Elisha Helm Calvert (born William Helm; June 27, 1863 – October 5, 1941) was an American film actor and director. He appeared in more than 170 films, as well as directing a further 60 titles.

Biography

He was born William Helm in

Madison, Wisconsin Madison is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is the List of municipalities in Wisconsin by population, second-most populous city in the state, with a population of 269,840 at the 2020 Uni ...

, (or in

Alexandria, Virginia Alexandria is an independent city (United States), independent city in Northern Virginia, United States. It lies on the western bank of the Potomac River approximately south of Washington, D.C., D.C. The city's population of 159,467 at the 2020 ...

), and died in

Hollywood, California Hollywood, sometimes informally called Tinseltown, is a List of districts and neighborhoods in Los Angeles, neighborhood and district in the Central Los Angeles, central region of Los Angeles County, California, within the city of Los Angeles. ...

. He was a

Spanish–American War The Spanish–American War (April 21 – August 13, 1898) was fought between Restoration (Spain), Spain and the United States in 1898. It began with the sinking of the USS Maine (1889), USS ''Maine'' in Havana Harbor in Cuba, and resulted in the ...

veteran who served in Cuba. He was a member of the Adventurers Club of New York. Calvert was raised in Madison and graduated from Central High School. He acted for a summer at the Fuller Opera House. After a military career from which he retired as a captain, he acted in stock theater, including working in Arizona, where he acted with

Theodore Roberts Theodore Roberts (October 8, 1861 – December 14, 1928) was an American film and stage actor. Early life Roberts was born in San Francisco, California. He was a cousin of the stage actress Florence Roberts. His choice of a career disap ...

. He also performed in vaudeville. For 18 years, he was a director, beginning with the Essanay Company. He also acted in films for Essanay. Calvert had a son, also named William Helm.

Selected filmography

* ''

From the Submerged ''From the Submerged'' is a 1912 American silent film, silent short film. The melodrama was written and directed by Theodore Wharton, and stars E.H. Calvert, Ruth Stonehouse, Mildred Weston, Dolores Cassinelli, Bryant Washburn and Billy Mason. It ...

'' (1912) * '' The Snare'' (1912) * '' One Wonderful Night'' (1914, director) - Chief Detective Steingall * ''The Showman'' (1914) * ''

The Slim Princess The Slim Princess may refer to: *''The Slim Princess'', a 1907 novel by George Ade * The Slim Princess (musical), a 1911 musical by Leslie Stuart and Henry Blossom; based on the novel by Ade *The Slim Princess (1915 film) ''The Slim Princess' ...

'' (1915, director) * ''The Crimson Wing'' (1915) - Count Ludwig von Leun-Walram * ''A Daughter of the City'' (1915) - Henry L. Bancroft * ''Vultures of Society'' (1916) - Raymond Raphael * ''According to the Code'' (1916) - Judge Andrews * The Wide, Wrong Way (

Essanay Essanay Studios, officially the Essanay Film Manufacturing Company, was an early American film, motion picture movie studio, studio. The studio was founded in 1907 in Chicago by George Kirke Spoor and Broncho Billy Anderson, Gilbert M. Anderson, ...

1917, director) * '' Branded'' (1920, director) * '' Affinities'' (1922) * '' Silent Evidence'' (1922, director) * '' The Silent Partner'' (1923) - Jim Harker * '' Why Men Leave Home'' (1924) - Arthur Phillips * ''

Bluff Bluff or The Bluff may refer to: Places Australia * Bluff, Queensland, Australia, a town * The Bluff, Queensland (Ipswich), a rural locality in the city of Ipswich * The Bluff, Queensland (Toowoomba Region), a rural locality * Bluff River (New ...

'' (1924) - Norbert Conroy * '' The Only Woman'' (1924) - Rodney Blake * ''

Inez from Hollywood ''Inez from Hollywood'' is a 1924 American silent drama film directed by Alfred E. Green. It was produced by Sam E. Rork with distribution through First National Pictures. The film is based on the short story ''The Worst Woman in Hollywood'' by ...

'' (1924) - Gardner * ''

East of Suez ''East of Suez'' is a term used in United Kingdom, British military and political discussions in reference to interests east of the Suez Canal, and may or may not include the Middle East.

'' (1925) - Sidney Forbes * '' Sally'' (1925) - Richard Farquar * ''

The Talker ''The Talker'' is a 1925 American silent drama film directed by Alfred E. Green and starring Anna Q. Nilsson, Lewis Stone Lewis Shepard Stone (November 15, 1879 – September 12, 1953) was an American film actor. He spent 29 years as a con ...

