Spottiswoode Aitken
- For the rugby league footballer of the 1900s for England, and Oldham, see Frank Spottiswoode
| Spottiswoode Aitken | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
16 April 1868 Edinburgh, United Kingdom |
| Died |
26 February 1933 (aged 64) Los Angeles, California, US |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1910–1928 |
| Spouse(s) | Marion Dana Jones |
Frank Spottiswoode Aitken (16 April 1868 – 26 February 1933) was a Scottish actor of the silent era. He was perhaps best known for his role as Dr. Cameron in The Birth of a Nation (1915).[1]
Early years
Aitken was born 16 April 1868 in Edinburgh, Scotland.[2]
Acting
In his book, The King of the Movies: Film Pioneer Siegmund Lubin, Joseph P. Eckhardt wrote that Aitken was "trained as a Shakespearean actor, with many years of experience under his belt."[3] His film debut came in 1911.[4] He eventually appeared in 81 feature films between 1914 and 1927.[5]
Business
Aitken was one of the first actors to settle in Los Angeles when the film industry was still at its strongest in New York. He invested most of his earnings in property, buying up orange groves around what would become Hollywood.
Personal life
Aitken was involved in a controversy in 1922 when, after suing his wife for divorce for alleged infidelity, she countersued. A United Press news story reported that she was "alleging her husband had coerced her into living with Hay Weinstein, wealthy Santa Barbaran, so that he could extort money from Weinstein."[6]
The couple had three children: Francis Spottiswoode Aitken Jr., Francis Aitken and Margaret Shirley Aitken.[7]
Death
Aitken died 24 February 1933 in Los Angeles, California. He was 64 years old.[2]
Partial filmography
- The Battle (1911)
- The Angel of Contention (1914)
- The Girl in the Shack (1914)
- Home, Sweet Home (1914)
- The Green-Eyed Devil (1914)
- The Avenging Conscience (1914)
- Captain Macklin (1915)
- The Birth of a Nation (1915)
- The Flying Torpedo (1916)
- Macbeth (1916)
- Intolerance (1916)
- Acquitted (1916)
- An Innocent Magdalene (1916)
- Pathways of Life (1916)
- Stage Struck (1917)
- Souls Triumphant (1917)
- The Americano (1917)
- How Could You Jean? (1918)
- The Cruise of the Make-Believes (1918)
- The Wicked Darling (1919)
- Captain Kidd, Jr. (1919)
- The White Heather (1919)
- Rough Riding Romance (1919)
- Evangeline (1919)
- Bonnie Bonnie Lassie (1919)
- Nomads of the North (1920)
- The White Circle (1920)
- Beyond (1921)
- Reputation (1921)
- At the End of the World (1921)
- One Wonderful Night (1922)
- Around the World in Eighteen Days (1923)
- Merry-Go-Round (1923)
- Triumph (1924)
- The Fire Patrol (1924)
- The Coast Patrol (1925)
References
- ↑ Katz, Ephraim; Nolen, Ronald Dean (2013). The Film Encyclopedia 7e: The Complete Guide to Film and the Film Industry. Harper Collins. ISBN 9780062277114. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
- 1 2 Ellenberger, Allan R. (2001). Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory. McFarland. p. 112. ISBN 9780786450190. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
- ↑ Eckhardt, Joseph P. (1997). The King of the Movies: Film Pioneer Siegmund Lubin. Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press. p. 105. ISBN 9780838637289. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
- ↑ Soister, John T. (2012). American Silent Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy Feature Films, 1913-1929. McFarland. p. 20. ISBN 9780786487905. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
- ↑ Katchmer, George A. (2002). A Biographical Dictionary of Silent Film Western Actors and Actresses. McFarland. p. 4. ISBN 9781476609058. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
- ↑ "Bizarre Hollywood Regales Us With a New but Ancient Scandal in Wife's Charges". The Des Moines Register. Iowa, Des Moines. United Press. February 26, 1922. p. 1. Retrieved September 3, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "$100,000 Left by Noted Actor". Oakland Tribune. California, Oakland. Associated Press. March 24, 1933. p. 6. Retrieved September 3, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
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