Raymond Griffith (January 23, 1895 – November 25, 1957) was an American silent movie actor and comedian. Later in his career, he worked behind the camera as writer and producer.

Biography

Griffith was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He lost his voice at an early age, causing him to speak for the rest of his life in a hoarse whisper. Griffith claimed that it was the result of his having to scream at the top of his lungs every night in a stage melodrama as a child actor—others have stated that a childhood disease was more likely the cause. Lying about his age, Griffith enlisted in the U.S. Navy at age 15 and served for three years. He was later drafted for service in World War I but was not inducted because of his vocal problems.

Griffith choked to death at the Masquers Club in Los Angeles, California, aged 62, on November 25, 1957.

Filmography

{| class="wikitable"

|-

! Year

! Title

! Role

! Notes

|-

| 1918 || The Red-Haired Cupid || Albert Jones || Lost film

|-

| 1919 || The Follies Girl || Fredric ||

|-

| rowspan=2 | 1920 || Love, Honor and Behave || Man with Married Girlfriend || Lost film

|-

| Down on the Farm || || Writer

|-

| rowspan=3 | 1922 || The Crossroads of New York || Wall Street 'Wolf' || Lost film

|-

| Fools First || Tony || Lost film

|-

| Minnie || Chewing Gum Salesman || Lost film

|-

| rowspan=5 | 1923 || Red Lights || Sheridan Scott || Lost film

|-

| The Eternal Three || Leonard Foster ||

|-

| The Day of Faith || Tom Barnett || Lost film

|-

| White Tiger || Roy Donovan ||

|-

| Souls for Sale || Himself ||

|-

| rowspan=7 | 1924 || Poisoned Paradise: The Forbidden Story of Monte Carlo || Martel aka The Rat || Incomplete film, five of seven reels are preserved

|-

| The Dawn of a Tomorrow || The Dandy || Lost film

|-

| Nellie, the Beautiful Cloak Model || Shorty Burchell ||

|-

| Changing Husbands || Bob Hamilton ||

|-

| The Yankee Consul || || Writer

|-

| Lily of the Dust || Karl Dehnecke || Lost film

|-

| Open All Night || Igor ||

|-

| rowspan=7 | 1925 || The Night Club || Robert White ||

|-

| Miss Bluebeard || The Honorable Bertie Bird ||

|-

| Forty Winks || Lord Chumley || Lost film

|-

| Paths to Paradise || The Dude from Duluth || Incomplete film, final reel is missing

|-

| Fine Clothes || Oscar || Lost film

|-

| A Regular Fellow || The Prince || Lost film

|-

| When Winter Went || Bookworm ||

|-

| rowspan=4 | 1926|| Hands Up! || Jack - a Confederate Spy ||

|-

| Wet Paint || He || Lost film

|-

| You'd Be Surprised || Mr. Green - The Coroner ||

|-

| The Waiter from the Ritz || ||

|-

| rowspan=2 | 1927|| Wedding Bills || Algernon Schuyler Van Twidder || Lost film

|-

| Time to Love || Alfred Sava-Goiu || Lost film

|-

| 1929 || Trent's Last Case || Philip Trent ||

|-

| 1930 || All Quiet on the Western Front || Gérard Duval || Uncredited, (final film role)

|-

| rowspan=2 | 1933|| Ladies They Talk About || || Producer

|-

| Broadway Through a Keyhole || || Co-producer

|-

|1934

|The House of Rothschild

|

|Co-producer

|-

| 1936 || Private Number || || Producer

|-

| 1939|| Hotel for Women || || Producer

|}

References

  • Classic Images article on Raymond Griffith