William Robert Daly (born William Robert Dailey; October 24, 1872 – 1935) was an actor and director of silent films in the U.S.

William Robert Daly
Daly c.1904
Born
William Robert Dailey

(1872-10-24)October 24, 1872
Died1935(1935-00-00) (aged 62–63)
U.S.
Occupation(s)Actor, director
Years active1891–1932
Spouse(s)Eva Condon
Fritzi Brunette

Early life edit

Daly was born on October 24, 1872, in Boston, Massachusetts, as William Robert Dailey.

Career edit

He became a "stage director" at 19 years-old.[1] He directed the 1914 film adaptation of Uncle Tom's Cabin featuring the first lead role for an African American actor in a feature film for white audiences. Sam Lucas, who had played Uncle Tom in theatrical productions, played the part.[2]

Daly portrayed the villain in the 1912 film The Kid and the Sleuth.[3] He worked as a producer with William Selig in 1916.[4] For Selig's 1916 film At Piney Ridge, Daly directed and produced. It was an adaption by Gilson Willets David K Higgins' theater production and Daly "escorted a company of players to the heart of the Tenn mtns where true scenes of mtneer life were filmed."[5]

He served on the board of The Screen Club and was photographed among its members in 1912.[6] In 1915 he was a director for the Dramatic Book film company in Santa Barabara.[7] He is pictured in a movie still lobby card from the 1922 film Pardon My Nerve.[8]

Personal life edit

He married actress Eva Condon and then remarried with Fritzi Brunette. He died in 1935.

Filmography edit

 
With Leatrice Joy in Down Home (1920)

Director edit

Actor edit

Executive producer edit

Producer edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Motography". 9 March 1916 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ "2012 National Film Registry". www.cbsnews.com. 19 December 2012.
  3. ^ a b Wlaschin, Ken (21 October 2009). Silent Mystery and Detective Movies: A Comprehensive Filmography. McFarland. ISBN 9780786454297 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ "Motography". 9 March 1916 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ a b c "Southern Mountaineers Filmography | Special Collections at Belk Library". collections.library.appstate.edu.
  6. ^ "Motion Picture News". Motion Picture News Incorporated. 2 May 1912 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ "Daily Tribune 21 March 1915 — Hoosier State Chronicles: Indiana's Digital Historic Newspaper Program". newspapers.library.in.gov.
  8. ^ a b "Pardon My Nerve!, US lobbycard, from left: William Robert Daly,..." Getty Images.
  9. ^ a b "William Robert Daly". BFI. Archived from the original on 13 July 2020.
  10. ^ "Motography". 2 May 1916 – via Google Books.
  11. ^ "Catalogue of Copyright Entries: Pamphlets, leaflets, contributions to newspapers or periodicals, etc.; lectures, sermons, addresses for oral delivery; dramatic compositions; maps; motion pictures". U.S. Government Printing Office. 2 May 1916 – via Google Books.
  12. ^ Movie stills
  13. ^ Munden, Kenneth White; Institute, American Film (2 May 1997). The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures Produced in the United States. University of California Press. ISBN 9780520209695 – via Google Books.
  14. ^ Nash, Jay Robert; Connelly, Robert; Ross, Stanley Ralph (9 January 1988). Motion Picture Guide Silent Film 1910-1936. Cinebooks. ISBN 9780933997103 – via Google Books.

External links edit