Hobart Bosworth

Hobart Van Zandt Bosworth (August 11, 1867 – December 30, 1943) was an American film actor, director, writer, and producer. Bosworth began his career in theater, eventually transitioning to the emerging film industry. Despite a battle with tuberculosis, he found success in silent films, establishing himself as a lead actor and pioneering the industry in California. Bosworth started his own production company, Hobart Bosworth Productions, in 1913, focusing on Jack London melodramas. After the company closed, Bosworth continued to act in supporting roles, surviving the transition to sound films. He is known as the "Dean of Hollywood" for his role in shaping the California film industry. In 1960, Bosworth was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to the film industry.

Early life Bosworth was born on August 11, 1867, in Marietta, Ohio. His father was a sea captain during the Civil War.

When Bosworth was 12 years old he ran away to sea. In June 1885, while he was on shore leave in San Francisco, an opportunity arose for him to join McKee Rankin's stage company. This proved to be the beginning of his theatrical career. He was entombed in Glendale's Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Grand Mausoleum's Utility Columbarium, niche 4616.

For his contributions to the film industry, Bosworth received a motion pictures star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960. The star is located at 6522 Hollywood Boulevard.

Selected filmography

The Count of Monte Cristo (1908) - Edmond Dantes (film debut) Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1908, Short) - Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde Rip Van Winkle (1908, Short) - Rip Van Winkle Damon and Pythias (1908, Short) The Spirit of '76 (1908, Short) On Thanksgiving Day (1908, Short) The Tenderfoot (1909, Short) Boots and Saddles (1909, Short) In the Badlands (1909, Short) - Carlton Langdon M.D. Fighting Bob (1909, Short) - Fighting Bob In the Sultan's Power (1909, Short) The Leopard Queen (1909, Short) - Captain Jack Ownes Across the Plains (1910, Short) The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1910, Short) - Wizard of Oz and King Davy Crockett (1910, Short) The Sergeant (1910, Short extant) - Sergeant Robert Adams The Sanitarium (1910) The Padre (1911) - The Padre - Father Sebastian Brown of Harvard (1911) - (uncredited) The Other Fellow (1912, short) The Count of Monte Cristo (1912) Alas! Poor Yorick! (1913, Short) - The Theatre Manager The Sea Wolf (1913) - Wolf Larsen John Barleycorn (1914) - Scratch Nelson Valley of the Moon (1914) - Minor Role Martin Eden (1914) An Odyssey of the North (1914) - Naass Burning Daylight: The Adventures of 'Burning Daylight' in Alaska (1914) - Elam Harnish, aka 'Burning Daylight' Burning Daylight (1914) The Pursuit of the Phantom (1914) - Richard Alden Burning Daylight: The Adventures of 'Burning Daylight' in Civilization (1914) - Elam Harnish, 'Burning Daylight' The Country Mouse (1914) - Billy Bladerson Buckshot John (1915, Director) - 'Buckshot John' Moran Pretty Mrs. Smith (1915) - Minor Role (uncredited) Help Wanted (1915) - Jerrold D. Scott Little Sunset (1915) - Gus Bergstrom the 'Terrible Swede' The Scarlet Sin (1915) - Eric Norton Nearly a Lady (1915) - Minor Role as Frederica's Father (uncredited) A Little Brother of the Rich (1915) - Henry Leamington Business Is Business (1915) - Christ 'Twas Ever Thus (1915) - Hard Muscle / Col. Warren / John Rogers Fatherhood (1915) - Lon Gilchrist Colorado (1915) - Thomas Doyle The White Scar (1915) - Na-Ta-Wan-Gan The Beachcomber (1915) - The sailor Tainted Money (1915) - Big Tim The Target (1916) - Big Bill Brent The Yaqui (1916) - Tambor Two Men of Sandy Bar (1916) - John Oakhurst Doctor Neighbor (1916) - Dr. Neighbor The Iron Hand (1916) - Tim Noland The Way of the World (1916) - John Nevill Oliver Twist (1916) - Bill Sykes Joan the Woman (1916) - Gen. La Hire A Mormon Maid (1917) - John Hogue Freckles (1917) - John McLean Unconquered (1917) - Henry Jackson The Inner Shrine (1917) - Derek Pruyn The Little American (1917) - German Colonel What Money Can't Buy (1917) - Govrian Texler Betrayed (1917) - Leopoldo Juares The Woman God Forgot (1917) - Cortez The Devil-Stone (1917) - Robert Judson The