'' (1925) - Mr. Grayson * ''

Havoc havoc, Havoc, Havocs, Havok, or Havock may also refer to: People with the name * Havoc (musician) (born 1974), American rapper and record producer * Johnny Devine (born 1974), Canadian professional wrestler who uses the ring name Havok * Jimmy H ...

'' (1925) - Regimental Adjutant * ''

The Girl from Montmartre ''The Girl from Montmartre'' is a 1926 American silent romantic drama film directed by Alfred E. Green and starring Barbara La Marr in her last film role. It was distributed through First National on the day after La Marr died. Plot As descr ...

'' (1926) - Lord Robert Hautrive * ''

Ella Cinders ''Ella Cinders'' is an American syndicated comic strip created by writer Bill Conselman and artist Charles Plumb. Distributed for most of its run by United Feature Syndicate, the daily version was launched June 1, 1925, and a Sunday page fol ...

'' (1926) - Studio Actor (uncredited) * ''

The House Without a Key ''The House Without a Key'' is a 1925 novel by Earl Derr Biggers, the first of the Charlie Chan mysteries. Set in 1920s Hawaii, the novel acquaints the reader with the look and feel of the islands from the standpoint of both white and non-white ...

'' (1926, Serial) - Dan Winterclip * '' Melting Millions'' (1927) * '' Rookies'' (1927) - Colonel * '' The First Auto'' (1927) - Elmer Hays (uncredited) * ''

Lonesome Ladies ''Lonesome Ladies'' is a 1927 American comedy film directed by Joseph Henabery and written by Winifred Dunn. The film stars Lewis Stone, Anna Q. Nilsson, Jane Winton, Doris Lloyd, Edward Martindel and Fritzi Ridgeway. The film was released on Ju ...

'' (1927) - Mr. Burton * ''

The Wizard Wizard, the wizard, or wizards may refer to: * Wizard (fantasy), a fictional practitioner of magic * Wizard (supernatural), a practitioner of magic Art, entertainment and media Fictional characters * Wizard (Archie Comics), a comic book supe ...

'' (1927) - Edwin Palmer * ''

West Point The United States Military Academy (USMA), commonly known as West Point, is a United States service academies, United States service academy in West Point, New York that educates cadets for service as Officer_(armed_forces)#United_States, comm ...

'' (1927) - Superintendent (uncredited) * ''

The Man Without a Face ''The Man Without a Face'' is a 1993 American drama film starring and directed by Mel Gibson, in his feature film directorial debut. The film is based on Isabelle Holland's 1972 novel of the same name. Gibson's direction received positive rev ...

'' (1928, Serial) * ''Let 'Er Go Gallegher'' (1928) - City Editor * ''

The Legion of the Condemned ''The Legion of the Condemned'' (aka ''Legion of the Condemned'') is a 1928 American silent drama film directed by William A. Wellman and produced by Jesse L. Lasky, Wellman, and Adolph Zukor and distributed by Paramount Pictures.Wynne 1987, p ...

'' (1928) - Commandant * ''

Why Sailors Go Wrong ''Why Sailors Go Wrong'' is a 1928 American silent comedy film directed by Henry Lehrman and written by Randall Faye and Delos Sutherland. The film stars Sammy Cohen, Ted McNamara, Sally Phipps, Nick Stuart, E. H. Calvert, and Carl Miller. T ...

'' (1928) - Cyrus Green * ''

4 Devils ''4 Devils'' (also known as ''Four Devils'') is a lost 1928 American Synchronized sound drama film directed by German director F. W. Murnau and starring Janet Gaynor. While the 1928 version of the film had no audible dialog, it was released w ...

'' (1928) * ''

Moran of the Marines ''Moran of the Marines'' is a lost 1928 American comedy silent film directed by Frank R. Strayer and written by Ray Harris, Agnes Brand Leahy, George Marion Jr., Sam Mintz and Linton Wells. The film stars Richard Dix, Ruth Elder, Roscoe Karns ...

'' (1928) - Gen. Marshall * '' Prep and Pep'' (1928) - Col. Marsh * ''

The City of Youth ''The City of Youth'' is a 1928 British silent drama film directed by E. H. Calvert and starring Betty Faire, Lilian Oldland and J. Fisher White.Wood p.65 Cast * Betty Faire as Barbara * Lilian Oldland as Brownie * J. Fisher White as Patr ...

'' (1928, director) * ''

The Canary Murder Case ''The "Canary" Murder Case'' (1927) is a murder mystery novel which deals with the murders of an attractive nightclub singer known as "the Canary," and, eventually, her boyfriend, solved by Philo Vance. S. S. Van Dine's classic whodunnit, sec ...

