subject: Jack Pickford : Best Actor Of All Time [print this page] Jack Pickford was a Canadian-American actor born August 18, 1896 in Toronto (Canada) and died January 3, 1933 in Paris.He was best known for his tempestuous lifestyle, his marriages to starlets of the moment, and to belong to the family of actors Pickford, the most famous was his "Mary Pickford (Gladys Smith alias).
He was born John Charles Smith in Toronto, Ontario, Canada John Charles Smith and Charlotte Smith Hennessy in 1896. His alcoholic father abandoned the family when he was a young child, leaving his family in need. In desperation, Jack and Charlotte Hennessy allowed his two sisters Gladys and Lottie to make the scene. This proved a good source of income and in 1900 the family was based in New York while performing in plays throughout the United States.
Through its activities, the family was constantly separated until 1910, when Gladys signed with Biograph studios. Its on Gladys Smith becomes Mary Pickford (Mary was her middle name, Pickford an old name). This led to the Smith family to take Pickford stage name.
Shortly after signing his contract, Mary assured of work for his family, including Jack who was then 14 years. From the Biograph Company in Hollywood, only Mary was on the trip, but Jack was eager to accompany him. In the end, Charlotte did jump on the bandwagon at the last moment with the active support of Mary. After arriving in California, Jack went on to minor roles. Mary quickly became a huge star, and signed a contract for 1 million with First National Pictures in 1917. On the contract were specified family interests, providing a good situation to that which is now called "Jack Pickford".
When he signed with First National, Jack had already appeared in 95 movies and short films.Even if it were seen as a good actor, he never seemed to deliver its full potential . In 1917, he played two of its major roles, that of "Pip" in adaptation of Charles Dickens' Great Expectations, but the title role of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain.
After his stint in the Navy, Pickford continued activity. But in 1923, he never turned a single movie and in 1928 he completed his latest film, Gang War, in the role of Clyde Baxter. He touched the writing and directing actors but without pursuing further.
Most of his films are considered B movies, even if it could make a name. His image was that of the pure juice or American neighbor next door, the boy next door.
By 1933, Jack comes to see Mary at Pickfair. According to the latter, he looked ill with a gaunt face, his clothes hung as if it were a coat hanger. Mary Pickford recalled in his autobiography that she had a premonition while watching his brother go. As they began to descend the stairs to the entrance for cars, Jack turned around and said, "Do not me back, dear Mary, I can leave alone." Remained at the top of the stairs, an inner voice rang in Mary "is the last time you see Jack," recalls she would say.
Jack Pickford died at the American Hospital in Paris January 3, 1933. According to reports, his death was caused by a progressive multiple neuritis who had attacked all the nerve centers. "[2] From the bedroom window of his death, he could see the window where his first wife was Olive Thomas died thirteen years earlier. Mary Pickford made repatriate her body to Los Angeles where he was buried in the family plot in the cemetery of the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale (California) .
Jack Pickford a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1523 Vine Street.
