Raymond Griffith

Known for ActingBorn 1895-01-22Died 1957-11-25Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Raymond Griffith was one of the great silent movie comedians. Later in his career, he worked behind the camera as writer and producer. Griffith was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He lost his voice at an early age, causing him to speak for the rest of his life in a hoarse whisper. Griffith claimed that it was the result of his having to scream at the top of his lungs every night in a stage melodrama as a child actor —others have stated that a childhood disease was more likely the cause. Although a few comedy films of his are considered classics, Griffith is almost totally forgotten today. Many of his starring feature films have long since been lost, but probably the best known of his films today is Hands Up! (1926), a Civil War comedy feature directed by Clarence G. Badger, and co-starring Mack Swain, which was entered into the National Film Registry in 2005. Also considered a classic is Badger's Paths to Paradise, a caper film that is in all circulating prints missing its final reel. Like many silent comedians, he had a traditional costume; his was a top hat, white tie and tails, often augmented by a cape and/or walking stick. The coming of sound ended Griffith's acting career, but he did have one memorable role in a motion picture before retiring from the screen, playing a French soldier killed by Lew Ayres in the 1930 Lewis Milestone film All Quiet on the Western Front. He then segued into a writing/producing career at Twentieth Century Fox. Griffith choked to death at the Masquers Club in Los Angeles, California, aged 62, on November 25, 1957.Read more

Movies & web series

The Beloved Bachelor

Time to Love

The Night Club

Nellie, the Beautiful Cloak Model

The Dawn of a Tomorrow

The Yankee Consul

Going Up

Married Life

Open All Night

Bought!

Trent's Last Case

Wedding Bills

Wet Paint

Fine Clothes

Forty Winks

Poisoned Paradise

Lily of the Dust

The Eternal Three

The Day of Faith

Fools First

Love, Honor and Behave

The Follies Girl

How Stars are Made

All Quiet on the Western Front

Hotel for Women

His Foothill Folly

Baby Face

Gold Diggers of 1933

Blood Money

Wife, Doctor and Nurse

The Sleeping Porch

You'd Be Surprised

He's a Prince!

Changing Husbands

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm

Red Lights

The Crossroads of New York

Gertie's Joy Ride

Picture Snatcher

Local Boy Makes Good

Poor Little Rich Girl

Private Number

Miss Bluebeard

Girls About Town

Drums Along the Mohawk

The Village Chestnut

A Scoundrel's Toll

Three on a Match