Ralph Waldo Ince (January 16, 1887 – April 10, 1937) was an American pioneer film actor, director and screenwriter whose career began near the dawn of the

silent film era A silent film is a film without 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) ...

. Ralph Ince was the brother of John E. Ince and Thomas H. Ince.

Biography

Ralph Ince was born on January 16, 1887, in

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

, the youngest of three sons and a daughter raised by English immigrants, John and Emma Ince. Sometime after his birth Ince moved to Manhattan where his entire family was engaged in theater work; his father as a musical agent and mother, sister Bertha and brothers, John and Thomas as actors. Ralph Ince studied art with cartoonist Dan McCarthy and for a while worked as a newspaper cartoonist for the New York World and later magazine illustrator for the New York Mirror and The Evening Telegram. At times over his acting and directing career Ince would continue to contribute cartoons to popular magazines of the day. Early on in his career Ince, who had done some stage acting as a child, was a member of Richard Mansfield's stock company playing parts in '' The College Widow'' and '' Ben Hur''.Motion Picture Studio Directory and Trade Annual, 1921, p. 267 – Ancestry.com
/ref> Around 1906, Ince became an animator in the fledgling film industry working for

Winsor McCay Zenas Winsor McCay ( – July 26, 1934) was an American cartoonist and animator. He is best known for the comic strip ''Little Nemo'' (1905–1914; 1924–1927) and the animated film ''Gertie the Dinosaur'' (1914). For contractual reasons, he w ...

, but soon turned to acting and joined

Vitagraph Studios Vitagraph Studios, also known as the Vitagraph Company of America, was a United States motion picture studio. It was founded by J. Stuart Blackton and Albert E. Smith in 1897 in Brooklyn, New York, as the American Vitagraph Company. By 1907 ...

where he became known for his portrayals of

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was the 16th president of the United States, serving from 1861 until Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, his assassination in 1865. He led the United States through the American Civil War ...

in a series of one reel films. Ince began directing at Vitagraph around 1910 and was officially advanced to the director's chair in 1912, though he still continued to act in many of his films and throughout his career. Ince would go on to direct some 171 films between 1910 and 1937 and appear in approximately 110 films over nearly the same time period. Ince became a member of The Lambs Club in 1916, and his brother John joined in 1919.

Marriage

Ince married three times, first to Vitagraph player Lucille Lee Stewart, sister of actress

Anita Stewart Anita Stewart (born Anna Marie Stewart; February 7, 1895 – May 4, 1961) was an American actress and film producer of the early silent film era. Early years Anita Stewart was born in Brooklyn, New York, as Anna Marie Stewart on February 7, ...

. Their fifteen-year marriage ended in 1925, two years after she had left him. The following year he married Rosa Castro Martinez (stage name Lucille Mendez), an 18-year-old

Venezuelan Venezuelans (Spanish language, Spanish: ''venezolanos'') are the Citizenship, citizens identified with the country of Venezuela. This connection may be through citizenship, descent or cultural. For most Venezuelans, many or all of these connect ...

stage and screen actress, daughter of Venezuelan President

Cipriano Castro José Cipriano Castro Ruiz (12 October 1858 – 4 December 1924) was a Venezuelan politician and Officer (armed forces), officer of the National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela, military who served as president of Venezuela, president from ...

. This union ended in 1932 after she claimed Ince damaged her career by not allowing her to accept certain job offers. Ince's last wife was Helen Ruth Tigges, a native of

Frazee, Minnesota Frazee ( ) is a city in Becker County, Minnesota, United States. It is the second-most-populous city in Becker County. The population was 1,335 at the 2020 census. History The community was originally named Detroit and later Third Crossing b ...

. She was the mother of his only child, born just months before Ince's death at age fifty.

Death

Ralph Ince died in

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

, on April 10, 1937, aged 50, when a car his wife was driving struck an iron standard near their residence in the

Kensington Kensington is an area of London in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, around west of Central London. The district's commercial heart is Kensington High Street, running on an east–west axis. The north-east is taken up by Kensingt ...

district of London, England. The force of the impact, though not great, proved fatal to Ince when his head struck the dashboard. Helen Ince suffered cuts and bruises that required hospitalization. Ince and his wife had moved to Britain shortly after they had married in 1932 to continue his film work there. Ince was cremated at

Golders Green Golders Green is a suburb in the London Borough of Barnet in north London, northwest of Charing Cross. It began as a medieval small suburban linear settlement near a farm and public grazing area green, and dates to the early 19th century. It ...

