Clyde Wilfred Cook (16 December 1891 â€" 13 August 1984) was an
Australian-born vaudevillian who went on to perform in Hollywood and
whose career spanned the silent film era, talkies and television.He
was born to John and Annie Cook at Hamilton, near Port Macquarie,
Australia. Cook moved with his family to Sydney when he was 6. He was
already a skilled acrobat and dancer before he first appeared on stage
in 1901 and within a few years he had developed a successful
reputation as an all-round comic entertainer. In 1906, J. C.
Williamson placed Cook under contract and he worked with the company
until about 1911, when he departed for the United Kingdom, determined
to try his luck in the London music hall scene. After some difficulty
he succeeded and subsequently also worked at the Folies Bergere for 14
weeks. He returned to Australia in 1916.Although he appears to have
expressed a desire to join up during the First World War, unspecified
"physical defects" meant he was unable to join the AIF. Instead he
devoted much time to fund-raising and entertaining soldiers. His
trademark moustache also appeared for the first time during Australian
performances in 1917. In 1918 he appeared in his first film, His Only
Chance a J. C. Williamson's production made to support Red Cross
fund-raising. Then in 1919, in the height of the Spanish flu epidemic,
Cook brought an action against J. C. Williamsons over the impact on
performers contacts caused by their closure of theatres. The action
failed. Soon after Cook left Australia for the United States.
Australian-born vaudevillian who went on to perform in Hollywood and
whose career spanned the silent film era, talkies and television.He
was born to John and Annie Cook at Hamilton, near Port Macquarie,
Australia. Cook moved with his family to Sydney when he was 6. He was
already a skilled acrobat and dancer before he first appeared on stage
in 1901 and within a few years he had developed a successful
reputation as an all-round comic entertainer. In 1906, J. C.
Williamson placed Cook under contract and he worked with the company
until about 1911, when he departed for the United Kingdom, determined
to try his luck in the London music hall scene. After some difficulty
he succeeded and subsequently also worked at the Folies Bergere for 14
weeks. He returned to Australia in 1916.Although he appears to have
expressed a desire to join up during the First World War, unspecified
"physical defects" meant he was unable to join the AIF. Instead he
devoted much time to fund-raising and entertaining soldiers. His
trademark moustache also appeared for the first time during Australian
performances in 1917. In 1918 he appeared in his first film, His Only
Chance a J. C. Williamson's production made to support Red Cross
fund-raising. Then in 1919, in the height of the Spanish flu epidemic,
Cook brought an action against J. C. Williamsons over the impact on
performers contacts caused by their closure of theatres. The action
failed. Soon after Cook left Australia for the United States.
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