George Lessey

Biography

George Lessey was an American actor and director who worked largely in the silent era, appearing in over 120 films from 1910 to 1946 and directing more than 70 between 1913 and 1922. He was born in Amherst, Massachusetts, where he acted in theatrical productions as a boy, and he graduated from Amherst College. After a year as a leading man for Edison Studios, he directed films for that company for two years, then joined Universal Studios as a director in 1914. His early work included portraying Romeo in the first film version of Romeo and Juliet, directing What Happened to Mary, the first serial, and taking the first dual role in film, playing twins in The Corsican Brothers. On Broadway he appeared in the original production of Porgy and Bess in 1935, as the lawyer Mr. Archdale in one of the few white roles.

67years old at death

Born June 8, 1879Amherst
Died June 3, 1947Westbrook
Star sign: GeminiThe sign runs May 21 to June 20

Movie Career

Films: 11
Career span: 4 years1940 to 1944

Genres

Drama55%, 6 films
Romance55%, 6 films
Comedy36%, 4 films
Western27%, 3 films
Biography18%, 2 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

A change of course
Lessey was a leading man at Edison Studios for a year, then spent two years directing films there. He became a director at Universal Studios in 1914.
Beyond film
Lessey appeared on Broadway in the original 1935 production of Porgy and Bess, playing the lawyer Mr. Archdale in one of the few white roles.

George Lessey movies on Netflix

Buffalo Bill1944IMDb rating 6.4as Mr. Schyler Vandervere
None Shall Escape1944IMDb rating 7.1as Presiding Judge
Roxie Hart1942IMDb rating 6.9as Judge
The Pride of the Yankees1942IMDb rating 7.6as Mayor of New Rochelle
Blossoms in the Dust1941IMDb rating 6.9as Mr. Keats
Andy Hardy Meets Debutante1940IMDb rating 6.6as Underwood
Boom Town1940IMDb rating 7.0as Judge
Dr. Kildare's Strange Case1940IMDb rating 6.0as Rufus Ingersoll
Edison, the Man1940IMDb rating 7.0as Toastmaster
Go West1940IMDb rating 6.8as Railroad President
Strike Up the Band1940IMDb rating 6.8as Mr. Morgan

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

Go West1940 Comedy, Musical, Westernas Railroad President
IMDb rating 6.86.2K votes
Blossoms in the Dust1941 Drama, Romanceas Mr. Keats
IMDb rating 6.92.5K votes
Buffalo Bill1944as Mr. Schyler Vandervere
IMDb rating 6.41.8K votes
Strike Up the Band1940as Mr. Morgan
IMDb rating 6.82.2K votes
Boom Town1940as Judge
IMDb rating 7.04.2K votes
The Pride of the Yankees1942as Mayor of New Rochelle
IMDb rating 7.613K votes
Andy Hardy Meets Debutante1940as Underwood
IMDb rating 6.61.1K votes
Roxie Hart1942as Judge
IMDb rating 6.92.1K votes

Most often with

William A. Wellman directed two of these films. Addison Richards appears in three of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Addison Richards

Mickey Rooney

Byron Foulger

Spencer Tracy

Samuel S. Hinds

Judy Garland

William A. WellmanDirector, 2 films

Films together

Addison Richards3 films together, 1940 to 1942
Addison Richards's page
- The Pride of the Yankees1942IMDb rating 7.6Lessey as Mayor of New RochelleRichards as Coach
- Andy Hardy Meets Debutante1940IMDb rating 6.6Lessey as UnderwoodRichards as Mr. Benedict
- Edison, the Man1940IMDb rating 7.0Lessey as ToastmasterRichards as Mr. Johnson
Mickey Rooney2 films together, 1940
Mickey Rooney's page
- Andy Hardy Meets Debutante1940IMDb rating 6.6Lessey as UnderwoodRooney as Andy Hardy
- Strike Up the Band1940IMDb rating 6.8Lessey as Mr. MorganRooney as Jimmy Connors
Byron Foulger2 films together, 1940
Byron Foulger's page
- Boom Town1940IMDb rating 7.0Lessey as JudgeFoulger as Geologist
- Edison, the Man1940IMDb rating 7.0Lessey as ToastmasterFoulger as Edwin Hall
Spencer Tracy2 films together, 1940
Spencer Tracy's page
- Boom Town1940IMDb rating 7.0Lessey as JudgeTracy as Square John Sand
- Edison, the Man1940IMDb rating 7.0Lessey as ToastmasterTracy as Thomas A. Edison
Samuel S. Hinds2 films together, 1940 to 1941
Samuel S. Hinds's page
- Blossoms in the Dust1941IMDb rating 6.9Lessey as Mr. KeatsHinds as Mr. George Kahley
- Dr. Kildare's Strange Case1940IMDb rating 6.0Lessey as Rufus IngersollHinds as Dr. Stephen Kildare
Judy Garland2 films together, 1940
Judy Garland's page
- Andy Hardy Meets Debutante1940IMDb rating 6.6Lessey as UnderwoodGarland as Betsy Booth
- Strike Up the Band1940IMDb rating 6.8Lessey as Mr. MorganGarland as Mary Holden
William A. WellmanDirector, 2 films, 1942 to 1944
All films by William A. Wellman
- Buffalo Bill1944IMDb rating 6.4Lessey as Mr. Schyler Vandervere
- Roxie Hart1942IMDb rating 6.9Lessey as Judge
Also two films together11 more actors
- Charles ColemanAndy Hardy Meets Debutante (1940) and Boom Town (1940)
- Sara HadenAndy Hardy Meets Debutante (1940) and Boom Town (1940)
- Henry TraversNone Shall Escape (1944) and Edison, the Man (1940)
- Frank OrthBoom Town (1940) and Dr. Kildare's Strange Case (1940)
- John EldredgeBlossoms in the Dust (1941) and Dr. Kildare's Strange Case (1940)
- Felix BressartBlossoms in the Dust (1941) and Edison, the Man (1940)
- Marsha HuntNone Shall Escape (1944) and Blossoms in the Dust (1941)
- Fay HoldenBlossoms in the Dust (1941) and Andy Hardy Meets Debutante (1940)
- Lynne OvermanRoxie Hart (1942) and Edison, the Man (1940)
- Nell CraigBoom Town (1940) and Dr. Kildare's Strange Case (1940)
- Diana LewisAndy Hardy Meets Debutante (1940) and Go West (1940)
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.

Top