Samuel Alfred De Grasse (June 12, 1875 – November 29, 1953) was a

Canadian Canadians () are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of their being ''C ...

actor. He was the uncle of

cinematographer The cinematographer or director of photography (sometimes shortened to DP or DOP) is the person responsible for the recording of a film, television production, music video or other live-action piece. The cinematographer is the chief of the camera ...

Robert De Grasse.

Biography

Samuel Alfred De Grasse was born in Bathurst,

New Brunswick New Brunswick is a Provinces and Territories of Canada, province of Canada, bordering Quebec to the north, Nova Scotia to the east, the Gulf of Saint Lawrence to the northeast, the Bay of Fundy to the southeast, and the U.S. state of Maine to ...

to Lange De Grasse and Helene ( Comeau), both of French-Canadian descent. He trained to be a dentist, and married Annie McDonnell in 1904. Their daughter, Clementine Bell, was born in 1906. Annie died in 1909 while giving birth to another daughter, Olive, who also died. In 1910, Samuel was practicing dentistry and he and his daughter Clementine were living in Providence,

Rhode Island Rhode Island ( ) is a state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Connecticut to its west; Massachusetts to its north and east; and the Atlantic Ocean to its south via Rhode Island Sound and Block Is ...

along with his older sister, Mrs. Clementine Fauchy, and her 14-year-old son, Jerome Fauchy. He married British actress Ada Fuller Golden and became a step-father to her three children. His own elder brother, Joe, went into the fledgling movie business and Sam decided to also give it a try. He traveled to

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

and, in 1912, he appeared in his first motion picture. At first he played standard secondary characters such as Dr. Robert Armstrong in '' Blind Husbands'' (1919), but when fellow Canadian

Mary Pickford Gladys Louise Smith (April 8, 1892 – May 29, 1979), known professionally as Mary Pickford, was a Canadian-American film actress and producer. A Canadian pioneers in early Hollywood, pioneer in the American film industry with a Hollywood care ...

set up her own studio with her husband

Douglas Fairbanks Douglas Elton Fairbanks Sr. (born Douglas Elton Thomas Ullman; May 23, 1883 – December 12, 1939) was an American actor and filmmaker best known for being the first actor to play the masked Vigilante Zorro and other swashbuckler film, swashbu ...

, he joined them. He portrayed the villainous Prince John in

' 1922 ''

Robin Hood Robin Hood is a legendary noble outlaw, heroic outlaw originally depicted in English folklore and subsequently featured in literature, theatre, and cinema. According to legend, he was a highly skilled archer and swordsman. In some versions o ...

''. Afterward, he began to specialize in crafty or slimy villainous roles, such as Senator Charles Summer in ''

The Birth of a Nation ''The Birth of a Nation'' is a 1915 American Silent film, silent Epic film, epic Drama (film and television), drama film directed by D. W. Griffith and starring Lillian Gish. The screenplay is adapted from Thomas Dixon Jr.'s 1905 novel and ...

'' (1915), the mill owner Arthur Jenkins in ''

Intolerance Intolerance may refer to: * Hypersensitivity or intolerance, undesirable reactions produced by the immune system * ''Intolerance'' (film), a 1916 film by D. W. Griffith * ''Intolerance'' (album), the first solo album from Grant Hart, formerly ...

'' (1916), John Carver in '' The Courtship of Miles Standish'' (1923), Colonel Lestron in '' The Eagle of the Sea'' (1926), a

pirate Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence by ship or boat-borne attackers upon another ship or a coastal area, typically with the goal of stealing cargo and valuable goods, or taking hostages. Those who conduct acts of piracy are call ...

lieutenant in '' The Black Pirate'' (1926), a

Pharisee The Pharisees (; ) were a Jews, Jewish social movement and school of thought in the Levant during the time of Second Temple Judaism. Following the Siege of Jerusalem (AD 70), destruction of the Second Temple in 70 AD, Pharisaic beliefs became ...

in '' The King of Kings'' (1927) and King James in ''

The Man Who Laughs ''The Man Who Laughs'' (also published under the title ''By Order of the King'' from its subtitle in French) is a Gothic novel by Victor Hugo, originally published in April 1869 under the French title ''L'Homme qui rit''. It takes place in Engl ...