Selected filmography

As director

* '' The Mills of the Gods'' (1912) * '' My Lady's Slipper'' (1916) * '' The Conflict'' (1916) * '' The Co-Respondent'' (1917) * '' Our Mrs. McChesney'' (1918) * '' The Panther Woman'' (1918) * '' The Eleventh Commandment'' (1918) * '' Five Thousand an Hour'' (1918) * '' Sealed Hearts'' (1919) * '' The Perfect Lover'' (1919) * '' Red Foam'' (1920) * ''

Out of the Snows ''Out of the Snows'' is a 1920 American silent drama film directed by Ralph Ince and starring Ince, Zena Keefe and Gladys Coburn. It was filmed on location in Lake Placid, New York, with Whiteface Mountain as a backdrop. Plot A member of th ...

'' (1920) * '' His Wife's Money'' (1920) * '' Tropical Love'' (1921) * '' The Highest Law'' (1921) * '' After Midnight'' (1921) * '' Remorseless Love'' (1921) * '' A Man's Home'' (1921) * '' Wet Gold'' (1921) * '' A Wide Open Town'' (1922) * ''

Reckless Youth Thomas Carter (born September 18, 1974) is an American retired Professional wrestling, professional wrestler, better known by his ring name: Reckless Youth. He has competed in numerous North American Independent circuit, independent Professiona ...

'' (1922) * '' The Referee'' (1922) * '' Counterfeit Love'' (1923) * '' The Chorus Lady'' (1924) * '' The House of Youth'' (1924) * '' The Uninvited Guest'' (1924) * '' Lady Robinhood'' (1925) * '' Smooth as Satin'' (1925) * '' Alias Mary Flynn'' (1925) * '' The Better Way'' (1926) * '' The Lone Wolf Returns'' (1926) * '' Breed of the Sea'' (1926) * '' The Sea Wolf'' (1926) * '' Bigger Than Barnum's'' (1926) * '' Home Struck'' (1927) * '' South Sea Love'' (1927) * '' Shanghaied'' (1927) * '' Enemies of Society'' (1927) * '' Not for Publication'' (1927) * ''

Coney Island Coney Island is a neighborhood and entertainment area in the southwestern section of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The neighborhood is bounded by Brighton Beach to its east, Lower New York Bay to the south and west, and Gravesend to ...

'' (1928) * '' Chicago After Midnight'' (1928) * '' Hit of the Show'' (1928) * ''

The Wreck of the Singapore ''The Wreck of the Singapore'', also known as ''The Singapore Mutiny'', is a 1928 American silent drama film directed by Ralph Ince and starring Ince, Estelle Taylor, and Jim Mason. Cast * Ralph Ince as Kelsey * Estelle Taylor as Daisy ...

'' (1928) * '' Danger Street'' (1928) * '' A Real Girl'' (1929) * ''

Hurricane A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system with a low-pressure area, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls. Depending on its ...

'' (1929) * '' Lucky Devils'' (1933) * '' Murder at Monte Carlo'' (1934) * '' A Glimpse of Paradise'' (1934) * '' Love at Second Sight'' (1934) * '' What's in a Name?'' (1934) * '' No Escape'' (1934) * ''

Crime Unlimited ''Crime Unlimited'' is a 1935 British crime film that was made as a Cinematograph Films Act 1927, Quota quickie. It was directed by Ralph Ince. The film marked the English-language debut of Lilli Palmer. Plot The Maddick gang pull off a diamond ...

'' (1935) * '' Rolling Home'' (1935) * '' The Black Mask'' (1935) * '' Blue Smoke'' (1935) * '' Gaol Break'' (1936) * '' Fair Exchange'' (1936) * '' Twelve Good Men'' (1936) * ''

Jury's Evidence ''Jury's Evidence'' is a 1936 British crime film directed by Ralph Ince and starring Hartley Power, Margaret Lockwood and Nora Swinburne. It was made at Beaconsfield Studios.Wood p.86 It was an early role for Margaret Lockwood. Cast * Hartley Pow ...

'' (1936) * '' Hail and Farewell'' (1936) * '' It's You I Want'' (1936) * '' The Perfect Crime'' (1937) * '' The Vulture'' (1937) * '' Side Street Angel'' (1937)

As actor

* '' Jean the Match-Maker'' (1910, Short) * ''

A Tale of Two Cities ''A Tale of Two Cities'' is a historical novel published in 1859 by English author Charles Dickens, set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. The novel tells the story of the French Doctor Manette, his 18-year-long impr ...

