Harry Depp

Harry Depp
Still from the American film Rowdy Ann (1919) with Al Haynes (white shirt), Fay Tincher, and Harry Depp (on ground)
Born
Harry Depp

22 February 1883
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
DiedMarch 31, 1957(1957-03-31) (aged 74)
Hollywood, California, USA[1]
Occupation(s)Stage and film actor, comedian, writer, real estate agent
Years active1916–1947
Spouses
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(m. 1915; died 1932)​
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(m. 1950)​
ChildrenEvelyn Christine

Harry Depp (22 February 1883 – 31 March 1957) was an American film actor, silent film pioneer, comedian, agent and real estate investor. He was born 22 February 1883 in St. Louis, Missouri to William Depp and Laura Freund. Between 1916 and 1947 he starred in 195 films.

Career

He started as a stage actor in New York City. He worked in early film on the East Coast, and eventually in Hollywood with companies such as Universal Film Manufacturing Company, Victor Film Company, Triangle Film Corporation, and also with Christie Film Company. In 1911, he starred in Klaw & Erlanger's The Pink Lady, a musical comedy by Ivan Caryll and C.M.S. McLellan.[2]

Between 1916 and 1917 he worked for Mack Sennett, often being cast for supporting roles that required impersonation of female characters. He later joined Universal where he continued cross-dressing to a degree.[1]

He had an extensive filmography, and was not only a featured comedic player with Triangle, Christie, Universal, Warner Brothers, but continued acting in small parts through the 1940s, even as Catterson - The Chemist in Leave Her to Heaven.[3] He continued to work as a character actor in many films through the 1930s and 1940s.

At some point in the 1920s, he suffered partial facial paralysis, and was not able to continue acting. He went into real estate, possibly with the help of the Christie Brothers: Al Christie, and Charles Christie, who while producing motion pictures, also had a real estate company. The 1930 Federal Census lists his profession as Real Estate Sales.[1]

In 1915, he married Nedra Belle Gilosky. They had one daughter, Evelyn Christine in 1928. Belle died in 1932. In 1950, Harry married Helen William.[4]

Selected filmography

References

  1. ^ a b c Ginibre, Jean-Louis (2005). "When Drag was Queen". Ladies Or Gentlemen: A Pictorial History of Male Cross-dressing in the Movies (1st ed.). Filipacchi. p. 69. ISBN 9781933231044.
  2. ^ "Variety". January 21, 1911.
  3. ^ "IMDB Leave Her To Heaven".
  4. ^ "Harry Depp (1883-1957) - Find A Grave Memorial". www.findagrave.com. Retrieved 2018-08-24.