J. Gunnis Davis

James Gunnis Davis (21 December 1873 – 23 March 1937) was a British-born American actor and director who had a career in films in the US.

Early life He was born as Joseph Gunnis Davis on 21 December 1873 in Sunderland,

Career After a period treading the boards, including as Little Billee in the Sherlock Holmes parody Sheerluck Jones, or Why D’Gillette Him Off (1901), Davis entered the film world in 1912.

Davis was best known for The Hazards of Helen (1914), but he appeared in 51 films, a number of stage productions, and has a significant number or directing credits, generally as James Davis. He played the auction clerk in Captain Blood (1935), Uncle Glutz in Bride of Frankenstein (1935), Secretary in The White Angel (1936) and Doctor in Show Boat (1936).

Personal life and family James Gunnis Davis belonged to the Troupers and the Veteran Thespians. He was of average height, 5 feet, 6 1/2 inches, with blue eyes and brown hair, weighing 112 pounds.

In 1902 in London Gunnis Davis married actress Mary Davis (professional name Miss Denton Garden

Death Davis died on 23 March 1937 at St. Vincent Hospital in Los Angeles after a brief illness following which the Troupers arranged his funeral at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

Filmography

Stage

Sheerluck Jones, or Why D’Gillette Him Off (1901) The Arcadians Time (1910) Alice in Wonderland (1915)

Selected filmography

The Hazards of Helen (1915 – 1917) The Little Duchess (1917) Stolen Orders (1918) The Road to France (1918) The Rough Neck (1919) The Secret of the Hills (1921) A Certain Rich Man (1921) The Gray Dawn (1922) Refuge (1923) The Midnight Alarm (1923) Chastity (1923) Twinkletoes (1926) The Notorious Lady (1927) Captain Blood (1935) Show Boat (1936) as Doctor