James Kirkwood Sr. (February 22, 1875 â€" August 24, 1963) was an
American actor and director.Kirkwood debuted on screen in 1909 and was
soon playing leads for D. W. Griffith. He started directing in 1912,
and became a favorite of Mary Pickford. In 1923 he married actress
Lila Lee; with her, he had a son, James Kirkwood Jr., who became a
successful writer, winning both a Tony Award and a Pulitzer Prize for
A Chorus Line.. He was George Melford's original choice for the
starring role of Sheik Ahmed Ben Hassan in The Sheik, which was later
famously passed to Rudolph Valentino. His directing career fizzled in
1920, but he continued acting well into the 1950s. His film career
would span more than two hundred films over nearly a half century.He
died at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital.
American actor and director.Kirkwood debuted on screen in 1909 and was
soon playing leads for D. W. Griffith. He started directing in 1912,
and became a favorite of Mary Pickford. In 1923 he married actress
Lila Lee; with her, he had a son, James Kirkwood Jr., who became a
successful writer, winning both a Tony Award and a Pulitzer Prize for
A Chorus Line.. He was George Melford's original choice for the
starring role of Sheik Ahmed Ben Hassan in The Sheik, which was later
famously passed to Rudolph Valentino. His directing career fizzled in
1920, but he continued acting well into the 1950s. His film career
would span more than two hundred films over nearly a half century.He
died at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital.
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