Charles Kenneth Thomson (January 7, 1899 – January 26, 1967) was an American character actor active on stage and on film during the silent and early sound film eras.
Early years
Born in Pittsburgh,[1] Thomson was the son of Edith Taylor Thomson, a concert manager,[2] who raised him alone after his father died when Kenneth was seven years old. As a youth, he worked as a copy boy at the Pittsburgh Leader and helped to distribute publicity material for concerts that his mother arranged. Later, he worked for a steel company and an insurance company[3]
After graduation from CIT, Thomson worked as an extra and assistant stage manager with a stock theater company in Lakewood, Maine, for several summers. He also acted with Ethel Barrymore in a touring production of Declassee. During subsequent winters he acted in plays that included Shavings and The Emperor Jones. During a winter on the Pacific coast, he acted in a touring production of Three Wise Fools. He later acted with a stock company headed by Margaret Anglin.[3]
Following his West Coast performance in The Rivals, Thomson declined a contract offer to work in films from Cecil B. DeMille, Returning to New York, Thomson acted in Hush Money with Henry Miller's company., following which he accepted a two-year contract offer from DeMille.[3]
Thomson and his wife, Alden Gay, were founding members of the Screen Actors Guild.[4] The group was founded after meetings held at the Thomsons' home during 1933.[5] He was the group's secretary and its magazine's managing editor.[2]
