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 Winning Oar as Robert Brooks
- The Broadway Drifter as Frank Harmon
1926
- Love 'Em and Leave 'Em as Mr. McGonigle
1925
- Fifty-Fifty as Grand Duke Popovitch
- School for Wives as Jordan B. Lynch
- The Swan as Franz, the Court Chamberlain
- Down Upon the Suwanee River as Dais Norwood
1924
- America as King George III
- Yolanda as Lord Bishop
- For Woman's Favor as The Brother
- The Bandolero as Juan
1922
- When Knighthood Was in Flower as Sir Henry Brandon
- Finger Prints
- Find the Woman as Morris Beiner
1921
- The Silver Lining as Friend of the Baxters
- The Passionate Pilgrim as O'Rell
- Luring Shadows
- A Modern Salome as Walter Greene
- Is Life Worth Living? as Isaac - Pawnbroker
- The Rider of the King Log as Stephen Marthorn
- Gilded Lies as Major Burns
1920
- Mothers of Men as Gen. De La Motte
- The Hidden Light as Detective Hayden
1919
- Atonement as Anselmo
- The Undercurrent as Malin
- Daring Hearts as Burgomaster
- Mind the Paint Girl as Vincent Bland
- The Captain's Captain as Cap'n Abe / Am'zon
- Me and Captain Kidd as Randolph Hamilton
- Miss Dulcie from Dixie as Uncle John
- The ABC of Love as Prof. George Collins
1918
- Over the Top as Friederich von Emden
1917
- Enlighten Thy Daughter as Richard Stevens
- Babbling Tongues as Joseph Moreau
- Who Goes There? as Gen. Von Reiter
- Danger Trail as Pierre Thoreau
1916
- The Salamander ... (Director)
- The Faded Flower as Wilbur Mason
- Should a Baby Die? as Jacob Cohen
- Her American Prince as Baron Von Blumberg
1915
- The Moth and the Flame as Mr. Walton
- Runaway June
- The Ghost of Twisted Oaks
1914
- Wolfe or the Conquest of Quebec as Marquis de Montcalm
- Three Weeks as Dimitri the Queen's Bodyguard
- The Land of the Lost as Baron de Coverly
1913
- The Padrone's Plot as The Padrone
- The Blind Basket Weaver as Dr. Arnold
- The Bribe as Higby - a Political Rival
1912
- His Mother as The Priest
1911
- Rory O'More as Father O'Brien
- The Colleen Bawn as Father Tom
- The Fishermaid of Ballydavid as Kathleen's Father
1910
- The Lad from Old Ireland as Parish Priest