William Farnum

Biography

William Farnum was an American actor who became a leading figure of the silent screen. He was born in Boston in 1876 and grew up in Bucksport, Maine. He made his first stage appearance at ten in Richmond, Virginia, playing in Julius Caesar with Edwin Booth. On Broadway he took the title role in Ben-Hur in 1900 and later acted in The Prince of India, The White Sister, The Littlest Rebel, and Arizona. Starting in 1915 he worked in motion pictures through 1952. In The Spoilers in 1914 he and Tom Santschi staged a fight that ran for a full reel. The two later coached Gary Cooper and William Boyd for the fight in the 1930 version of The Spoilers, and their scene influenced Noah Beery and Milton Sills in 1923, and John Wayne and Randolph Scott in 1942. If I Were King (1921) and Drag Harlan (1920) are among his Fox silent pictures that survive.

76years old at death

Born July 4, 1876Boston
Died June 5, 1953Hollywood
Star sign: CancerThe sign runs June 21 to July 22

Movie Career

Films: 13
Career span: 21 years1931 to 1952

Genres

Drama62%, 8 films
Western46%, 6 films
Romance23%, 3 films
Thriller23%, 3 films
Adventure15%, 2 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

First role
William Farnum made his acting debut at age 10 in Richmond, Virginia, playing in a production of Julius Caesar that starred Edwin Booth as the title character.

William Farnum movies on Netflix

Lone Star1952IMDb rating 6.2as Tom Crockett
Hollywood Story1951IMDb rating 6.8as Himself
Trail of Robin Hood1950IMDb rating 6.0as Bill Franum
Daughter of the West1949IMDb rating 5.8as Father Vallejo
Samson and Delilah1949IMDb rating 6.8as Tubal
Captain Kidd1945IMDb rating 6.3as Capt. Rawson
The Mummy's Curse1944IMDb rating 5.4as The Sacristan
The Spoilers1942IMDb rating 6.7as Wheaton
Cheers for Miss Bishop1941IMDb rating 6.4as Judge Peters
Kit Carson1940IMDb rating 6.3as Don Miguel Murphy
Sharad of Atlantis1936IMDb rating 4.6as Sharad
Supernatural1933IMDb rating 6.1as Nicky Hammond
The Painted Desert1931IMDb rating 5.2as Cash Holbrook

Best known for

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

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Samson and Delilah1949 Drama, History, Romanceas Tubal
IMDb rating 6.810K votes
The Painted Desert1931 Drama, Westernas Cash Holbrook
IMDb rating 5.2900 votes
Sharad of Atlantis1936as Sharad
IMDb rating 4.6696 votes
The Mummy's Curse1944as The Sacristan
IMDb rating 5.43.9K votes
The Spoilers1942as Wheaton
IMDb rating 6.73.7K votes
Captain Kidd1945as Capt. Rawson
IMDb rating 6.32.4K votes
Supernatural1933as Nicky Hammond
IMDb rating 6.11.2K votes
Lone Star1952as Tom Crockett
IMDb rating 6.21.5K votes

Most often with

Randolph Scott 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.

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Randolph Scott

Lon Chaney Jr.

Clark Gable

Moroni Olsen

Lane Chandler

Raymond Hatton

Films together

Randolph Scott3 films together, 1933 to 1945
Randolph Scott's page
- Captain Kidd1945IMDb rating 6.3Farnum as Capt. RawsonScott as Adam Mercy / Adam Blayne
- The Spoilers1942IMDb rating 6.7Farnum as WheatonScott as McNamara
- Supernatural1933IMDb rating 6.1Farnum as Nicky HammondScott as Grant Wilson
Lon Chaney Jr.2 films together, 1936 to 1944
Lon Chaney Jr.'s page
- The Mummy's Curse1944IMDb rating 5.4Farnum as The SacristanChaney as Kharis
- Sharad of Atlantis1936IMDb rating 4.6Farnum as SharadChaney as Capt. Hakur
Clark Gable2 films together, 1931 to 1952
Clark Gable's page
- Lone Star1952IMDb rating 6.2Farnum as Tom CrockettGable as Devereaux Burke
- The Painted Desert1931IMDb rating 5.2Farnum as Cash HolbrookGable as Rance Brett
Moroni Olsen2 films together, 1949 to 1952
Moroni Olsen's page
- Lone Star1952IMDb rating 6.2Farnum as Tom CrockettOlsen as Sam Houston
- Samson and Delilah1949IMDb rating 6.8Farnum as TubalOlsen as Targil
Lane Chandler2 films together, 1936 to 1949
Lane Chandler's page
- Samson and Delilah1949IMDb rating 6.8Farnum as TubalChandler as Teresh
- Sharad of Atlantis1936IMDb rating 4.6Farnum as SharadChandler as Darius
Raymond Hatton2 films together, 1936 to 1940
Raymond Hatton's page
- Kit Carson1940IMDb rating 6.3Farnum as Don Miguel MurphyHatton as Jim Bridger
- Sharad of Atlantis1936IMDb rating 4.6Farnum as SharadHatton as Gasspon
Also two films together5 more actors
- Russell SimpsonLone Star (1952) and The Spoilers (1942)
- Charles StevensThe Mummy's Curse (1944) and Kit Carson (1940)
- Jack MulhallCheers for Miss Bishop (1941) and Sharad of Atlantis (1936)
- Ray CorriganTrail of Robin Hood (1950) and Sharad of Atlantis (1936)
- Bud OsborneDaughter of the West (1949) and The Spoilers (1942)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Awards

One award and honor.

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William Farnum's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Film	Result
Other honors
	Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame		Honored

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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