Summer Holiday'' (1948) - Spirit of '76 (uncredited) *'' Kiss the Blood Off My Hands'' (1948) - Large Man (uncredited) *''

Joan of Arc Joan of Arc (french: link=yes, Jeanne d'Arc, translit= �an daʁk} ; 1412 – 30 May 1431) is a patron saint of France, honored as a defender of the French nation for her role in the siege of Orléans and her insistence on the corona ...

'' (1948) - English Soldier (uncredited) *'' Hills of Home'' (1948) - Barker for Whisky (uncredited) *'' Challenge to Lassie'' (1949) - Driver (uncredited) *'' That Forsyte Woman'' (1949) - Driver (uncredited) *'' Young Man with a Horn'' (1950) - Alcoholic Bum (uncredited) *''

The Milkman ''The Milkman'' is a 1950 American comedy film directed by Charles Barton and starring Donald O'Connor, Jimmy Durante and Piper Laurie. Plot Roger Bradley is denied a milkman job at his father's company because of his postwar trauma; when he ...

'' (1950) - Bill (uncredited) *''

Dallas Dallas () is the List of municipalities in Texas, third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of metropolitan statistical areas, fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 ...

'' (1950) - Prisoner (uncredited) *''

Soldiers Three ''Soldiers Three'' is a collection of short stories by Rudyard Kipling. The three soldiers of the title are Learoyd, Mulvaney and Ortheris, who had also appeared previously in the collection ''Plain Tales from the Hills''. The current version, d ...

'' (1951) - Cavalryman (uncredited) *'' The Law and the Lady'' (1951) - Driver (uncredited) *'' Thunder on the Hill'' (1951) - Minor Role (uncredited) *''The Lady and the Bandit'' (1951) - Coachman (uncredited) *'' Anne of the Indies'' (1951) - Capt. Crockett (uncredited) *'' The Son of Dr. Jekyll'' (1951) - Man in Bar (uncredited) *'' Million Dollar Mermaid'' (1952) - Minor Role (uncredited) *'' Rogue's March'' (1953) - Sgt. Major (uncredited) *'' Knock on Wood'' (1954) - English Desk Clerk (uncredited) (final film role)

References

Bibliography

*Low, Rachel. ''The History of British Film: Volume IV, 1918–1929''. Routledge, 1997. *Wooley, John. ''Shot in Oklahoma: A Century of Sooner State Cinema''. University of Oklahoma Press, 2012.

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Dunbar, David 1886 births 1953 deaths Australian male silent film actors People from Maitland, New South Wales 20th-century Australian male actors Australian expatriate male actors in the United States