Raymond Griffith

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From Wikipedia

Raymond Griffith (January 23, 1895 - November 25, 1957) was

one of the great silent movie comedians. Later in his career, he worked behind

the camera as writer and producer.

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

actorâ??others have stated that a childhood disease was more likely the cause.

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.

Griffith choked to death at the Masquers Club in Los

Angeles, California, aged 62, on November 25, 1957.