Fred Groves (8 August 1880 – 4 June 1955) was a British actor of the celebrated Groves acting family. On stage from 1896, he appeared in the original West End production of

Noël Coward Sir Noël Peirce Coward (16 December 189926 March 1973) was an English playwright, composer, director, actor, and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what ''Time (magazine), Time'' called "a sense of personal style, a combination of c ...

's ''

Cavalcade A cavalcade is a procession or parade on horseback, or a mass distance ride by a company of riders. Sometimes the focus of a cavalcade is participation rather than display and the participants do not wear costumes or ride in formation. ...

'' (1931-2); and was a leading man in silent films, latterly becoming a character player in movies. He appeared in the 1925 play '' Number 17'' in the West End. He was a son of

Charles Groves Sir Charles Barnard Groves CBE (10 March 191520 June 1992) was an English conductor. He was known for the breadth of his repertoire and for encouraging contemporary composers and young conductors. After accompanying positions and conducting ...

(1843-1909), a well-known Victorian and Edwardian comedic actor who made appearances on Broadway and in London's West End. He was also a nephew of the

Fred Karno Frederick John Westcott (26 March 1865 – 17 September 1941), best known by his stage name Fred Karno, was an English theatre impresario of the British music hall. As a comedian of slapstick he is credited with popularising the custard-pie-in ...

comedian Walter Groves (1856-1906), and a half-brother to the film and stage actor Charles Groves (1875-1955). Among his feature film appearances was the comedy ''Sally In Our Alley''. It marked the screen debut of

Gracie Fields Dame Gracie Fields (born Grace Stansfield; 9 January 189827 September 1979) was a British actress, singer and comedian. A star of cinema and music hall, she was one of the top ten film stars in Britain during the 1930s and was considered the h ...

, an established

music hall Music hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment that was most popular from the early Victorian era, beginning around 1850, through the World War I, Great War. It faded away after 1918 as the halls rebranded their entertainment as Varie ...

star. Gracie's husband, the screenwriter

Archie Pitt Archie Pitt (1882 – 12 November 1940) was a British music hall performer, showman and talent agent. He is best known for his marriage to Gracie Fields whose career he managed. Archie Pitt's Band – a junior pit orchestra and revue band that t ...

was set to play the leading role of Alf Cope, but during the first week of filming, as Fields and Pitt were travelling back from shooting, their car crashed. Though Fields escaped injury, Pitt was forced to withdraw from the cast in order to recuperate. Due to his experience and availability, the role was quickly recast with Groves taking Pitt's place.

Selected filmography

* '' Maria Marten'' (1913, Short) - William Corder * ''Popsy Wopsy'' (1913) * '' The Suicide Club'' (1914) - The President * ''

The Loss of the Birkenhead ''The Loss of the Birkenhead'' is a 1914 British silent historical drama film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Elisabeth Risdon, Fred Groves and A. V. Bramble.Murphy p. 179 The film is set against the backdrop of the sinking of the troops ...

'' (1914) - Seth * '' Her Luck in London'' (1914) - Richard Lenowen * ''

The Idol of Paris ''Idol of Paris'' is a 1948 British film directed by Leslie Arliss and starring Beryl Baxter, Michael Rennie, Christine Norden and Andrew Cruickshank. It was written by Stafford Dickens, Norman Lee and Harry Ostrer, based on the 1935 novel ...

'' (1914) - Philippe Castelle * '' Honeymoon for Three'' (1915) - Cornelius V. Van Dam * '' Gilbert Gets Tiger-It is'' (1915, Short) - Gilbert * '' Gilbert Dying to Die'' (1915, Short) - Gilbert * ''

Florence Nightingale Florence Nightingale (; 12 May 1820 – 13 August 1910) was an English Reform movement, social reformer, statistician and the founder of modern nursing. Nightingale came to prominence while serving as a manager and trainer of nurses during th ...

'' (1915) - Doctor * '' From Shopgirl to Duchess'' (1915) - Duke of St. Baynum * '' The World's Desire'' (1915) - Sir Richard Bennett * '' Her Nameless Child'' (1915) - Arthur Ford * ''

Home A home, or domicile, is a space used as a permanent or semi-permanent residence for one or more human occupants, and sometimes various companion animals. Homes provide sheltered spaces, for instance rooms, where domestic activity can be p ...

