Berton Churchill
Biography
Berton Churchill was a Canadian actor whose career spanned stage and film. Born in Toronto, he moved to New York City, where he studied law at night and acted with the William J. Florence Dramatic Society before joining stock companies in 1903. He performed with a traveling repertory company, made his Broadway debut in The Barber of New Orleans (1909) and last appeared there in Five Star Final (1930). An early member of Actors Equity, he helped found the Masquers club in 1925 and the Screen Actors Guild in 1933. From about 1929 he turned to motion pictures, moving to Hollywood after sound arrived. He specialized in supporting roles as stern or pompous figures, bankers, governors, and land barons, appearing in more than 125 films and working with directors John Ford and Frank Capra. His best-known role was the absconding banker Gatewood in Ford's Stagecoach (1939).
63years old at death
- Born Toronto
- Died New York City
- Star sign: SagittariusThe sign runs November 22 to December 21
Movie Career
- Films
- 24
- Career span
- 9 years1931 to 1940
First and latest
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Behind the camera
Churchill was one of the founders of the Masquers club in 1925. Five other actors joined him in starting the Screen Actors Guild in 1933.
A first
Churchill was much in demand, and in 1932 alone he appeared in 34 films, which was believed to be a record.
Big break
E. F. Albee noticed Churchill acting in Boston, which helped his career, and brought him into a summer stock company in Pawtucket. Churchill acted there nearly every summer for at least two decades.
A change of course
Churchill belonged to Actors Equity from its earliest days and served on the union's Council. During the Equity strike in 1919, he ran the New York headquarters.
A change of course
As a young man with an interest in the theater, Churchill appeared in stock companies starting in 1903. He also worked as a newspaper pressman and eventually became a foreman and a leader of his union.
Berton Churchill movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
John Ford directed three of these films, Mervyn LeRoy three and Roy Del Ruth three. Three actors appear in four of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Allen Jenkins's page
Loretta Young's page
David Landau's page
John Carradine's page
Irving Bacon's page
Guy Kibbee's page
All films by John Ford
Mervyn LeRoyDirector, 3 films, 1932 to 1935
All films by Mervyn LeRoy
Roy Del RuthDirector, 3 films, 1932 to 1933
All films by Roy Del Ruth
Also three films together5 more actors
- Edwin MaxwellFrisco Jenny (1933), Heroes for Sale (1933) and American Madness (1932)
- Cecil CunninghamFour Men and a Prayer (1938), If I Had a Million (1932) and The Rich Are Always with Us (1932)
- Charley GrapewinJudge Priest (1934), Heroes for Sale (1933) and American Madness (1932)
- Dick PowellThe Singing Marine (1937), Page Miss Glory (1935) and Dames (1934)
- Robert Emmett O'ConnorFrisco Jenny (1933), American Madness (1932) and Taxi! (1932)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.