Courtenay Foote
Courtenay Foote (22 November 1878 – 4 May 1925) was an English stage and silent film actor. Courtenay Foote was born in Yorkshire, England, Foote attended Oxford, studied engineering in Germany, and worked as a civil engineer in Scotland. Friends who heard him recite blank verse encouraged him to become an actor, but his grandfather opposed that idea.
Courtenay Foote

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- Name
- Courtenay Foote
- Born
- 22 November 1878
- Birthplace
- Harrogate, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
- Died
- 4 May 1925
- Place of death
- Italy
- Occupation
- Actor
- Nationality
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
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wikidata · Q5178468 · wikipedia · Courtenay Foote
In this article
Biography
Biography
Foote abandoned the plan for a while and became a broker, but his lack of success in that field led his grandfather to drop his opposition to acting. Foote told columnist Marjorie Daw in 1919 that he was descended from the 18th Century actor-playwright Samuel Foote. An introduction to F. Benson, followed by Foote's recitations as an audition, resulted in Foote's first acting job. He performed with Benson's troupe for 18 months, progressing from smaller parts to more significant roles. He went on to London, performing at the Haymarket Theatre, the Court Theatre, and the Shakesperean Festival. Foote's first play in the United States was The Debtors, in which he debuted as Arthur Clenham in New York, followed by a touring production. A developing interest in motion pictures led Foote to visit Vitagraph Studios several times, each visit increasing his interest, His film debut was in the initial Captain Barnacle production. He went on to work for Reliance and Majestic studios. He appeared with George Arliss on stage in 1911 in the long running play Disraeli. He appeared in 59 films between 1910 and 1924.

Still from the American silent film The Passion Flower (1921) with Courtenay Foote, Norma Talmadge, and Eulalie Jensen, on page 59 of the April 9, 1921 Exhibitors Herald.
Norma Talmadge Film Corporation / Associated First National Pictures · Exhibitors Herald (Apr. - Jun. 1921) on the Internet Archive

Still from the American drama film The Bronze Bell (1921) with Courtenay Foote and Doris May, on page 69 of the June 25, 1921 Exhibitors Herald.
Thomas H. Ince Corporation / Paramount Pictures · Exhibitors Herald (Apr. - Jun. 1921) on the Internet Archive
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Courtenay Foote • Born — 22 November 1878 • Birthplace — Harrogate, West Riding of Yorkshire, England • Died — 4 May 1925 • Place of death — Italy • Occupation — Actor • Years Active — 1914–1924
Partial filmography
Partial filmography
• So Near, Yet so Far (1912) • The Quicksands (1914) • Home, Sweet Home (1914) • The Pursuit of the Phantom (1914) • Buckshot John (1915) • Captain Courtesy (1915) • Hypocrites (1915) • His Parisian Wife (1919) • The Two Brides (1919) • The Bronze Bell (1921) • The Passion Flower (1921) • Fascination (1922) • Ashes of Vengeance (1923) • Little Old New York (1923) • Tess of the d'Urbervilles (1924)
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Harrogate.
Birth place
Italy.
Death place
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The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Courtenay Foote, revision 1373357477 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 September 2026.
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