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{{short description|American actor}}
{{other people||William Duncan (disambiguation)}}
{{other people||William Duncan (disambiguation)}}
{{refimprove|date=April 2009}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = William Duncan
| name = William Duncan
| image = The Silent Avenger (1920) - 1.jpg
| image = The Silent Avenger (1920) - 1.jpg
| caption = William Duncan (1920)
| caption = Duncan in 1920
| birth_date = December 16, 1879
| birth_date = December 16, 1879
| birth_place = [[Dundee]], [[Scotland]]
| birth_place = [[Dundee]], [[Scotland]]
Line 10: Line 11:
| death_place = [[Hollywood, California]], U.S.
| death_place = [[Hollywood, California]], U.S.
| resting_place = [[Inglewood Park Cemetery]]
| resting_place = [[Inglewood Park Cemetery]]
| occupation = [[Actor]]<br>[[Film director]]
| occupation = [[Actor]]<br />[[Film director]]
| yearsactive = [[1911 in film|1911]] - [[1940 in film|1940]]
| yearsactive = [[1911 in film|1911]] - [[1940 in film|1940]]
| spouse = [[Edith Johnson]]<br>(married 1921–1961)
| spouse = [[Edith Johnson (actress)|Edith Johnson]]<br />(married 1921–1961)
}}
}}


'''William Duncan''' (December 16, 1879 &ndash; February 7, 1961) was an actor, producer, writer, and director of [[film serial]]s. He was a leading star in the early film industry, working with the major studios of the day including the [[Selig Polyscope Company]] and [[Vitagraph]]. He had a role in hundreds of serial episodes in a career spanning from 1911 to 1940.
'''William Duncan''' (December 16, 1879 &ndash; February 7, 1961), born in [[Dundee, Scotland]], was known as a major actor, producer, writer, and director of [[film serial]]s and features in [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]]. After immigrating to the United States as a child with his family, he became a leading star in the new film industry. Promoted as a Scottish star, he became one of the highest paid actors when under contract to [[Vitagraph]].<ref name=scots>{{cite news |last1=Ferguson |first1=Brian |title=Dundee honours William Duncan, Hollywood's first Scottish star |url=https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/film-and-tv/dundee-honours-william-duncan-hollywood-s-first-scottish-star-1-4886679 |access-date=25 July 2019 |publisher=The Scotsman |date=March 9, 2019}}</ref>


Duncan worked with major studios of the day, including the [[Selig Polyscope Company]] and [[Vitagraph]]. As was typical of many early films, especially the silents, most of his films have not survived to the present day.<ref name=scots/>
When William Duncan joined Vitagraph, his contract was worth $1,000,000 a year, which made him better paid than [[Mary Pickford]] and [[Douglas Fairbanks]]. Mr. Duncan is interred at [[Inglewood Park Cemetery]], [[Inglewood, California]], USA.


==Early life and education==
His second wife was [[Edith Johnson]] who sometimes costarred with him on screen.
Born in the [[Lochee]] area of Dundee in 1879,<ref name=scots /> Duncan immigrated as a child to the United States with his family in 1890. They settled in Philadelphia. He attended public school, where he started to play American football. He enrolled at University of Pennsylvania, where he played football and participated in track, but left after two years of study.{{Cn|date=June 2023}}

==Career==
Duncan worked as physical director at the McFadden Physical Culture Health Home, and wrote for a magazine about physical culture. He also operated a gymnasium in Philadelphia and was a professional wrestler.{{Cn|date=June 2023}}

Duncan debuted in [[vaudeville]] in 1906 as part of a strongman act.<ref name=scots /> Next he acted in [[Repertory theatre|stock theater]] companies in Philadelphia;, Memphis, Tennessee; and Rochester, New York.<ref name="bd">{{cite book |last1=Katchmer |first1=George A. |title=A Biographical Dictionary of Silent Film Western Actors and Actresses |date=2015 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-1-4766-0905-8 |page=102 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VnGeCQAAQBAJ&q=%22Carol+Holloway%22&pg=PA102 |access-date=January 28, 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

He began to act in silent films, and had roles in hundreds of serial episodes, many of them Westerns. His career spanned the change to "talkies", and he acted from 1911 to 1940. When William Duncan joined [[Vitagraph]]<!-- year? -->, his contract was worth $1,000,000 a year. He was better paid than [[Mary Pickford]] and [[Douglas Fairbanks]]. He appeared in films with Olympic swimmer [[Buster Crabbe]] (who played [[Flash Gordon]] in the 1930s).<ref name=scots /> He was also a prolific writer and director of films.

