Henry O'Neill (August 10, 1891 – May 18, 1961)[1] was an American actor known for playing gray-haired fathers, lawyers, and similarly dignified roles on film during the 1930s and 1940s.

Henry O'Neill
O'Neill in 1936
Born(1891-08-10)August 10, 1891
DiedMay 18, 1961(1961-05-18) (aged 69)
Resting placeSan Fernando Mission Cemetery
OccupationActor
Years active1930–1957
Spouse
Anna Barry
(m. 1924)
Children1

Early life

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Henry O'Neill was born in Orange, New Jersey on August 10, 1891[2] where he grew up before moving to Los Angeles, California.[citation needed]

Career

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O'Neill began his acting career on the stage, after dropping out of college to join a traveling theater company.[3] He served in the Navy in World War I, after which he worked at several jobs, including being an usher in a funeral home.[4] Eventually, he returned to the stage. His Broadway debut came in The Spring (1921), and his final Broadway appearance was in Shooting Star (1933).[1] He also acted with the Provincetown Players and the Celtic Players.[4]

In the early 1930s he began appearing in films, including The Big Shakedown (1934), the Western Santa Fe Trail (1940), the musical Anchors Aweigh (1945),[3] The Green Years (1946), and The Reckless Moment (1949). His last film was The Wings of Eagles (1957), starring John Wayne.

Personal life

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He was on the board of directors of the Screen Actors Guild and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[2]

In 1924, O'Neill married Anna Barry. They had one child and remained wed until his death.[3]

O'Neill died in Hollywood, California, at the age of 69. His remains are interred at San Fernando Mission Cemetery in North Hollywood.[5]

Selected filmography

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Henry O'Neill". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on September 29, 2019. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Hollywood Star Walk: Henry O'Neill". Los Angeles Times. May 21, 1961.
  3. ^ a b c Gordon, Dr Roger L. (2018). Supporting Actors in Motion Pictures. Dorrance Publishing. pp. 28–29. ISBN 9781480944992. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
  4. ^ a b Stokes, Jon (February 26, 1939). "An Actor". Detroit Free Press. Michigan, Detroit. p. 60. Retrieved September 29, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14000 Famous Persons by Scott Wilson
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