William Tefft Johnson, Jr. (September 23, 1883 â€" October 15, 1956),
better known as Tefft Johnson, was an American stage and film actor,
and film director and screenwriter. He appeared in 131 films between
1909 and 1926.Johnson was born in Washington, D.C., on September 23,
1883, to William Tefft Johnson and his wife, Anne Wheeler Johnson. He
had two sisters and a brother. His father was a soldier and chaplain
who was born in Cooperstown, New York in 1834. His father served in
the Union Army during the American Civil War, and was wounded at the
Battle of Chancellorsville. Discharged because of his wounds, his
father sought and won recommission in the army. After the war, his
father studied law and was admitted to practice before the D.C. and
federal bar.Johnson was already an actor, traveling across the United
States, at the age of 15. His father died in 1898, and his mother in
1926. His mother largely disinherited him, leaving her $50,000 estate
(which consisted primarily of a house in Washington, D.C.) to his
sister, Abby. Johnson sued in 1927 to receive one-third of the estate,
but a court of equity denied his claim in 1930.After a long career on
the stage, he joined the Edison Studios film company. He moved to the
Vitagraph Company in 1911. He played in Vitagraph's 1911 version of
Vanity Fair with John Bunny, Leo Delaney, Rose Tapley and Helen
Gardner. In 1912 he appeared in the film Henry VIII as Cardinal Thomas
Wolsey with co-stars Clara Kimball Young, Julia Swayne Gordon, and Hal
Reid. While at Vitagraph, Johnson became a film director, helming more
than 50 films. These included many of the "Sonny Jim" comedies (about
a mischievous child). He also wrote three films.
better known as Tefft Johnson, was an American stage and film actor,
and film director and screenwriter. He appeared in 131 films between
1909 and 1926.Johnson was born in Washington, D.C., on September 23,
1883, to William Tefft Johnson and his wife, Anne Wheeler Johnson. He
had two sisters and a brother. His father was a soldier and chaplain
who was born in Cooperstown, New York in 1834. His father served in
the Union Army during the American Civil War, and was wounded at the
Battle of Chancellorsville. Discharged because of his wounds, his
father sought and won recommission in the army. After the war, his
father studied law and was admitted to practice before the D.C. and
federal bar.Johnson was already an actor, traveling across the United
States, at the age of 15. His father died in 1898, and his mother in
1926. His mother largely disinherited him, leaving her $50,000 estate
(which consisted primarily of a house in Washington, D.C.) to his
sister, Abby. Johnson sued in 1927 to receive one-third of the estate,
but a court of equity denied his claim in 1930.After a long career on
the stage, he joined the Edison Studios film company. He moved to the
Vitagraph Company in 1911. He played in Vitagraph's 1911 version of
Vanity Fair with John Bunny, Leo Delaney, Rose Tapley and Helen
Gardner. In 1912 he appeared in the film Henry VIII as Cardinal Thomas
Wolsey with co-stars Clara Kimball Young, Julia Swayne Gordon, and Hal
Reid. While at Vitagraph, Johnson became a film director, helming more
than 50 films. These included many of the "Sonny Jim" comedies (about
a mischievous child). He also wrote three films.
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