Duncan followed the film industry to California and lived and worked there for most of his life. At his death, he was interred at [[Inglewood Park Cemetery]], [[Inglewood, California]], USA. <ref name=scots />

==Family==
Duncan married twice. His second wife was [[silent film]] actress [[Edith Johnson (actress)|Edith Johnson]], with whom he had often costarred. They had two sons and one daughter together. The couple were married until Duncan's death in 1961.<ref name=kodak>{{cite book |last1=King |first1=Brian |title=Understanding Dundee |date=21 April 2011 |publisher=Black and White Publishing |isbn=9781845028466 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v4qVAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT87 |access-date=25 July 2019}}</ref>

==Legacy and honors==
Duncan is featured as a character in ''A-Z of Dundee'' (2019), a musical play written by John and Gerry Kielty. Produced by Dundee Rep, it features notable people associated with Dundee. In addition to playing at venues in that city, it was planned to tour other cities in Scotland.<ref name=scots />


==Selected filmography==
==Selected filmography==
[[File:The Man of Might.jpg|thumb|''The Man of Might'' (1919)]]
[[File:The Man of Might.jpg|thumb|''The Man of Might'' (1919)]]
*''[[The Telltale Knife]]'' (1911)
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
*''[[The Count of Monte Cristo (1912 film)|The Count of Monte Cristo]]'' (1912)
|-
*''[[The Fighting Trail]]'' (1917)
! Year !! Film
* ''[[Money Magic]]'' (1917)
|-
| 1911 || ''[[The Telltale Knife]]''
* ''[[Aladdin from Broadway]]'' (1917)
⚫
*''[[Smashing Barriers]]'' (1919)
|-
| 1917 || ''[[The Fighting Trail]]''
*''[[Hopalong Rides Again]]'' (1921)
* ''[[Steelheart (film)|Steelheart]]'' (1921)
|-
* ''[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0012164/?ref_=ttmi_tt Fighting Fate]'' (1921)
⚫
| 1919 || ''[[Smashing Barriers]]''
* ''[[Where Men Are Men]]'' (1921)
|-
* ''[[No Defense (1921 film)|No Defense]]'' (1921)
| 1921 || ''[[Hopalong Rides Again]]''
* ''[[The Silent Vow]]'' (1922)
|-
| [[1923 in film|1923]] || ''[[The Steel Trail]]''
* ''[[The Fighting Guide]]'' (1922)
* ''[[When Danger Smiles]]'' (1922)
|-
*''[[The Steel Trail]]'' (1923)
| rowspan=3 | [[1924 in film|1924]] || ''[[The Fast Express]]'' ||''[[Wolves of the North]]''||
* ''[[Playing It Wild]]'' (1923)
|-
*''[[The Fast Express]]'' (1924)
⚫
| 1936 || ''[[Three on the Trail (film)|Three on the Trail]]''
*''[[Wolves of the North]]'' (1924)
|-
*''[[Hello, 'Frisco]]'' (1924)
⚫
| 1937 || ''[[Forlorn River (1937 film)|Forlorn River]]''
⚫
*''[[Three on the Trail (film)|Three on the Trail]]'' (1936)
|-
⚫
*''[[Forlorn River (1937 film)|Forlorn River]]'' (1937)
| rowspan=2 | 1938 || ''[[The Frontiersmen]]''
*''[[The Frontiersmen]]'' (1938)
|-
| ''[[Bar 20 Justice]]''
*''[[Bar 20 Justice]]'' (1938)
⚫
*''[[The Farmer's Daughter (1940 film)|The Farmer's Daughter]]'' (1940)
|-
⚫
|1940 || ''[[The Farmer's Daughter (1940 film)|The Farmer's Daughter]]''
|}


