George Fawcett

A grand, stoic presence of the silent screen, 'George Fawcett' (qv) was an immensely popular stage thespian both here and in London at the turn of the century. During his heyday his eloquence rivaled that of both 'Lionel Barrymore' (qv) and 'John Barrymore' (qv).Born on August 25, 1860, in Alexandria Virginia, Fawcett was a graduate of the University of Virginia. His early acting career began in 1887, when he appeared in a production of "Baron Rudolph." Maintaining on the stage, he married actress wife, 'Percy Haswell' (qv), in 1895. She later formed the 'Percy Haswell' (qv) (Stock) Company in Baltimore, Maryland in 1901, with George managing. The name was later changed to the 'George Fawcett' (qv) Stock Company. The Company continued to stage shows until 1908.Fawcett eventually became a formidable fixture under the Broadway lights, appearing in such classic plays as "The Little Minister (1897, his debut), as well as "Peter Stuyvesent" (1899), "Caleb West" (1900), "Ghosts" (1903), "The Squaw Man" (1905, 1911), "The Silver Girl" (1907), "The Great John Ganton" (1909), "Getting a Polish" (1910), "A Gentleman of Leisure" (1911), "The Law of the Land" (1914), "The Mountain Man" (1921) and "Peacock" (1932).Fawcett came very late to films (age 55) but soon became a steadfast favorite of 'D.W. Griffith' (qv), who used him in his silent masterpieces _Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages (1916)_ (qv), _A Romance of Happy Valley (1919)_ (qv), _True Heart Susie (1919)_ (qv), _Scarlet Days (1919)_ (qv) and _The Greatest Question (1919)_ (qv), as well as _Lady of the Pavements (1929)_ (qv). Affectionately dubbed "The Grand Old Man of Films", Fawcett appeared in over 100 movies within a relatively short span of time (15 years), playing to great effect various ports of authority -- often grim, often stubborn and often bigoted. Other grand silent feature film appearances included _The Cinderella Man (1917)_ (qv), _The Beloved Traitor (1918)_ (qv), _Turning the Tables (1919)_ (qv), _Sentimental Tommy (1921)_ (qv), _Polly of the Follies (1922)_ (qv), _Java Head (1923)_ (qv), _Pied Piper Malone (1924)_ (qv), _Tess of the D'Urbervilles (1924)_ (qv), _The Price of Pleasure (1925)_ (qv), _The Merry Widow (1925)_ (qv), _The Son of the Sheik (1926)_ (qv), _Flesh and the Devil (1926)_ (qv), _Tillie the Toiler (1927)_ (qv) and _The Private Life of Helen of Troy (1927)_ (qv).The elderly veteran moved into talking pictures with ease and scored several picture parts before retiring a few years into the era. Among those talking pictures, he supported 'Barbara Stanwyck' (qv) in _Ladies of Leisure (1930)_ (qv); 'Warner Oland' (qv) in _The Drums of Jeopardy (1931)_ (qv); 'Helen Twelvetrees' (qv) in _A Woman of Experience (1931)_ (qv); and 'Nancy Carroll' (qv) in _Personal Maid (1931)_ (qv), his final film.George's wife, 'Percy Haswell' (qv), who frequently billed herself as "Mrs. 'George Fawcett' (qv)," appeared with him in the Broadway plays "Peter Stuyvesent" and "Peacock", the latter which he produced in 1932. Fawcett died on June 6, 1939, in Nantucket, Massachusetts of heart problems. He was 78.::Gary Brumburgh / gr-home@pacbell.net