Conway Tearle

This West Point-educated actor was a tall, dark and handsome American co-star who romanced some of the most illustrious femme stars ever to appear on the silent silver screen. 'Conway Tearle' (qv) was born in New York City on May 17, 1878 to a family of entertainers. Christened Frederick Conway Levy, his father, Jules, was a jazz musician, and mother Marianne Conway, an American actress. Divorced when Conway was quite young, his mother subsequently married British Shakespearean actor/theatre manager Osmond Tearle and Conway was raised in England from the age of 10.Tearle gained experience on his stepfather's stage and was alternately billed as "Frederick Levy" and "Frederick Conway" before settling on the marquee name of 'Conway Tearle' (qv). Having returned to the U.S. in 1905, he made his Broadway debut with "Abigail" that same year and would make a name for himself as a reliable romancer for nearly a decade before attempting films in 1914. His two half brothers, 'Godfrey Tearle' (qv) and 'Malcolm Tearle' (qv) would also become actors on both the stage and screen.Tearle's more famous films are deemed "women's pictures," where he appeared meticulously as a dashing hero or ardent lover. Among his more notable were _Helene of the North (1915)_ (qv) opposite 'Marguerite Clark' (qv), _The Foolish Virgin (1916)_ (qv) and _The Common Law (1916)_ (qv) both starring 'Clara Kimball Young' (qv), _Stella Maris (1918)_ (qv) with 'Mary Pickford' (qv), _A Virtuous Vamp (1919)_ (qv) with 'Constance Talmadge' (qv), _She Loves and Lies (1920)_ (qv) and _The Eternal Flame (1922)_ (qv), both opposite 'Norma Talmadge' (qv), _Lilies of the Field (1924)_ (qv) featuring 'Corinne Griffith' (qv), and _Dancing Mothers (1926)_ (qv) starring 'Clara Bow' (qv). