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King Baggot

King Baggot

Known For Acting
Birthday Nov 06, 1879
Died Jul 11, 1948 (68)
Birthplace Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
Popularity 0.3 (history)
Updated May 05, 2025
Entry Date Apr 19, 2024
Links TMDb IMDb
Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia William King Baggot (November 7, 1879 – July 11, 1948) was an American actor, film director and screenwriter. He was an internationally famous movie star of the silent film era. The first individually publicized leading man in America, Baggot was referred to as ... "King of the Movies", "The Most Photographed Man in the World", and "The Man Whose Face Is As Familiar As The Man In The Moon". Baggot appeared in over 300 motion pictures from 1909 to 1947, wrote 18 screenplays, and directed 45 movies from 1912 to 1928, including The Lie (1912), Raffles: The Amateur Cracksman (1925), and The House of Scandal (1928). He also directed William S. Hart in his most famous western, Tumbleweeds (1925). Among his film appearances, Baggot was best known for The Scarlet Letter (1911), Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1913), and Ivanhoe (1913). Baggot began his career on the stage, in a Shakespearean stock company, and toured throughout the U.S. While acting in stock in St. Louis in 1909, he was cast as supporting player in the Schubert touring production of The Wishing Ring. When The Wishing Ring closed in Chicago, Baggot returned to New York to join another company. Upon a chance meeting with Harry Solter, who was directing movies for Carl Laemmle at Independent Moving Pictures Company (IMP), he was persuaded to go with Solter to the studio. Baggot became interested in the fledgling industry and decided to turn picture player. His first film was the romance short The Awakening of Bess (1909) opposite Florence Lawrence. It was directed by Harry Solter, her husband, at IMP in Fort Lee, New Jersey. At a time when screen actors worked anonymously, Baggot and Lawrence became the first "movie stars" to be given billing, a marquee, and promotion in advertising. Baggot starred in at least 42 movies opposite Lawrence from 1909 to 1911. In the latter year, he starred in at least 16 movies with Mary Pickford. He also began writing screenplays and directing, all the while becoming a major star internationally. When he appeared "in person" at theatres he was mobbed at stage doors. By 1912, he was so famous that when he took the leading part in forming the prestigious Screen Club in New York, the first organization of its kind strictly for movie people, he was the natural choice for its first president. King Baggot died in Los Angeles, California in 1948, age 68. For his contributions to the film industry, Baggot received a motion pictures star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960. His star is located at 6312 Hollywood Boulevard.

Known For

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Filmography

Merton of the Movies

Merton of the Movies

1947

as Man in Audience (uncredited)

My Brother Talks to Horses

My Brother Talks to Horses

1947

as Bank Employee (uncredited)

The Postman Always Rings Twice

The Postman Always Rings Twice

1946

as Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

The Secret Heart

The Secret Heart

1946

as Man at Graduation Ceremony

Dangerous Partners

Dangerous Partners

1945

as Lunch Room Customer (uncredited)

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood

1945

as Barbershop Patron (uncredited)

Swing Fever

Swing Fever

1943

as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)

Her Cardboard Lover

Her Cardboard Lover

1942

as Police Officer in Courtroom (uncredited)

Jackass Mail

Jackass Mail

1942

as Old Miner

Rio Rita

Rio Rita

1942

as Hotel Guest (uncredited)

Fingers at the Window

Fingers at the Window

1942

as Psychiatrist at Lecture (uncredited)

Come Live with Me

Come Live with Me

1941

as Doorman

The Big Store

The Big Store

1941

as Store Employee (uncredited)

Honky Tonk

Honky Tonk

1941

as Townsman

Ziegfeld Girl

Ziegfeld Girl

1941

as Man in Audience (uncredited)

The Philadelphia Story

The Philadelphia Story

1940

as Wedding Guest (uncredited)

The Ghost Comes Home

The Ghost Comes Home

1940

as Townsman at Banquet (uncredited)

Bitter Sweet

Bitter Sweet

1940

as Cafe Patron (uncredited)

Gallant Sons

Gallant Sons

1940

as Man on Street / Man in Audience (uncredited)

I Take This Woman

I Take This Woman

1940

as Man in Subway (uncredited)

Stronger Than Desire

Stronger Than Desire

1939

as Juror (uncredited)

Dancing Co-Ed

Dancing Co-Ed

1939

as Man in Casting Office (uncredited)

The Ice Follies of 1939

The Ice Follies of 1939

1939

as Man in Audience (Uncredited)

Opening Day

Opening Day

1938

as Baseball Fan

That Mothers Might Live

That Mothers Might Live

1938

as Passerby (uncredited)

Snow Gets in Your Eyes

Snow Gets in Your Eyes

1938

as Department Store Customer (uncredited)

Stablemates

Stablemates

1938

as Bettor

Arsène Lupin Returns

Arsène Lupin Returns

1938

as Detective (uncredited)

Boys Town

Boys Town

1938

as Derelict in Mission (uncredited)

Marie Antoinette

Marie Antoinette

1938

as Nobleman at Court (uncredited)

It May Happen to You

It May Happen to You

1937

as Man in Hospital (uncredited)

A Night at the Movies

A Night at the Movies

1937

as Movie Patron (uncredited)

Torture Money

Torture Money

1937

as False Accident Witness (uncredited)

The Emperor's Candlesticks

The Emperor's Candlesticks

1937

as Customs Official (uncredited)

Mad Holiday

Mad Holiday

1936

as Film Director (uncredited)

Sworn Enemy

Sworn Enemy

1936

as Accident Witness (uncredited)

The Devil-Doll

The Devil-Doll

1936

as Detective Pierre (uncredited)

The Adventures of Frank Merriwell

The Adventures of Frank Merriwell

1936

as Chemistry Professor

San Francisco

San Francisco

1936

as Earthquake Survivor (uncredited)