'' (1928). Mary Pickford named him as one of her favorite stars. In the 1960s,

Jackie Coogan John Leslie Coogan (October 26, 1914 – March 1, 1984) was an American actor and comedian who began his film career as a child actor in silent films. Coogan's role in Charlie Chaplin's film ''The Kid (1921 film), The Kid'' (1921) made him one o ...

claimed

Jean Harlow Jean Harlow (born Harlean Harlow Carpenter; March 3, 1911 – June 7, 1937) was an American actress. Known for her portrayal of "bad girl" characters, she was the leading sex symbol of the early 1930s and one of the defining figures of the ...

had lived in De Grasse's apartment for two years and was married to him when she was 16. At the time both de Grasse and Harlow were deceased. The claim was untrue -- Harlow was married to Charles McGrew when she was 16. However, she did appear as an extra in the film '' Honor Bound'' (1928), in which De Grasse played "Blood Keller".

Death

De Grasse lived on the west coast until his death at age 78 in

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood ...

from a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when Ischemia, blood flow decreases or stops in one of the coronary arteries of the heart, causing infarction (tissue death) to the heart muscle. The most common symptom ...

during his sleep. He is interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in

Glendale, California Glendale is a city located primarily in the Verdugo Mountains region, with a small portion in the San Fernando Valley, of Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is located about north of downtown Los Angeles. As of 2024, Glendale ha ...

Selected filmography

* ''

'' (1915) – Sen. Charles Sumner (uncredited) * ''A Man and His Mate'' (1915) – Choo * ''A Child of God'' (1915) – Jim MacPherson * '' Martyrs of the Alamo'' (1915) – Silent Smith * ''Cross Currents'' (1915) – Silas Randolph * ''The Price of Power'' (1916) – James Garwood * ''

Acquitted In common law jurisdictions, an acquittal means that the criminal prosecution has failed to prove that the accused is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of the charge presented. It certifies that the accused is free from the charge of an o ...

'' (1916) – Ira Wolcott * '' The Good Bad-Man'' (1916) – The Wolf / Bud Frazer * '' An Innocent Magdalene'' (1916) – Forbes Stewart * '' The Half-Breed'' (1916) – Sheriff Dunn * ''

'' (1916) – Arthur Jenkins * ''

Diane of the Follies ''Diane of the Follies'' is a 1916 American drama film directed by Christy Cabanne. The film is considered to be lost film, lost. Cast * Lillian Gish in the role of Diane * Sam De Grasse in the role of Phillips Christy * Howard Gaye in the ro ...

'' (1916) – Phillips Christy * '' The Children of the Feud'' (1916) – Dr. Richard Cavanagh * ''

Jim Bludso ''Jim Bludso'' is a 1917 American drama film directed by Tod Browning. It was Browning's first feature film as a director. Contemporary sources are variable on the matter of whether the direction was a joint effort between Browning and the fi ...

'' (1917) – Ben Merrill * '' Her Official Fathers'' (1917) – Ethan Dexter * ''

An Old-Fashioned Young Man ''An Old-Fashioned Young Man'' is a 1917 American silent drama film directed by Lloyd Ingraham and starring Robert Harron and Colleen Moore. The role was Moore's second credited film appearance and the first lead role of her career. Story Fr ...

'' (1917) – Harold T. King * '' Madame Bo-Peep'' (1917) – Jose Alvarez * ''

Wild and Woolly Wild and Woolly may refer to: * Wild and Woolly (1917 film), an American silent Western comedy film * Wild and Woolly (1932 film), a short animated film * Wild and Woolly (1937 film), an American Western film * Wild and Wooly, a 1978 comedy/west ...

'' (1917) – Steve Shelby – Indian Agent * '' The Empty Gun'' (1917, Short) – Jim * '' Anything Once'' (1917) – Herbert Wendling * '' The Winged Mystery'' (1917) – Mortimer Eddington * '' The Scarlet Car'' (1917) – Ernest Peabody * ''Six-Shooter Andy'' (1918) – Tom Slade * '' Brace Up'' (1918) – National Jim * '' The Guilt of Silence'' (1918) – Gambler Joe * ''The Mortgaged Wife'' (1918) – Meyer * '' Smashing Through'' (1918) – Earl Foster * '' Winner Takes All'' (1918) – Mark Thorne * '' A Woman's Fool'' (1918) – Minor Role * '' A Law Unto Herself'' (1918) – Kurt Von Klassner * '' The Narrow Path'' (1918) – Malcolm Dion * '' The Hope Chest'' (1918) – Ballantyne, Sr. * '' Sis Hopkins'' (1919) – Vibert * ''The Silk-Lined Burglar'' (1919) – Boston Blackie * '' The Exquisite Thief'' (1919) – Shaver Michael * ''

Heart o' the Hills ''Heart o' the Hills'' is a 1919 American silent drama film directed by Joseph De Grasse and Sidney Franklin, written by Bernard McConville based on John Fox Jr.'s novel of the same name. Plot Jason Honeycutt ( Harold Goodwin) is a young bo ...

