Sterling Carl Campbell (1896/97 - September 6, 1990) 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 ...

aviator and film director best known for the 1947 film ''

Bush Pilot Bush flying refers to aircraft operations carried out in the bush. Bush flying involves operations in rough terrain where there are often no prepared landing strips or runways, frequently necessitating that bush planes be equipped with abnormal ...

'', one of the first narrative feature films ever produced by a Canadian film production company. Campbell served in the

Canadian Army The Canadian Army () is the command (military formation), command responsible for the operational readiness of the conventional ground forces of the Canadian Armed Forces. It maintains regular forces units at bases across Canada, and is also re ...

during the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. He later worked 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 ...

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

, as a technical and action

assistant director The role of an assistant director (AD) on a film includes tracking daily progress against the filming production schedule, arranging logistics, preparing daily call sheets, checking cast and crew, and maintaining order on the set. They also have ...

, including the films ''

Wings A wing is a type of fin that produces both lift and drag while moving through air. Wings are defined by two shape characteristics, an airfoil section and a planform. Wing efficiency is expressed as lift-to-drag ratio, which compares the bene ...

'', ''Dawn Patrol'', '' Hell's Angels'', ''Air Circus'', ''Legion of the Condemned'', ''

Forced Landing A forced landing is a landing by an aircraft made under factors outside the pilot's control, such as the failure of engines, systems, components, or weather which makes continued flight impossible. However, the term also means a landing that has ...

'' and '' Ceiling Zero'', and as an assistant to

Cecil B. DeMille Cecil Blount DeMille (; August 12, 1881January 21, 1959) was an American filmmaker and actor. Between 1914 and 1958, he made 70 features, both silent and sound films. He is acknowledged as a founding father of American cinema and the most co ...

and

Howard Hawks Howard Winchester Hawks (May 30, 1896December 26, 1977) was an American film director, Film producer, producer, and screenwriter of the Classical Hollywood cinema, classic Hollywood era. Critic Leonard Maltin called him "the greatest American ...

.Frank Chamberlain, "Simpson's Radio Column". ''

The Globe and Mail ''The Globe and Mail'' is a Newspapers in Canada, Canadian newspaper printed in five cities in Western Canada, western and central Canada. With a weekly readership of more than 6 million in 2024, it is Canada's most widely read newspaper on week ...

'', January 24, 1946. He also had minor acting roles in the films ''Forced Landing'', ''

Hands Across the Table ''Hands Across the Table'' is a 1935 American romantic screwball comedy film directed by Mitchell Leisen and released by Paramount Pictures. It stars Carole Lombard as a manicurist looking for a rich husband and Fred MacMurray as a poor playboy, ...

'', '' Professional Soldier'' and ''

Love Is News ''Love Is News'' is a 1937 American romantic comedy film starring Tyrone Power, Loretta Young, and Don Ameche. The movie was directed by Tay Garnett and was the first film for which Power had top billing. The picture was remade in 1947 as '' ...

''. He subsequently returned to Canada, where he served in the

Royal Canadian Air Force The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; ) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environmental commands within the unified Can ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. He married

Margaret Campbell Margaret Campbell (April 24, 1883 – June 27, 1939) was an American character actress in silent films. In her later years, she was the secretary of the Baháʼí Spiritual Assembly of Los Angeles. Career Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Campbell ...

, later a

Toronto City Council Toronto City Council is the governing body of the municipal government of Toronto, Ontario. Meeting at Toronto City Hall, it comprises 25 city councillors and the mayor of Toronto. The Toronto City Council 2022–2026, current term began on Nove ...

lor and Member of Provincial Parliament, in 1941."Lives Lived: Margaret Elizabeth Fasken Baird Campbell". ''

'', May 6, 1999. With Geoffrey Wood, Larry Cromien and

Austin Willis Alexander Austin Willis, (30 September 1917 – 4 April 2004) was a Canadian actor and television host. Biography Austin was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia to parents Alexander Samuel and Emma Graham (Pushie) Willis. His older brother, J. Fran ...

, Campbell launched Dominion Productions in 1946."Canadian Outfit Enters Film Field With Bush Picture". ''

'', May 31, 1946. ''Bush Pilot'' was the company's first film. Due to poorer than expected revenues, however, the company never released another film under their management, and was subsequently acquired by Arthur Gotlieb. Campbell ran for a

seat in the 1956 municipal election, but fell while campaigning, exacerbating an old war injury and remaining bedridden for several months;"Worked as lawyer, judge, politician, and spy: Fought for gay and women's rights starting in the 1970s". ''

National Post The ''National Post'' is a Canadian English-language broadsheet newspaper and the flagship publication of the American-owned Postmedia Network. It is published Mondays through Saturdays, with Monday released as a digital e-edition only.

'', April 26, 1999. despite having effectively dropped his campaign, he finished third behind the winners, William Dennison and May Birchard, and ahead of incumbent councillor Edgar Roxborough. In the subsequent 1958 municipal election, Margaret Campbell ran for council instead, winning the seat and beginning her own long career in politics. His son Sterling Campbell, Jr. was a city councillor and Member of Provincial Parliament in

Sudbury Sudbury may refer to: Places Australia * Sudbury Reef, Queensland Canada * Greater Sudbury, Ontario ** Sudbury (federal electoral district) ** Sudbury (provincial electoral district) ** Sudbury Airport ** Sudbury Basin, a meteorite impact cra ...

in the 1970s and 1980s. He died on September 6, 1990, in Toronto."Deaths: Campbell, Sterling Carl". ''

'', September 7, 1990.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Campbell, Sterling 1890s births 1990 deaths Canadian male film actors Canadian military personnel of World War I Canadian Air Force personnel Royal Canadian Air Force personnel of World War II Canadian aviators Film directors from Toronto Male actors from Toronto 20th-century Canadian male actors