'' (1929) - Dist. Atty. John F.X. Markham * '' Blue Skies'' (1929) - Mr. Semple Jones (episode 1) * '' The Studio Murder Mystery'' (1929) - Grant (uncredited) * ''

Thunderbolt A thunderbolt or lightning bolt is a symbolic representation of lightning when accompanied by a loud thunderclap. In Indo-European mythology, the thunderbolt was identified with the 'Sky Father'; this association is also found in later Hel ...

'' (1929) - Dist. Atty. McKay * '' Dark Streets'' (1929) - Police Lieutenant * '' The Greene Murder Case'' (1929) - Dist. Atty. John F.X. Markham * ''

Fast Company ''Fast Company'' is an American business magazine published monthly in print and online, focusing on technology, business, and design. It releases six print issues annually. History ''Fast Company'' was founded in November 1995 by Alan Webb ...

'' (1929) - Platt * ''

Illusion An illusion is a distortion of the senses, which can reveal how the mind normally organizes and interprets sensory stimulation. Although illusions distort the human perception of reality, they are generally shared by most people. Illusions may ...

'' (1929) - Doctor (uncredited) * '' The Virginian'' (1929) - Judge Henry * ''

The Mighty ''The Mighty'' is a 1998 American coming of age buddy comedy-drama film directed by Peter Chelsom and written by Charles Leavitt. Based on the book '' Freak the Mighty'' by Rodman Philbrick, it stars Sharon Stone, Gena Rowlands, Gillian ...

'' (1929) - Major General * ''

The Love Parade ''The Love Parade'' is a 1929 American Pre-Code Hollywood, pre-Code musical comedy film, directed by Ernst Lubitsch and starring Maurice Chevalier and Jeanette MacDonald, involving the marital difficulties of Queen Louise of Sylvania (MacDonal ...

'' (1929) - Sylvanian Ambassador * '' Darkened Rooms'' (1929) - Mr. Clayton (uncredited) * '' Peacock Alley'' (1930) - Paul * ''

The Kibitzer ''The Kibitzer'' is a 1930 American pre-Code comedy film directed by Edward Sloman and written by Marion Dix, Sam Mintz and Viola Brothers Shore. It is based on the 1929 play ''The Kibitzer'' by Jo Swerling and Edward G. Robinson. The film s ...

'' (1930) - Westcott * ''

Behind the Make-Up Behind may refer to: * ''Behind'' (album), a 1992 album by Superior * Behind (Australian rules football), a method of scoring in Australian rules football, awarding one point * "Behind" (song), a 2008 single by Flanders * Behind (restaurant), in ...

'' (1930) - Dawson * '' Only the Brave'' (1930) - The Colonel * ''

Men Are Like That ''Men Are Like That'' is a 1930 American pre-Code drama film directed by Frank Tuttle and written by Herman J. Mankiewicz and Marion Dix, based on the George Kelly play ''The Show-Off'', which had already been the source material for a 1926 si ...

'' (1930) - Superintendent (uncredited) * '' The Benson Murder Case'' (1930) - Dist. Atty. John F.X. Markham * ''

Ladies Love Brutes ''Ladies Love Brutes'' is a 1930 American pre-Code comedy film The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with ...

'' (1930) - Committeeman (uncredited) * '' The Social Lion'' (1930) - Henderson * ''

The Border Legion ''The Border Legion'' is a 1916 Western novel written by Zane Grey, first published by Harper & Brothers in 1916. Plot It tells the story of a cold hearted man named Jack Kells who falls in love with Miss Joan Randle, a girl his legion has take ...

'' (1930) - Judge Savin * ''

A Man from Wyoming ''A Man from Wyoming'' is a 1930 American Pre-Code war romance film directed by Rowland V. Lee and starring Gary Cooper, June Collyer, and Regis Toomey. Written by Albert S. Le Vino and John V.A. Weaver, the film is about a man from Wyoming ...

'' (1930) - Maj. Gen. Hunter * ''

Let's Go Native ''Let's Go Native'' is a 1930 American pre-Code black-and-white musical comedy film, directed by Leo McCarey and released by ''Paramount Pictures''. The well-received picture anticipated McCarey’s success in future comedies, among these '' P ...

'' (1930) - Diner (uncredited) * ''

Half Shot at Sunrise ''Half Shot at Sunrise'' is a 1930 American pre-Code comedy film starring the comedy duo Wheeler & Woolsey and Dorothy Lee (actress), Dorothy Lee. Their fourth film together, it was the second starring vehicle for the two, following the success ...