==References==
==References==
<references />
*{{cite web
*{{cite web
|url = http://movies.nytimes.com/person/20562/William-Duncan/biography
|url = http://movies.nytimes.com/person/20562/William-Duncan/biography
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110519184631/http://movies.nytimes.com/person/20562/William-Duncan/biography
|url-status = dead
|archive-date = 2011-05-19
|department = Movies & TV Dept.
⚫
|work = [[The New York Times]]
|author = Hans J. Wollstein
|date = 2011
|title = William Duncan
|title = William Duncan
|accessdate = 2007-11-13
|access-date = 2007-11-13
⚫
|work = New York Times Movies
}}
}}


Latest revision as of 20:52, 5 November 2023

For other people with the same name, see William Duncan (disambiguation).

William Duncan
Duncan in 1920
BornDecember 16, 1879
Dundee, Scotland
DiedFebruary 7, 1961(1961-02-07) (aged 81)
Hollywood, California, U.S.
Resting placeInglewood Park Cemetery
Occupation(s)Actor
Film director
Years active1911 - 1940
Spouse(s)Edith Johnson
(married 1921–1961)

William Duncan (December 16, 1879 – February 7, 1961), born in Dundee, Scotland, was known as a major actor, producer, writer, and director of film serials and features in Hollywood. After immigrating to the United States as a child with his family, he became a leading star in the new film industry. Promoted as a Scottish star, he became one of the highest paid actors when under contract to Vitagraph.[1]

Duncan worked with major studios of the day, including the Selig Polyscope Company and Vitagraph. As was typical of many early films, especially the silents, most of his films have not survived to the present day.[1]

Early life and education

[edit]

Born in the Lochee area of Dundee in 1879,[1] Duncan immigrated as a child to the United States with his family in 1890. They settled in Philadelphia. He attended public school, where he started to play American football. He enrolled at University of Pennsylvania, where he played football and participated in track, but left after two years of study.[citation needed]

Career

[edit]

Duncan worked as physical director at the McFadden Physical Culture Health Home, and wrote for a magazine about physical culture. He also operated a gymnasium in Philadelphia and was a professional wrestler.[citation needed]

Duncan debuted in vaudeville in 1906 as part of a strongman act.[1] Next he acted in stock theater companies in Philadelphia;, Memphis, Tennessee; and Rochester, New York.[2]

He began to act in silent films, and had roles in hundreds of serial episodes, many of them Westerns. His career spanned the change to "talkies", and he acted from 1911 to 1940. When William Duncan joined Vitagraph, his contract was worth $1,000,000 a year. He was better paid than Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks. He appeared in films with Olympic swimmer Buster Crabbe (who played Flash Gordon in the 1930s).[1] He was also a prolific writer and director of films.

Duncan followed the film industry to California and lived and worked there for most of his life. At his death, he was interred at Inglewood Park Cemetery, Inglewood, California, USA. [1]

Family

[edit]

Duncan married twice. His second wife was silent film actress Edith Johnson, with whom he had often costarred. They had two sons and one daughter together. The couple were married until Duncan's death in 1961.[3]

Legacy and honors

[edit]

Duncan is featured as a character in A-Z of Dundee (2019), a musical play written by John and Gerry Kielty. Produced by Dundee Rep, it features notable people associated with Dundee. In addition to playing at venues in that city, it was planned to tour other cities in Scotland.[1]

Selected filmography

[edit]
The Man of Might (1919)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g Ferguson, Brian (9 March 2019). "Dundee honours William Duncan, Hollywood's first Scottish star". The Scotsman. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  2. ^ Katchmer, George A. (2015). A Biographical Dictionary of Silent Film Western Actors and Actresses. McFarland. p. 102. ISBN 978-1-4766-0905-8. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  3. ^ King, Brian (21 April 2011). Understanding Dundee. Black and White Publishing. ISBN 9781845028466. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
[edit]
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