Frederic Richard "Dickie" Sullivan (sometimes credited as "Frederick"; 18 July 1872 – 24 July 1937), was an English-born American

film director A film director controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects and visualizes the screenplay (or script) while guiding the film crew and actors in the fulfilment of that vision. The director has a key role in choosing the cast members, p ...

and actor of the

silent era A silent film is a film with no synchronized 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) or key lines of dialogue may, wh ...

. He directed 34 films between 1913 and 1923. He also appeared in 29 films between 1913 and 1935. He also acted on stage. He was a nephew of the composer

Arthur Sullivan Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan (13 May 1842 – 22 November 1900) was an English composer. He is best known for 14 comic opera, operatic Gilbert and Sullivan, collaborations with the dramatist W. S. Gilbert, including ''H.M.S. Pinaf ...

Early life

Sullivan was born in

Pimlico Pimlico () is an area of Central London in the City of Westminster, built as a southern extension to neighbouring Belgravia. It is known for its garden squares and distinctive Regency architecture. Pimlico is demarcated to the north by London V ...

in London, England, the son of Fred Sullivan and Charlotte Louisa Lacy (1841–1885). His uncle was composer

. He had seven brothers and sisters: Amy Sophie (1863–1947), Florence Louise (1865–1891), Edith Mary (1866–1877), Herbert "Bertie" Thomas (1868–1928), Maud "Cissie" Helen (1870–1940), George Arthur (1874–1919) and William Lacy (1877–1902). Sullivan's father died in 1877, leaving his pregnant mother with seven children under the age of 14. After his father's death, Sullivan's uncle Arthur visited the family often and became guardian to all of the children. In 1881, Charlotte married Captain Benjamin Hutchinson, a man 13 years her junior. In December 1883, at the urging of Charlotte's brother, William Lacy, the family emigrated to Los Angeles, California, in the United States, except for Sullivan's eldest brother, Bertie, who stayed with their uncle Arthur in London. Charlotte died in January 1885, barely a year after the move to the U.S. Sullivan's stepfather, Hutchinson, unable to cope with this loss and his responsibilities, soon returned to England, leaving the six surviving children (Edith had died) to be brought up mostly by their uncle William, with the financial support of their uncle Arthur. In 1885, the family went on a sightseeing trip of the American West with their visiting uncle Arthur, who continued to support the family until his death in 1900 and in his will.

Career, marriage and children

Sullivan directed at least 34 films, during the

, between 1913 and 1923. He also acted in at least 29 films between 1913 and 1935, including the Marx Brothers film ''

Duck Soup Duck soup may refer to: * ''Duck Soup'' (1933 film), starring the Marx Brothers * ''Duck Soup'' (1927 film), featuring Laurel and Hardy * Oritang, Korean duck soup * "Duck Soup", an episode of '' Even Stevens'' * "Duck Soup", a song by Baba Broo ...

'', and he appeared on stage, including in several Broadway shows, from 1905 to 1931. Sullivan married Kate Webb in 1902, and the couple had two daughters, Helen Mary (1906–1966) and Sheila (born 1919). Kate died in 1921, and Sullivan died in Los Angeles, California at the age of 65.Genealogy record for Frederic Richard Sullivan
1998, accessed 20 January 2010

Selected filmography

;As director *''Cymbeline'' (1913) *'' The Country Girl'' (1915) *''

Divorce and the Daughter ''Divorce and the Daughter'' is a 1916 American silent drama film directed by Frederic Richard Sullivan. The film stars Florence La Badie, Edwin Stanley, Ethelmary Oakland and Kathryn Adams. Plot Alicia is a poor girl living in the city with he ...

'' (1916) * '' Her Life and His'' (1917) *''

The Courtship of Miles Standish ''The Courtship of Miles Standish'' is an 1858 narrative poem by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow about the early days of Plymouth Colony, the colonial settlement established in America by the ''Mayflower'' Pilgrims. Overview ''Th ...

'' (1923) ;As actor *'' The Face on the Bar-Room Floor'' (1923) – Thomas Waring *'' Beggar on Horseback'' (1925) – Dr. Rice *''

The Mating Call ''The Mating Call'' is a 1928 American silent drama film about a soldier who returns home from World War I to find his marriage has been annulled and his wife has remarried. The film was produced by Howard Hughes for his Caddo Corporation, an ...

'' (1928) – Uncredited *''

The Black Watch The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 SCOTS) is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The regiment was created as part of the Childers Reforms in 1881, when the 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment ...

'' (1929) – General's Aide *'' Monkey Business'' (1931) – Pickpocket Victim #1 *''

'' (1933) – Second Judge *''

You're Telling Me! ''You're Telling Me!'' is a 1934 pre-Code comedy film directed by Erle C. Kenton and starring W.C. Fields. It is a remake of the silent film ''So's Your Old Man'' (1926), also starring Fields. Both films are adapted from the story ''Mr. Bisbee� ...

'' (1934) – Mr. Edward Quimby Murchison *''

Thirty Day Princess ''Thirty Day Princess'' is a 1934 pre-Code comedy film directed by Marion Gering and starring Sylvia Sidney, Cary Grant and Edward Arnold. The film was based on a story of the same name by Clarence Budington Kelland (which appeared in ''Ladies' ...

'' (1934) – Doctor at Gresham's

Notes

References

*Hayes, Scott. ''Uncle Arthur: The California Connection'' (2002; expanded 2nd ed. 2008) Sir Arthur Sullivan Society * * *

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Sullivan, Frederick 1872 births 1937 deaths English film directors English male film actors English male silent film actors People associated with Gilbert and Sullivan Male actors from London 20th-century English male actors British emigrants to the United States