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Ernest Torrence | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Torrence in 1924 | |
| Born | Ernest Thayson Torrence-Thomson (1878-06-26)26 June 1878 Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland |
| Died | 15 May 1933(1933-05-15) (aged 54) New York City, U.S. |
| Education | Edinburgh Academy Royal Academy of Music |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1901–1933 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Ian Torrence (b. 1907; d. 1966) |
| Relatives | David Torrence (brother) |
Ernest Torrence (bornErnest Torrance-Thomson, 26 June 1878 – 15 May 1933) was a Scottish filmcharacter actor who appeared in many Hollywood films, includingBroken Chains (1922) withColleen Moore,Mantrap (1926) withClara Bow andFighting Caravans (1931) withGary Cooper andLili Damita. A towering (6' 4") figure, Torrence frequently played cold-eyed and imposing villains.
He was born to Colonel Henry Torrence Thayson and Jessie (née Bryce)[1] on 26 June 1878, inEdinburgh,Scotland, and as a child was an exceptional pianist and operatic baritone and graduated from theStuttgart Conservatory,Edinburgh Academy before earning a scholarship at London'sRoyal Academy of Music. He toured with theD'Oyly Carte Opera Company in such productions asThe Emerald Isle (1901),Little Hans Andersen (1903)[2] andThe Talk of the Town (1905) before disarming vocal problems set in and he was forced to abandon this career path.
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Sometime prior to 1900, he changed the spelling of Torrance to Torrence and dropped the name Thomson. Both Ernest and his actor brotherDavid Torrence went to America, with Ernest joining David in New York in September 1911.[3] Focusing on a purely acting career, Ernest and his brother developed into experienced players on theBroadway New York stage. Ernest received significant acclaim withModest Suzanne in 1912, and a prominent role inThe Night Boat in 1920 brought him to the attention of the early Hollywood filmmakers. He also created the role of the painter Andrew McMurray inVictor Herbert'sThe Only Girl (1914).
Torrence played the despicable adversary Luke Hatburn inTol'able David (1921) oppositeRichard Barthelmess and immediately settled into films for the rest of his career and life. He played an old codger in the acclaimed classic westernThe Covered Wagon (1923) and gained attention from his roles inThe Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) asClopin, king of the beggars, and withBetty Bronson inPeter Pan (1924) as the dastardlyCaptain Hook. He played an Army General who escapes into the circus world and becomes a clown inThe Side Show of Life (1924).
In an offbeat bit of casting he paired up withClara Bow inMantrap (1926), unusually as a gentle, giant type backwoodsman in search of a wife. He appeared in other silent film classics such asThe King of Kings (1927) (as Peter) andSteamboat Bill, Jr. (1928) asBuster Keaton's steamboat captain father. During the course of his twelve-year film career, Ernest made 49 films, both silent and "talkies".
Torrence made the transition into talking films very well, starring inFighting Caravans (1931) withGary Cooper andLili Damita. He was able to play a notable nemesis,Dr. Moriarty, toClive Brook's Sherlock inSherlock Holmes (1932) in one of his last roles.
Filming forI Cover the Waterfront (1933), in which he starred as a smuggler oppositeClaudette Colbert in New York City, had just been completed when he died suddenly on 15 May 1933. Whileen route to Europe by ship, Torrence suffered an acute attack ofgall stones and was rushed back to a New York City hospital. He died of complications following surgery.[4]
