William Surrey Hart (December 6, 1864 â€" June 23, 1946) was an
American silent film actor, screenwriter, director and producer. He is
remembered as a foremost Western star of the silent era who "imbued
all of his characters with honor and integrity." During the late 1910s
and early 1920s, he was one of the most consistently popular movie
stars, frequently ranking high among male actors in popularity
contests held by movie fan magazines.Hart was born in Newburgh, New
York, to Nicholas Hart (c. 1834â€"1895) and Rosanna Hart (c.
1839â€"1909). William had two brothers, who died very young, and four
sisters. His father was born in England, and his mother was born in
Ireland. He was a distant cousin of the western star Neal Hart.He
began his acting career on stage in his 20s, and in film when he was
49, which coincided with the beginning of film's transition from
curiosity to commercial art form. Hart's stage debut came in 1888 as a
member of a company headed by Daniel E. Bandmann. The following year
he joined Lawrence Barrett's company in New York and later spent
several seasons with Mlle. Hortense Rhéa's traveling company. He
toured and traveled extensively while trying to make a name for
himself as an actor, and for a time directed shows at the Asheville
Opera House in North Carolina, around the year 1900. He had some
success as a Shakespearean actor on Broadway, working with Margaret
Mather and other stars; he appeared in the original 1899 stage
production of Ben-Hur. His family had moved to Asheville but, after
his youngest sister Lotta died of typhoid fever in 1901, they all left
together for Brooklyn until William went back on tour.
American silent film actor, screenwriter, director and producer. He is
remembered as a foremost Western star of the silent era who "imbued
all of his characters with honor and integrity." During the late 1910s
and early 1920s, he was one of the most consistently popular movie
stars, frequently ranking high among male actors in popularity
contests held by movie fan magazines.Hart was born in Newburgh, New
York, to Nicholas Hart (c. 1834â€"1895) and Rosanna Hart (c.
1839â€"1909). William had two brothers, who died very young, and four
sisters. His father was born in England, and his mother was born in
Ireland. He was a distant cousin of the western star Neal Hart.He
began his acting career on stage in his 20s, and in film when he was
49, which coincided with the beginning of film's transition from
curiosity to commercial art form. Hart's stage debut came in 1888 as a
member of a company headed by Daniel E. Bandmann. The following year
he joined Lawrence Barrett's company in New York and later spent
several seasons with Mlle. Hortense Rhéa's traveling company. He
toured and traveled extensively while trying to make a name for
himself as an actor, and for a time directed shows at the Asheville
Opera House in North Carolina, around the year 1900. He had some
success as a Shakespearean actor on Broadway, working with Margaret
Mather and other stars; he appeared in the original 1899 stage
production of Ben-Hur. His family had moved to Asheville but, after
his youngest sister Lotta died of typhoid fever in 1901, they all left
together for Brooklyn until William went back on tour.
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