'' (1930) - Gen. Hale (uncredited) * '' The Widow from Chicago'' (1930) - Police Captain R.L. Davis * ''

Beyond Victory ''Beyond Victory'' is a 1931 American pre-Code war film starring William Boyd (actor), Bill Boyd, James Gleason, Lew Cody, and ZaSu Pitts. While John S. Robertson, John Robertson received directing credit, Edward H. Griffith supposedly took exte ...

'' (1931) - Commanding Officer (uncredited) * ''

Graft Graft or grafting may refer to: *Graft (politics), a form of political corruption *Graft, Netherlands, a village in the municipality of Graft-De Rijp Science and technology *Graft (surgery), a surgical procedure *Grafting, the joining of plant ti ...

'' (1931) - Police Inspector (uncredited) * ''

Horse Feathers ''Horse Feathers'' is a 1932 American pre-Code comedy film starring the Marx Brothers. It stars the Four Marx Brothers ( Groucho, Harpo, Chico, and Zeppo), Thelma Todd and David Landau. It was written by Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby, S. J. Per ...

'' (1932) - Professor in Wagstaff's office (uncredited) * '' The Conquerors'' (1932) - Doctor * '' Wild Horse Mesa'' (1932) - Sheriff * '' The Mysterious Rider'' (1933) - Sheriff Matt Arnold * ''

The Power and the Glory ''The Power and the Glory'' is a 1940 novel by British author Graham Greene. The title is an allusion to the doxology often recited at the end of the Lord's Prayer: "For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever, amen." ...

'' (1933) - Board of Directors (uncredited) * '' Duck Soup'' (1933) - Officer in Battle Sequence (uncredited) * ''

The House of Rothschild ''The House of Rothschild'' is a 1934 American pre-Code historical drama film directed by Alfred L. Werker and starring George Arliss, Loretta Young and Boris Karloff. It was adapted by Nunnally Johnson from the play by George Hembert Westley ...

'' (1934) - Lord Chamberlain (uncredited) * '' Here Comes the Groom'' (1934) - George Randolph * ''

One Exciting Adventure ''One Exciting Adventure'' is a 1934 American comedy film directed by Ernst L. Frank and starring Binnie Barnes, Neil Hamilton and Paul Cavanagh.Goble p.229 It is a remake of the 1933 German film '' What Women Dream''. Cast * Binnie Barnes as R ...

'' (1934) - Casino Door Man (uncredited) * ''

The Mighty Barnum ''The Mighty Barnum'' is a 1934 film directed by Walter Land and starring Wallace Beery as P.T. Barnum. The movie was written by Gene Fowler and Bess Meredyth, adapted from their play of the same name. Beery had played Barnum four years earl ...

'' (1934) - House Detective (uncredited) * ''

Rumba The term rumba may refer to a variety of unrelated music styles. Originally, "rumba" was used as a synonym for "party" in northern Cuba, and by the late 19th century it was used to denote the complex of secular music styles known as Cuban rumba ...

'' (1935) - Police Captain (uncredited) * ''

So Red the Rose ''So Red the Rose'' is the only studio album by the Duran Duran-spinoff group Arcadia, released on 18 November 1985 by Parlophone. It included the singles " Election Day", " The Promise", " Goodbye Is Forever" and " The Flame". The album peake ...

'' (1935) - Cavalry Major (uncredited) * '' Death from a Distance'' (1935) - District Attorney * '' Western Courage'' (1935) - Colonel Austin * '' The Oregon Trail'' (1936) - Jim Ridgeley * '' Murder at Glen Athol'' (1936) - District Attorney McDougal * ''

The Glory Trail ''The Glory Trail'' is a 1936 American Western film. Directed by Lynn Shores, the film stars Tom Keene, Joan Barclay, and E. H. Calvert. It was released on September 15, 1936. Plot Cast * Tom Keene as Captain John Morgan * Joan Barclay a ...

'' (1936) - Colonel Strong * ''

Ellis Island Ellis Island is an island in New York Harbor, within the U.S. states of New Jersey and New York (state), New York. Owned by the U.S. government, Ellis Island was once the busiest immigrant inspection and processing station in the United State ...

'' (1936) - Commissioner H.L. Carson (uncredited) * ''

Union Pacific The Union Pacific Railroad is a Class I freight-hauling railroad that operates 8,300 locomotives over routes in 23 U.S. states west of Chicago and New Orleans. Union Pacific is the second largest railroad in the United States after BNSF, ...

'' (1939) - Major (uncredited) (final film role)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Calvert, E. H. 1863 births 1941 deaths American male film actors Male actors from Alexandria, Virginia Film directors from Virginia 20th-century American male actors American military personnel of the Spanish–American War American vaudeville performers