Raymond Griffith

• Name — Raymond Griffith • Born — 23 January 1895 • Birthplace — Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. • Died — 25 November 1957 • Place of death — Los Angeles, California, U.S. • Occupation — Actor • Years Active — 1918–1939 • Children — 1 (adopted)

Griffith was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He lost his voice at an early age, causing him to speak for the rest of his life in a hoarse whisper. Griffith claimed that it was the result of his having to scream at the top of his lungs every night in a stage melodrama as a child actor—others have stated that a childhood disease was more likely the cause. Lying about his age, Griffith enlisted in the U.S. Navy at age 15 and served for three years. He was later drafted for service in World War I but was not inducted because of his vocal problems. • Illustration — Lobby card with Jeanette Daudet, Pola Negri, and Griffith in Lily of the Dust (1924) Although a few comedy films of his are considered classics he is almost totally forgotten today. His film debut was for the L-KO Kompany. Many of his starring feature films have long since been lost, but probably the best known of his films today is Hands Up! (1926), a Civil War comedy feature directed by Clarence G. Badger, and co-starring Mack Swain, which was entered into the National Film Registry in 2005. Also considered a classic is Badger's Paths to Paradise, a caper film that is in all circulating prints missing its final reel. Like many silent comedians, he had a traditional costume; his was a top hat, white tie and tails, often augmented by a cape and/or walking stick. The coming of sound ended Griffith's acting career, but he did have one memorable role in a motion picture before retiring from the screen, playing a French soldier killed by Lew Ayres in the 1930 Lewis Milestone film All Quiet on the Western Front. He then segued into a writing/producing career at Twentieth Century Fox. As of 1929, Griffith was a Socialist. Griffith choked to death at the Masquers Club in Los Angeles, California, aged 62, on November 25, 1957.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1918 — The Red-Haired Cupid — Albert Jones — Lost film • 1919 — The Follies Girl — Fredric • 1920 — Love, Honor and Behave — Man with Married Girlfriend — Lost film • Down on the Farm — Writer • 1922 — The Crossroads of New York — Wall Street 'Wolf' — Lost film • Fools First — Tony — Lost film • Minnie — Chewing Gum Salesman — Lost film • 1923 — Red Lights — Sheridan Scott — Lost film • The Eternal Three — Leonard Foster • The Day of Faith — Tom Barnett — Lost film • White Tiger — Roy Donovan • Souls for Sale — Himself • 1924 — Poisoned Paradise: The Forbidden Story of Monte Carlo — Martel aka The Rat — Incomplete film, five of seven reels are preserved • The Dawn of a Tomorrow — The Dandy — Lost film • Nellie, the Beautiful Cloak Model — Shorty Burchell • Changing Husbands — Bob Hamilton • The Yankee Consul — Writer • Lily of the Dust — Karl Dehnecke — Lost film • Open All Night — Igor • 1925 — The Night Club — Robert White • Miss Bluebeard — The Honorable Bertie Bird • Forty Winks — Lord Chumley — Lost film • Paths to Paradise — The Dude from Duluth — Incomplete film, final reel is missing • Fine Clothes — Oscar — Lost film • A Regular Fellow — The Prince — Lost film • When Winter Went — Bookworm • 1926 — Hands Up! — Jack - a Confederate Spy • Wet Paint — He — Lost film • You'd Be Surprised — Mr. Green - The Coroner • The Waiter from the Ritz • 1927 — Wedding Bills — Algernon Schuyler Van Twidder — Lost film • Time to Love — Alfred Sava-Goiu — Lost film • 1929 — Trent's Last Case — Philip Trent • 1930 — All Quiet on the Western Front — Gérard Duval — Uncredited, (final film role) • 1933 — Ladies They Talk About — Producer • Broadway Through a Keyhole — Co-producer • 1934 — The House of Rothschild — Co-producer • 1936 — Private Number — Producer • 1939 — Hotel for Women — Producer