'' (1919) – Steve Honeycutt * '' Blind Husbands'' (1919) – The Husband, Dr. Robert Armstrong * '' Uncharted Channels'' (1920) – Nicholas Schonnn * '' Moon Madness'' (1920) – Adrien * '' The Devil's Pass Key'' (1920) – Warren Goodwright * '' The Skywayman'' (1920) – Dr. Wayne Leveridge * '' The Little Grey Mouse'' (1920) – John Cumberland * '' Unseen Forces'' (1920) – Captain Stanley * '' The Broken Gate'' (1920) – 'Hod' Brooks * '' The Cheater Reformed'' (1921) – Thomas Edinburgh * ''

Courage Courage (also called bravery, valour ( British and Commonwealth English), or valor (American English)) is the choice and willingness to confront agony, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation. Valor is courage or bravery, especially in ...

'' (1921) – Stephan Blackmoore * '' A Wife's Awakening'' (1921) – George Otis * ''

'' (1922) – Prince John * '' Forsaking All Others'' (1922) – Dr. Mason * '' Slippy McGee'' (1923) – Father De Rance * '' Circus Days'' (1923) – Lord * '' The Spoilers'' (1923) – Judge Stillman * '' A Prince of a King'' (1923) – Duke Roberto * '' The Dancer of the Nile'' (1923) – Pasheri * '' In the Palace of the King'' (1923) – King Philip II * '' Tiger Rose'' (1923) – Dr. Cusick * '' The Courtship of Miles Standish'' (1923) – John Carver * '' Painted People'' (1924) – Henry Parrish * '' Pagan Passions'' (1924) – Frank Langley * '' A Self-Made Failure'' (1924) – Cyrus Cruikshank * '' The Virgin'' (1924) – Ricardo Ruiz * ''On the Threshold'' (1925) – Daniel Masters * '' The Mansion of Aching Hearts'' (1925) – Martin Craig * '' One Year to Live'' (1925) – Dr. Lucien La Pierre * '' Sun-Up'' (1925) – Sheriff Weeks * '' Heir-Loons'' (1925) * '' Sally, Irene and Mary'' (1925) – Officer O'Dare * '' Mike'' (1926) – Brush * '' The Black Pirate'' (1926) – Pirate Lieutenant * '' Her Second Chance'' (1926) – Beachey * '' Broken Hearts of Hollywood'' (1926) – Defense Attorney * '' The Eagle of the Sea'' (1926) – Col. Lestron * '' Love's Blindness'' (1926) – Benjamin Levy * '' When a Man Loves'' (1927) – Comte Guillot de Morfontaine * ''

King of Kings King of Kings, ''Mepet mepe''; , group="n" was a ruling title employed primarily by monarchs based in the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent. Commonly associated with History of Iran, Iran (historically known as name of Iran, Persia ...

'' (1927) – Pharisee * '' Captain Salvation'' (1927) – Peter Campbell * '' The Fighting Eagle'' (1927) – Talleyrand * '' The Country Doctor'' (1927) – Ira Harding * '' The Wreck of the Hesperus'' (1927) – Capt. David Slocum * ''

'' (1928) – King James II * '' Honor Bound'' (1928) – Blood Keller * '' The Racket'' (1928) – District Attorney Welch * ''

Our Dancing Daughters ''Our Dancing Daughters'' is a 1928 American synchronized sound drama film starring Joan Crawford and John Mack Brown about the "loosening of youth morals" that took place during the 1920s. The film was directed by Harry Beaumont and produced ...

'' (1928) – Freddie's Father * '' Dog Law'' (1928) – Minor Role (uncredited) * '' The Farmer's Daughter'' (1928) – (uncredited) * '' Silks and Saddles'' (1929) – William Morrissey * '' The Last Performance'' (1929) – District Attorney * ''

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) – John Willard * '' Captain of the Guard'' (1930) – Bazin (final film role)

References

External links

* * De Grasse a
Northernstars.ca
{{DEFAULTSORT:Degrasse, Sam Canadian male silent film actors Canadian male film actors Male actors from New Brunswick 1875 births 1953 deaths People from Bathurst, New Brunswick Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) 20th-century Canadian male actors Canadian expatriate male actors in the United States

Biography

Death

Selected filmography

See also

References

External links