'' (1911, Short) – (uncredited) * '' The Child Crusoes'' (1911, Short) * ''The Sins of the Mothers'' (1914) – Mr. Raymond * ''The Land of Opportunity'' (1920) – Abraham Lincoln * ''

'' (1920) – Robert Holliday * ''The Bringers'' (1920) * '' The Highest Law'' (1921) – Abraham Lincoln * ''The Last Door'' (1921) * '' Wet Gold'' (1921) – John Cromwell * '' Channing of the Northwest'' (1922) * '' Yellow Fingers'' (1926) – Brute Shane * '' Bigger Than Barnum's'' (1926) – Carl Ravelle * '' The Sea Wolf'' (1926) – 'Wolf' Larsen * '' Breed of the Sea'' (1926) – Tod Pembroke, aka Captain Blaze Devine * '' The Better Way'' (1926) – Billy * '' Not for Publication'' (1927) – 'Big Dick' Wellman * '' Shanghaied'' (1927) – Hurricane Haley * '' Chicago After Midnight'' (1928) – Jim Boyd * ''

'' (1928) – Kelsey * ''

Wall Street Wall Street is a street in the Financial District, Manhattan, Financial District of Lower Manhattan in New York City. It runs eight city blocks between Broadway (Manhattan), Broadway in the west and South Street (Manhattan), South Str ...

'' (1929) – Roller McCray * '' The Big Fight'' (1930) – Chuck * '' Numbered Men'' (1930) – 33410 * '' Little Caesar'' (1931) – Pete Montana * ''

Gentleman's Fate ''Gentleman's Fate'' is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film directed by Mervyn LeRoy and written by Leonard Praskins. The film stars John Gilbert, Louis Wolheim, Leila Hyams, Anita Page, and Marie Prevost. The film was released on March 7, ...

'' (1931) – Dante * '' Hell Bound'' (1931) – Dorgan * ''

The Star Witness ''The Star Witness'' is a 1931 American pre-Code crime drama film produced and distributed by Warner Bros. and directed by William A. Wellman. The film stars Walter Huston, Frances Starr, Grant Mitchell, and Chic Sale. ''The Star Witness'' wa ...

'' (1931) – 'Maxey' Campo * '' The Big Gamble'' (1931) – Webb * '' The Law of the Sea'' (1931) – Marty Drake * '' Men of Chance'' (1931) – Farley * '' The Big Shot'' (1931) – Butch (uncredited) * ''

Girl of the Rio ''Girl of the Rio'' is a 1932 American pre-Code RKO musical film starred Dolores del Río and Leo Carrillo. Directed by Herbert Brenon, the screenplay was written by Elizabeth Meehan and Louis Stevens, based on the play, ''The Dove'' by Wi ...

'' (1932) – O'Grady * '' The Hatchet Man'' (1932) – 'Big Jim' Malone (uncredited) * '' Law and Order'' (1932) – Poe Northrup * '' The Lost Squadron'' (1932) – Jettick * '' The County Fair'' (1932) – Diamond Barnett * ''

State's Attorney In the United States, a district attorney (DA), county attorney, county prosecutor, state attorney, state's attorney, prosecuting attorney, commonwealth's attorney, or solicitor is the chief prosecutor or chief law enforcement officer represen ...

'' (1932) – Defense Attorney * '' The Mouthpiece'' (1932) – J.B. Roscoe * '' The Tenderfoot'' (1932) – Dolan * '' Gorilla Ship'' (1932) – Capt. 'Gorilla' Larsen * '' Guilty as Hell'' (1932) – Jack Reed * '' The Pride of the Legion'' (1932) – Klafki * ''

Malay Nights ''Malay Nights'' is a 1932 American pre-Code drama film directed by E. Mason Hopper and starring Johnny Mack Brown, Dorothy Burgess and Raymond Hatton. It was produced on Poverty Row as a second feature for release by Mayfair Pictures.Pitts p. 25 ...

'' (1932) – Jack Sheldon * '' Men of America'' (1932) – Cicero * '' Havana Widows'' (1933) – G.W. 'Butch' O'Neill * '' Love at Second Sight'' (1934) – Mackintosh * '' No Escape'' (1934) – Lucky * '' So You Won't Talk'' (1935) – Ralph Younger * '' Rolling Home'' (1935) – Wally * '' Blue Smoke'' (1935) – Al Dempson * '' Gaol Break'' (1936) – Jim Oakley * '' The Perfect Crime'' (1937) – Jim Lanahan

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Ince, Ralph 1887 births 1937 deaths Road incident deaths in London Film directors from Massachusetts American male film actors American people of English descent American male silent film actors American male screenwriters Male actors from Boston Screenwriters from Massachusetts 20th-century American male actors 20th-century American male writers 20th-century American screenwriters Members of The Lambs Club