Arthur Donaldson
Born: 1969-04-05 in Norsholm, Östergötlands län, Sweden
Died: 1955-09-28
Known For: Acting
Biography
Swedish born classical stage star Arthur Donaldson born in Norsholm, Sweden in 1869. A well-known stage actor and a light opera baritone singer. Moved to the United States in 1883 and began his stage career in the 1890's, he originated the role of 'The Prince of Pilsen' in 1903. Handsome performer who often played high class gentlemen in more than 80 movies, making his film debut in 'A Lad from Old Ireland' for the Kalem Film Co in 1910. During the early 1910's he returned to Sweden, appearing in operettas at Oscarsteatern and also made two Swedish films (one as director) before going back to America. He became one of the best regarded character actors of the World War I era including as a German General in 'For France' at Vitagraph Film Co in 1917, one of his most memorable roles was that of George III in D.W. Griffith's 'America' in 1920. In 1925 he produced and directed 'Retribution' an experimental sound film intended for a Swedish-speaking audience, ironically, sound ultimately put an end to his screen career, he returned to the stage permanently in 1927, making his Broadway directorial debut in 1934 with 'The Green Stick'. He died in Long Island, New York in 1955 age 86.
Filmography
1931
1927
- The Broadway Drifter as Frank Harmon
- The Winning Oar as Robert Brooks
1926
- Love 'Em and Leave 'Em as Mr. McGonigle
1925
- The Swan as Franz, the Court Chamberlain
- School for Wives as Jordan B. Lynch
- Fifty-Fifty as Grand Duke Popovitch
- Down Upon the Suwanee River as Dais Norwood
1924
- America as King George III
- Yolanda as Lord Bishop
- The Bandolero as Juan
- For Woman's Favor as The Brother
1922
- When Knighthood Was in Flower as Sir Henry Brandon
- Find the Woman as Morris Beiner
- Finger Prints
1921
- The Silver Lining as Friend of the Baxters
- Gilded Lies as Major Burns
- A Modern Salome as Walter Greene
- Is Life Worth Living? as Isaac - Pawnbroker
- The Rider of the King Log as Stephen Marthorn
- The Passionate Pilgrim as O'Rell
- Luring Shadows
1920
- Mothers of Men as Gen. De La Motte
- The Hidden Light as Detective Hayden
1919
- Atonement as Anselmo
- Mind the Paint Girl as Vincent Bland
- Miss Dulcie from Dixie as Uncle John
- The ABC of Love as Prof. George Collins
- The Captain's Captain as Cap'n Abe / Am'zon
- Daring Hearts as Burgomaster
- Me and Captain Kidd as Randolph Hamilton
- The Undercurrent as Malin
1918
- The Green God as Major Temple
- Over the Top as Friederich von Emden
1917
- Danger Trail as Pierre Thoreau
- For France as Rudolph Von Glahm
- Enlighten Thy Daughter as Richard Stevens
- Babbling Tongues as Joseph Moreau
- I Will Repay as Caesar
- Who Goes There? as Gen. Von Reiter
1916
- The Salamander ... (Director)
- The Faded Flower as Wilbur Mason
- Should a Baby Die? as Jacob Cohen
- A Woman's Honor as Tochetti
- Her American Prince as Baron Von Blumberg
1915
- The Ghost of Twisted Oaks
- The Moth and the Flame as Mr. Walton
- Runaway June
1914
- Three Weeks as Dimitri the Queen's Bodyguard
- Wolfe or the Conquest of Quebec as Marquis de Montcalm
- The Land of the Lost as Baron de Coverly
1913
- The Bribe as Higby - a Political Rival
- The Padrone's Plot as The Padrone
- The Blind Basket Weaver as Dr. Arnold
- Story of a Girl from the Archipelago as The Rich Man
1912
- His Mother as The Priest
- The Power of Music as Edvard Björkman
1911
- The Colleen Bawn as Father Tom
- Rory O'More as Father O'Brien
- The Fishermaid of Ballydavid as Kathleen's Father
1910
- The Lad from Old Ireland as Parish Priest