Border Legion (1918) - Jack Kells Behind the Door (1919, extant; Library of Congress) - Oscar Krug Below the Surface (1920, extant; DVD) - Martin Flint His Own Law (1920, extant; Library of Congress) - J.C. MacNeir The Brute Master (1920) - Bucko McAllister, The Brute Master A Thousand to One (1920) - William Newlands The Foolish Matrons (1921) - Dr. Ian Fraser The Cup of Life (1921) - 'Bully' Brand Blind Hearts (1921, extant; Library of Congress) - Lars Larson The Sea Lion (1921, extant; Library of Congress, DVD) - John Nelson White Hands (1922) - 'Hurricane Hardy' The Strangers' Banquet (1922) - Shane Keogh Man Alone (1923) - Ben Dixon Little Church Around the Corner (1923) - John Morton Vanity Fair (1923) - Marquis of Steyne Rupert of Hentzau (1923) - Col. Sapt The Common Law (1923) - Henry Neville The Eternal Three (1923) - Dr. Frank R. Walters In the Palace of the King (1923) - Mendoza The Man Life Passed By (1923) - 'Iron Man' Moore Through the Dark (1924) - Warden Name the Man (1924) - Christian Stowell Nellie, the Beautiful Cloak Model (1924) - Thomas Lipton / Robert Horton The Woman on the Jury (1924) - Judge Davis Captain January (1924) - Jeremiah Judkins Bread (1924) - Mr. Corey The Silent Watcher (1924) - John Steele, 'The Chief' Hearts of Oak (1924) - Terry Dunnivan Hello, 'Frisco (1924) - John Brent If I Marry Again (1925) - John Jordan My Son (1925) - Sheriff Ellery Parker Chickie (1925) - Jonathan Zander the Great (1925) - The Sheriff The Half-Way Girl (1925) - John Guthrie Winds of Chance (1925) - Sam Kirby The Big Parade (1925) - Mr. Apperson Steel Preferred (1925) - James Creeth The Golden Strain (1925) - Maj. Milton Mulford The Far Cry (1926) - Julian Marsh The Nervous Wreck (1926) - Jud Morgan Spangles (1926) - Robert 'Big Bill' Bowman Three Hours (1927) - Jonathan Durkin Annie Laurie (1927) - The MacDonald Chieftain The Blood Ship (1927) - Jim Newman The Chinese Parrot (1927) - P.J. Madden My Best Girl (1927) - Robert Merrill The Smart Set (1928) - Mr. Durant Freckles (1928) - McLean After the Storm (1928) - Manin Dane Hangman's House (1928) - Lord Justice O'Brien The Sawdust Paradise (1928) - Isaiah Annapolis (1928) - Father A Woman of Affairs (1928) - Sir Morton Holderness Eternal Love (1929) - Rev. Tass Hurricane (1929) - Hurricane Martin The Show of Shows (1929) - Executioner - Guillotine Sequence General Crack (1929) - Count Hensdorff King of the Mountain (1929) Mammy (1930) - Meadows The Devil's Holiday (1930) - Ezra Stone The Office Wife (1930) - McGowan Abraham Lincoln (1930) - General Robert E. Lee Du Barry, Woman of Passion (1930) - Duc de Brissac The Third Alarm (1930) - Precinct Fire Captain Just Imagine (1930) - Z-4 Sit Tight (1931) - Dunlap Dirigible (1931) - Louis Rondelle Shipmates (1931) - Admiral Corbin This Modern Age (1931) - Robert Blake Sr. Fanny Foley Herself (1931) - Seely Carnival Boat (1932) - Jim Gannon The Miracle Man (1932) - The Patriarch The County Fair (1932) - Col. Ainsworth The Last of the Mohicans (1932, Serial) - Chingachgook, 'the Sagamore' No Greater Love (1932) - Doctor Million Dollar Legs (1932) - Olympics Starter (uncredited) The Phantom Express (1932) - Mr. Harrington Lady for a Day (1933) - Governor Whom the Gods Destroy (1934) - Alec Klein Music in the Air (1934) - Cornelius The Keeper of the Bees (1935) - Michael the Bee Master Together We Live (1935) - Col. Dickenson The Crusades (1935) - Frederick - Duke of the Germans Steamboat Round the Bend (1935) - Chaplain The Dark Hour (1936) - Charles Carson Wolves of the Sea (1936) - Capt. Wolf Hansen Wildcat Trooper (1936) - Dr. Martin General Spanky (1936) - Col. Blanchard Portia on Trial (1937) - Governor The Secret of Treasure Island (1938, Serial) - Dr. X Rollin' Plains (1938) - John Gospel Moody King of the Sierras (1938) - Uncle Hank Bullets for O'Hara (1941) - Judge One Foot in Heaven (1941) - Richard Hardy Case (uncredited) Law of the Tropics (1941) - Davis They Died with Their Boots On (1941) - Mr. Cartwright (uncredited) Wild Bill Hickok Rides (1942) - Fanatic in Chicago (uncredited) Bullet Scars (1942) - Dr. Sidney Carter I Was Framed (1942) - D.L. Wallace Escape from Crime (1942) - Chaplain (uncredited) The Gay Sisters (1942) - Clergyman at Wedding (uncredited) Sin Town (1942) - Humiston (final film role)