Kenneth Thomson

Biography

Kenneth Thomson was an American character actor of the silent and early sound eras, working on stage and in film. Born in Pittsburgh, he trained at the Carnegie Institute of Technology's drama school, then spent several summers as an assistant stage manager and extra with a stock company in Maine. He toured with Ethel Barrymore in Declassee, acted with Margaret Anglin's stock company, and appeared on Broadway in The Great Broxopp (1921), The Czarina (1922) and Hush Money (1926). After declining an early offer from Cecil B. DeMille, he later accepted a two-year contract from him and made his film debut starring in Risky Business in 1926. Over a 12-year screen career he made more than 60 films, mostly in supporting or featured roles, among them The Little Giant (1933) and Movie Crazy (1932), in which he starred opposite Harold Lloyd. He was a founding member of the Screen Actors Guild and died in 1967.

68years old at death

Born January 7, 1899Pittsburgh
Died January 26, 1967Hollywood
Star sign: CapricornThe sign runs December 22 to January 19
Also credited as Charles Kenneth Thomson

Movie Career

Films: 10
Career span: 5 years1929 to 1934

Genres

Comedy60%, 6 films
Crime50%, 5 films
Drama40%, 4 films
Romance40%, 4 films
Musical20%, 2 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

A role that slipped away
After acting in The Rivals on the West Coast, Thomson turned down a film contract from Cecil B. DeMille. Back in New York he acted in Hush Money with Henry Miller's company, then accepted a two-year contract from DeMille.
First role
Thomson acted in Broadway plays through the early and mid-1920s. He then made his film debut in a starring role in the 1926 movie Risky Business.
Beyond film
In 1933 Kenneth Thomson acted in The Good Fairy by Ferenc Molnar at the Beverly Hills Little Theatre for Professionals, a theater founded by Harold Lloyd and others.

Kenneth Thomson movies on Netflix

In Old Santa Fe1934IMDb rating 5.8as Matt Korber - alias Mr. Chandler
Female1933IMDb rating 6.7as Red
Jungle Bride1933IMDb rating 5.1as John Franklin
The Little Giant1933IMDb rating 7.0as John Stanley
Movie Crazy1932IMDb rating 7.1as Vance
Murder at Midnight1931IMDb rating 5.4as Jim Kennedy
Children of Pleasure1930IMDb rating 5.5as Rod Peck
Just Imagine1930IMDb rating 5.3as MT-3
The Doorway to Hell1930IMDb rating 6.5as Captain of Academy
The Broadway Melody1929IMDb rating 5.5as Jacques Warriner

Best known for

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

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Movie Crazy1932 Comedy, Romanceas Vance
IMDb rating 7.11.8K votes
The Little Giant1933 Comedy, Crimeas John Stanley
IMDb rating 7.01.6K votes
The Doorway to Hell1930as Captain of Academy
IMDb rating 6.51.6K votes
Female1933as Red
IMDb rating 6.72.1K votes
Jungle Bride1933as John Franklin
IMDb rating 5.1278 votes
In Old Santa Fe1934as Matt Korber - alias Mr. Chandler
IMDb rating 5.8227 votes
Children of Pleasure1930as Rod Peck
IMDb rating 5.5206 votes
Just Imagine1930as MT-3
IMDb rating 5.31.0K votes

Most often with

Harry Beaumont directed two of these films. Six 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.

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Sidney Bracey

Spencer Charters

Robert Elliott

Eddie Kane

Mary Doran

Anita PageHarry BeaumontDirector, 2 films

Films together

Sidney Bracey2 films together, 1930 to 1933
Sidney Bracey's page
- The Little Giant1933IMDb rating 7.0Thomson as John StanleyBracey as Butler
- Children of Pleasure1930IMDb rating 5.5Thomson as Rod PeckBracey as Miles the Butler
Spencer Charters2 films together, 1932 to 1933
Spencer Charters's page
- Female1933IMDb rating 6.7Thomson as RedCharters as Tom
- Movie Crazy1932IMDb rating 7.1Thomson as VanceCharters as J.L. O'Brien
Robert Elliott2 films together, 1930 to 1931
Robert Elliott's page
- Murder at Midnight1931IMDb rating 5.4Thomson as Jim KennedyElliott as Inspector Taylor
- The Doorway to Hell1930IMDb rating 6.5Thomson as Captain of AcademyElliott as Captain Pat O'Grady
Eddie Kane2 films together, 1929 to 1930
Eddie Kane's page
- The Doorway to Hell1930IMDb rating 6.5Thomson as Captain of AcademyKane as Dr. Morton
- The Broadway Melody1929IMDb rating 5.5Thomson as Jacques WarrinerKane as Francis Zanfield
Mary Doran2 films together, 1929 to 1932
Mary Doran's page
- Movie Crazy1932IMDb rating 7.1Thomson as VanceDoran as Margie
- The Broadway Melody1929IMDb rating 5.5Thomson as Jacques WarrinerDoran as Flo
Anita Page2 films together, 1929 to 1933
Anita Page's page
- Jungle Bride1933IMDb rating 5.1Thomson as John FranklinPage as Doris Evans
- The Broadway Melody1929IMDb rating 5.5Thomson as Jacques WarrinerPage as Queenie Mahoney
Harry BeaumontDirector, 2 films, 1929 to 1930
All films by Harry Beaumont
- Children of Pleasure1930IMDb rating 5.5Thomson as Rod Peck
- The Broadway Melody1929IMDb rating 5.5Thomson as Jacques Warriner

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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