Gibson Gowland
Biography
Gibson Gowland was an English film actor who began his working life as a sailor and later became a ship's mate. He spent several years in South Africa hunting big game and prospecting for diamonds, and he also set up and performed with a theatrical company in Johannesburg. After prospecting in Canada, where he first acted on the legitimate stage, he moved to the United States in 1913 and settled in Hollywood as a bit player. He appeared in D.W. Griffith's The Birth of a Nation (1914) and Intolerance. Frequently given villainous parts, he had just one starring role, in Erich von Stroheim's Greed (1924), playing the dentist John McTeague opposite ZaSu Pitts. Von Stroheim had previously directed him in Blind Husbands (1919). He was Simon Buquet in The Phantom of the Opera (1925). From 1938 to 1945 he took small, often uncredited roles. He died in 1951.
74years old at death
- Born County Durham
- Died London
- Star sign: CapricornThe sign runs December 22 to January 19
Movie Career
- Films
- 11
- Career span
- 18 years1924 to 1942
First and latest
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A first
Gibson Gowland's only starring role among 63 films was as dentist John McTeague in Erich von Stroheim's Greed, a film cut to one-fifth of its original length by MGM for release.
A change of course
Before acting, Gowland worked as a sailor and became a ship's mate, then spent years in South Africa hunting big game and prospecting for diamonds while organizing and acting in a theatrical company in Johannesburg.
Gibson Gowland movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
William Nigh directed two of these films. Five actors appear in two of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Boris Karloff's page
Chester Conklin's page
Angelo Rossitto's page
Snitz Edwards's page
William NighDirector, 2 films, 1940
All films by William Nigh
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.