Berton Churchill
Berton Churchill was a Canadian stage and film actor.
Early years
Churchill was born in Toronto, Ontario. After his family moved to New York City, he graduated from high school there, studied law at night, and was a weekly participant in the William J. Florence Dramatic Society in Jersey City.
As a young man interested in the theater, he appeared in stock companies as early as 1903 and worked as a newspaper pressman, eventually becoming a foreman and leader of his union. Progressing in his acting, he began performing with the Berkely Lyceum.
Career
Churchill acted for two years with a traveling repertory company, developing skills that eventually took him to Broadway. The death of his father caused him to return home to work as a press foreman. Eventually he returned to acting in small parts. His career received a boost when E. F. Albee saw him perform in Boston. Albee added him to his summer stock company at Pawtucket, where Churchill continued to perform almost every summer for at least two decades.
His first performance on Broadway was in The Barber of New Orleans, and his last was in Five Star Final.
He was one of the earliest members of Actors Equity and sat on the union's Council. In 1919, he was in charge of the New York headquarters during the Equity strike.
Around 1929, Churchill began to perform in motion pictures. Following the use of sound in film, he moved to Hollywood, California. There, he landed numerous supporting roles, usually as the stern or pompous character with such roles as a banker, a state governor, or a land baron. He was much in demand, "establishing what was believed to be a record by appearing in 34 in 1932 alone." In more than 125 films, Churchill worked for some of the great directors such as Otto Preminger, John Ford, and Frank Capra. As well, he performed with many of the most famous stars of the day, such as Bette Davis, Jeanette MacDonald, Tyrone Power, Edward G. Robinson, and Will Rogers. Churchill is perhaps best known for his role as Gatewood, the absconding banker in John Ford's highly acclaimed 1939 film Stagecoach, starring John Wayne.
In 1925, Churchill helped found the Masquers club that led to him and five other actors creating the Screen Actors Guild in 1933.
Death
Churchill died in Medical Arts Center Hospital in New York City, of uremic poisoning. His body was returned to the west coast to be interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.
Selected filmography
The Road Called Straight as Robert SwiftmoreSix Cylinder Love as George StapletonTongues of Flame as BolandNothing But the Truth as E.M. BurkeTarnished Lady as Stock Speculator Secrets of a Secretary as Mr. MerrittMy Sin as Mr. Osgood Husband's Holiday as Gerald BurgessAir Eagles as Windy J. BaileyThis Reckless Age as BankerTaxi! as Judge West Impatient Maiden Cheaters at Play A Fool's Advice as Mayor Martin SloanThe Wet Parade as Roger's Uncle Dick Scandal for Sale as BunnyweatherIt's Tough to Be Famous as Admiral Blaine The Mouthpiece as Judge, Rocco Trial Two Seconds as The WardenThe Rich Are Always with Us as Judge BradshawForgotten Commandments as Minor Role The Dark Horse as William A. UnderwoodWeek Ends Only as A.S. CarrFast Companions as Committee ChairmanThe Washington Masquerade as Sen. BitlerAmerican Madness as O'Brien Okay, America! as Jacob BaronThe Crooked Circle as Col. WaltersThe Cabin in the Cotton as Lane NorwoodThe Big Stampede as Gov. WallaceFalse Faces as Dr. John B. ParkerWashington Merry-Go-Round as SpeakerI Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang as The JudgeAfraid to Talk as Mayor William 'Billy' ManningIf I Had a Million as Warden Madame Butterfly as American ConsulFrisco Jenny as Judge Thomas B. Reynolds The Billion Dollar Scandal as The WardenLaughter in Hell as Mike SlaneyThe Mysterious Rider as Mark KingEmployees' Entrance as Mr. Bradford Hard to Handle as Col. H.D.X. Wells From Hell to Heaven as Toledo JonesPrivate Jones as Roger WinthropThe Little Giant as Donald Hadley CassSo This Is Africa as Movie ProducerElmer, the Great as Colonel MoffittHeroes for Sale as Mr. WinstonI Love That Man as Mordant – Casket BuyerHer First Mate as DavisThe Big Brain as Col. HigginbothamThe Avenger as ForsterDoctor Bull as Herbert Banning – Janet's BrotherGolden Harvest as Eben MartinLadies Must Love as GaskinsOnly Yesterday as Goodheart College Coach as OtisMaster of Men as Mr. WallingFrontier Marshal as Ben 'Hiram' MeltonHi, Nellie! as GrahamMen in White as John Hudson Let's Be Ritzy as R.M. PembrookStrictly Dynamite as Mr. RiversHalf a Sinner as Deacon Caswell Murder in the Private Car as Luke CarsonBachelor Bait as 'Big' Barney NolanFriends of Mr. Sweeney as Franklyn P. BrumbaughDames as Harold Ellsworthy ToddTake the Stand as Mr. Jerome BurbankJudge Priest as Senator Horace MaydewRedhead as Mr. BrownKid Millions as Col. Harrison LarrabeeMenace as Norman BellamyBabbitt as Judge Virgil 'Verge' ThompsonSing Sing Nights as Governor DuaneBachelor of Arts as Alexander Hamilton Sr.Life Is Worth Living Helldorado as 'Clarion' EditorThe County Chairman as Elias RigbyA Night at the Ritz as Stephen VincentVagabond Lady as R.D. Spear$10 Raise as Mr. BatesDizzy Dames as Dad HackettPage Miss Glory as Mr. Yates – Assistant Hotel ManagerSteamboat Round the Bend as New MosesI Live for Love as FabianThe Spanish Cape Mystery as Judge MacklinThe Rainmakers as Simon ParkerCoronado as Walter MarvinBlack Gold as J.C. AndersonYou May Be Next as J.J. HeldThe Dark Hour as Paul BernardColleen as LoganThree of a Kind as 'Con' CorneliusParole! as Rex GavinBunker Bean as Professor Ed BalthazerDimples as Col. LoringUnder Your Spell as JudgeRacing Lady as JudgeParnell as The O'Gorman MahonSing and Be Happy as John MasonYou Can't Beat Love as Police Chief BrennanThe Singing Marine as J. Montgomery MadisonPublic Wedding as H. Theodore Lane aka PopWild and Woolly as Edward RalstonQuick Money as Bluford H. SmytheIn Old Chicago as Senator ColbyHe Couldn't Say No as Senator MabbyWide Open Faces as L.D. CrawfordFour Men and a Prayer as Mr. Martin CherringtonKentucky Moonshine as J.BLadies in Distress as Fred MorganDanger on the Air as Caesar KluckDown in 'Arkansaw' as JudgeThe Cowboy and the Lady as HendersonSweethearts as SheridanStagecoach as Ellsworth Henry GatewoodSo This Is London as Hiram DraperDaughters Courageous as Judge Henry HornsbyShould Husbands Work? as BarnesThe Angels Wash Their Faces as Mayor DooleyHero for a Day as E. A. DowOn Your Toes as Donald HendersonBrother Rat and a Baby as Mr. Norman20 Mule Team as 'Jackass' BrownSaturday's Children as Mr. NormanTurnabout as Julian MarloweThe Way of All Flesh as Reginald L. MortenCross-Country Romance as Col. ConwayPublic Deb No. 1 as MagistrateI'm Nobody's Sweetheart Now as Senator Henry Lowell