Chinatown Squad

Chinatown Squad

1935

as Patrol Wagon Guard

Mississippi

Mississippi

1935

as Gambler

Sweepstake Annie

Sweepstake Annie

1935

as Motion Picture Studio Executive (uncredited)

The Call of the Savage

The Call of the Savage

1935

as Dr. Pierce

3 Kids and a Queen

3 Kids and a Queen

1935

as Druggist

A Night at the Opera

A Night at the Opera

1935

as Dignitary (uncredited)

Romance in the Rain

Romance in the Rain

1934

as Milton McGillicuddy

The Red Rider

The Red Rider

1934

as Townsman

Beloved

Beloved

1934

as Second Doctor

I Loved a Woman

I Loved a Woman

1933

as Banker (uncredited)

Police Court

Police Court

1932

as Harry Field

The Big Flash

The Big Flash

1932

as Hinkle

What Price Hollywood?

What Price Hollywood?

1932

as Department Head (uncredited)

Girl of the Rio

Girl of the Rio

1932

as Maitre d'hotel, Purple Pigeon Cafe

Afraid to Talk

Afraid to Talk

1932

as Police Officer (uncredited)

The Death Kiss

The Death Kiss

1932

as Al Payne

Sweepstakes

Sweepstakes

1931

as Mike - Weber's Trainer

Graft

Graft

1931

as Ship's Captain

The Bad Sister

The Bad Sister

1931

as Policeman on Street (uncredited)

The Girl in the Taxi

The Girl in the Taxi

1921

as Maj. Frederick Smith

The Cheater

The Cheater

1920

as Lord Asgarby

Life's Twist

Life's Twist

1920

as Jim Sargent

The Forbidden Thing

The Forbidden Thing

1920

as Dave

The Eagle's Eye

The Eagle's Eye

1918

as Harrison Grant

The Silent Stranger

The Silent Stranger

1916

as The Silent Stranger

The Man from Nowhere

The Man from Nowhere

1916

as James Herron

The Marble Heart

The Marble Heart

1915

as Raphael / Phidias

The Suburban

The Suburban

1915

as Donald Gordon

Absinthe

Absinthe

1914

as Jean Dumas

Ivanhoe

Ivanhoe

1913

as Wilfred of Ivanhoe

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

1913

as Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Hyde

The Wanderer

The Wanderer

1913

as The Shepherd

A Cave Man Wooing

A Cave Man Wooing

1912

as George - the 'Sissy' Hero

Up Against It

Up Against It

1912

as Amos Bentley

Shamus O'Brien

Shamus O'Brien

1912

as Shamus O'Brien

At the Duke's Command

At the Duke's Command

1911

as Edward, the Duke's Nephew

The Secret of the Palm

The Secret of the Palm

1911

as Cecil Abbott

The Scarlet Letter

The Scarlet Letter

1911

as Reverend Dimmesdale

In the Sultan's Garden

In the Sultan's Garden

1911

as Lt. Robbins

The Master and the Man

The Master and the Man

1911

as Basil King

The Better Way

The Better Way

1911

as Louis Perry - a Reformed Crook

The Rose's Story

The Rose's Story

1911

as Gerald Kinney

Over the Hills

Over the Hills

1911

as Wayne Holland

The Temptress

The Temptress

1911

as Gilbert Irving

Second Sight

Second Sight

1911

as Tom Mooreland

Tracked

Tracked

1911

as Roger Densmore

Pictureland

Pictureland

1911

as Pablo

Sweet Memories

Sweet Memories

1911

as Edward Jackson

Science

Science

1911

as Dr. Crawford

The Fair Dentist

The Fair Dentist

1911

as Dental Patient

The Call of the Song

The Call of the Song

1911

as Hugh Norton

At a Quarter of Two

At a Quarter of Two

1911

as Dan Nolan - the Burglar

A Reno Romance

A Reno Romance

1910

as Jack

Two Men

Two Men

1910

as The Tenderfoot

Jane and the Stranger

Jane and the Stranger

1910

as The Stranger

The Eternal Triangle

The Eternal Triangle

1910

as The Dashing Young Count

A Game for Two

A Game for Two

1910

as Clark, the Best Friend

The New Shawl

The New Shawl

1910

as Jacques

The Awakening of Bess

The Awakening of Bess

1909

as Bess' Sweetheart

Love's Stratagem

Love's Stratagem

1909

as The Boy

Beatlemania

Beatlemania

1981

Director of Photography

Sporting Chance

Sporting Chance

1931

Story

The Rose's Story

The Rose's Story

1911

Scenario Writer

Romance of a Rogue

Romance of a Rogue

1928

Director

The Notorious Lady

The Notorious Lady

1927

Director

Perch of the Devil

Perch of the Devil

1927

Director

Lovey Mary

Lovey Mary

1926

Director

Tumbleweeds

Tumbleweeds

1925

Director

The Tornado

The Tornado

1925

Director

The Home Maker

The Home Maker

1925

Director

The Whispered Name

The Whispered Name

1924

Director

The Darling of New York

The Darling of New York

1923

Director

The Love Letter

The Love Letter

1923

Director

Human Hearts

Human Hearts

1922

Director

Kissed

Kissed

1922

Director

The Kentucky Derby

The Kentucky Derby

1922

Director

A Dangerous Game

A Dangerous Game

1922

Director

Cheated Love

Cheated Love

1921

Director

Nobody's Fool

Nobody's Fool

1921

Director

The Silent Stranger

The Silent Stranger

1916

Director

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Organization Category Movie
Television Credits

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Popularity Metrics

Popularity History


Year Month Avg Max Min
2024 6 2 3 1
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2024 8 6 13 2
2024 9 4 12 1
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