'' (1915) - Steven Armitage * '' Mr. Lyndon at Liberty'' (1915) - Tom Morrison * '' Fine Feathers'' (1915) - Richard Dean * '' Charity Ann'' (1915) - Graham Trevor * '' A Will of Her Own'' (1915) - Dr. Blake * ''

The Firm of Girdlestone ''The Firm of Girdlestone'' is a novel by British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It was first published in 1890 by Chatto and Windus in London, England. In 1915 a silent film adaptation '' The Firm of Girdlestone'' was made. A 1958 BBC televis ...

'' (1915) - Ezra Girdlestone * '' Meg the Lady'' (1916) - Giles Curwen * ''

Esther Esther (; ), originally Hadassah (; ), is the eponymous heroine of the Book of Esther in the Hebrew Bible. According to the biblical narrative, which is set in the Achaemenid Empire, the Persian king Ahasuerus falls in love with Esther and ma ...

'' (1916, Short) - Haman * '' Driven'' (1916) - John Staffurth * ''The Two Roads'' (1916) - Reverend Basil Egerton * '' The Manxman'' (1916) - Pete Quillian - A fisherman * '' Mother Love'' (1916) - Alfie * ''Smith'' (1917) - Tom Freeman * ''

Drink A drink or beverage is a liquid intended for human consumption. In addition to their basic function of satisfying thirst, drinks play important roles in human culture. Common types of drinks include plain drinking water, milk, juice, smoothie ...

'' (1917) - Coupeau * ''

The Grit of a Jew ''The Grit of a Jew'' is a 1917 British silent drama film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Augustus Yorke, Manora Thew and Fred Groves.Murphy p.179 Cast * Augustus Yorke as Moses Levi * Manora Thew as Leah * Fred Groves as Russel ...

'' (1917) - Russell * ''

The Labour Leader ''The Labour Leader'' is a 1917 British silent film, silent drama film directed by Thomas Bentley (director), Thomas Bentley and starring Fred Groves (actor), Fred Groves, Fay Compton and Owen Nares. The film was based on an original screenplay b ...

'' (1917) - John Webster * '' Castle of Dreams'' (1919) - John Morton * '' London Pride'' (1920) - Cuthbert Tunks * '' Garryowen'' (1920) - Michael French * '' Judge Not'' (1920) - Burke * '' Squibs'' (1921) - PC Charlie Lee * ''

The Mayor of Casterbridge ''The Mayor of Casterbridge: The Life and Death of a Man of Character'' is an 1886 novel by the English author Thomas Hardy. One of Thomas Hardy's Wessex, Hardy's Wessex novels, it is set in a fictional rural England with Casterbridge standing ...

'' (1921) - Michael Henchard * ''

A Master of Craft ''A Master of Craft'' is a 1922 British silent comedy film directed by Thomas Bentley Thomas Bentley may refer to: * Thomas Bentley (director) Thomas Bentley (23 February 1884 – 23 December 1966) was a British film director. He directed ...

'' (1922) - Captain Flower * '' The Crimson Circle'' (1922) - Inspector Parr * '' Squibs Wins the Calcutta Sweep'' (1922) - P. C. Lee * '' Rogues of the Turf'' (1923) - Bill Higgins * '' Squibs M.P.'' (1923) - PC Charlie Lee * '' Squibs' Honeymoon'' (1923) - PC Charlie Lee * ''

Memories Memory is the faculty of the mind by which data or information is Encoding (memory), encoded, stored, and retrieved when needed. It is the retention of information over time for the purpose of influencing future Action (philosophy), action. I ...

'' (1925, Short) - The Husband * ''

Suspense Suspense is a state of anxiety or excitement caused by mysteriousness, uncertainty, doubt, or undecidedness. In a narrative work, suspense is the audience's excited anticipation about the plot or conflict (which may be heightened by a viol ...

'' (1930) - Pvt. Lomax * ''

Escape Escape or Escaping may refer to: Arts and media Film * ''Escape'' (1928 film), a German silent drama film * ''Escape!'' (film), a 1930 British crime film starring Austin Trevor and Edna Best * ''Escape'' (1940 film), starring Robert Taylor and ...

