William Collier Sr.

William Collier Sr. (November 12, 1864 – January 13, 1944), born William Morenus, was an American writer, director and actor.

Collier ran away from home when only 11 years old to join a touring company run by Eddie Foy and in 1879 he appeared as a juvenile in H.M.S. Pinafore. After a notable stage career, he tried motion pictures, under producer Mack Sennett. He then went back to the stage for some years but returned to films when the talkies came along.

In 1910, he appeared at the Elitch Theatre in Denver, Colorado, while his adopted son, stage named William Collier Jr., was recovering from scarlet fever that was followed by typhoid. His son recovered and was able to join his father in a production of The Patriot.

He "once opened The Patriot, one of his own plays, on December 30. On January 2 he advertised with some degree of truthfulness: 'Second Year in New York.'"

He was married to the actress Louise Allen; she died in 1909 and he married Paula Marr the following year, adopting her son Charles, whom he renamed William Collier Jr. On Broadway he starred as the gambler Gideon Holtz in Rudolf Friml's The Wild Rose at the Martin Beck Theatre in 1926.

Collier died of pneumonia in 1944. He was interred at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.

Partial filmography

Never Again (1916, Short) Better Late Than Never (1916, Short) - The Art Student The No-Good Guy (1916) - Jimmy Coghlan The Servant Question (1920) - Mr. Butler Happy Days (1929) - End Man - Minstrel Show Harmony at Home (1930) - Joe Haller Free and Easy (1930) - Himself - Master of Ceremonies at Premiere High Society Blues (1930) - Horace Divine She's My Weakness (1930) - David Tuttle Up the River (1930) - Pop Seas Beneath (1931) - Mugs O'Flaherty (uncredited) Mr. Lemon of Orange (1931) - Mr. Blake 6 Cylinder Love (1931) - Richard Burton Annabelle's Affairs (1931) - Wickham The Brat (1931) - Judge Emmett A. O'Flaherty Stepping Sisters (1932) - Herbert Ramsey After Tomorrow (1932) - Willie Taylor The Washington Masquerade (1932) - Babcock Hot Saturday (1932) - Mr. Brock Madison Square Garden (1932) - Doc Williams All of Me (1934) - Jerry Helman The Crosby Case (1934) - The Detective-Police Sgt. Melody Cheaters (1934) - K.C. Kelly A Successful Failure (1934) - Ellery Cushing Uncle Dudley The Murder Man (1935) - 'Pop' Grey Annapolis Farewell (1935) - Rumboat Charlie The Bride Comes Home (1935) - Alfred Desmereau Love on a Bet (1936) - Uncle Carlton MacCreigh Give Us This Night (1936) - Priest Cain and Mabel (1936) - Pop Walters Valiant Is the Word for Carrie (1936) - Ed Moresby Josette (1938) - David Brassard Sr. Thanks for the Memory (1938) - Mr. Platt Say It in French (1938) - Howland Persons in Hiding (1939) - Burt Nast I'm from Missouri (1939) - Smith Invitation to Happiness (1939) - Mr. Wayne Television Spy (1939) - James Llewellyn Disputed Passage (1939) - Dr. William Cunningham Miracle on Main Street (1939) - Dr. Miles The Hard-Boiled Canary (1941) - Dr. Joseph E. Maddy (final film role)