'' (1930) - Shopkeeper * '' Sally in Our Alley'' (1931) - Alf Cope * '' Out of the Blue'' (1931) - Bannister Blair * ''

The World, the Flesh, the Devil ''The World, the Flesh, the Devil'' is a 1932 British crime film directed by George A. Cooper and starring Harold Huth, Isla Bevan and Victor Stanley. It was based on a play by Laurence Cowen. It was shot at Beaconsfield and Twickenham Stu ...

'' (1932) - Dick Morgan * '' The Ghost Camera'' (1933) - Innkeeper * '' Puppets of Fate'' (1933) - Arthur Brandon * ''

A Glimpse of Paradise ''A Glimpse of Paradise'' is a 1934 British crime film directed by Ralph Ince and starring George Carney, Eve Lister and Wally Patch. It was made as a quota quickie at Teddington Studios by the British subsidiary of Warner Brothers.Wood p.82 It ...

'' (1934) - Joshua Ware * ''

The Old Curiosity Shop ''The Old Curiosity Shop'' is the fourth novel by English author Charles Dickens; being one of his two novels (the other being ''Barnaby Rudge'') published along with short stories in his weekly serial ''Master Humphrey's Clock'', from 1840 t ...

'' (1934) - Showman (uncredited) * '' Dance Band'' (1935) - Pantomime Act * ''

Beloved Imposter ''Beloved Imposter'' is a 1936 British musical film directed by Victor Hanbury and starring Rene Ray, Fred Conyngham and Germaine Aussey. It was made at Welwyn Studios and released as a quota film by RKO Pictures. It was written by Connery C ...

'' (1936) - Jack Harding * ''

Royal Cavalcade ''Royal Cavalcade'', also known as ''Regal Cavalcade'', is a 1935 British, black-and-white, drama film directed by six separate directors: Thomas Bentley (Supervising Director), Herbert Brenon, Norman Lee, Walter Summers, W. P. Kellino and M ...

'' (1936) - Sam Waldock * '' Second Bureau'' (1936) - Sgt. Colleret * '' The Squeaker'' (1937) - Martin (uncredited) * ''

Vessel of Wrath ''Vessel of Wrath'' is a 1938 British film directed by Erich Pommer, produced by Pommer, and starring Charles Laughton and Elsa Lanchester. It was based on the 1931 Somerset Maugham short story " The Vessel of Wrath". The film is also known as ...

'' (1938) - Dutch Sea Captain (uncredited) * '' The Viper'' (1938) - Inspector Bradlaw * '' The Challenge'' (1938) - Favre * '' Strange Boarders'' (1938) - (uncredited) * ''

No Parking ''No Parking'' is a 1938 British comedy film directed by Jack Raymond. The film features Charles Carson, Geraldo, Fred Groves, Gordon Harker and Leslie Perrins in the lead roles. The story was written by Carol Reed who later directed '' ...

'' (1938) - Walsh * '' Climbing High'' (1938) - Doorman (uncredited) * ''

21 Days ''21 Days'' (also known as ''21 Days Together'', ''The First and the Last'' and ''Three Weeks Together'') is a 1940 British drama film based on the short 1919 play ''The First and the Last (play), The First and the Last'' by John Galsworthy. It ...

'' (1940) - Barnes * ''

An Ideal Husband ''An Ideal Husband'' is a four-act play by Oscar Wilde that revolves around blackmail and political corruption, and touches on the themes of public and private honour. It was first produced at the Haymarket Theatre, London in 1895 and ran for ...

'' (1947) - Phipps, Goring's Butler * '' Night Beat'' (1947) - PC Kendall * '' My Brother Jonathan'' (1948) - Lisha Hodgkiss * '' My Brother's Keeper'' (1948) - Landlord * ''

Old Mother Riley's New Venture ''Old Mother Riley's New Venture'' is a low-budget black-and-white 1949 British comedy film, starring Arthur Lucan, Kitty McShane and Chili Bouchier. It is the twelfth in the long-running Old Mother Riley films, and was the first of the series ...

'' (1949) - Grigsby * '' Your Witness'' (1950) - Dart Player #6 (uncredited) * '' The Girl Who Couldn't Quite'' (1950) - Manservant * '' Up for the Cup'' (1950) - Hardcastle (final film role)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Groves, Fred Groves family 1880 births 1955 deaths English male stage actors English male film actors English male silent film actors Male actors from London 20th-century English male actors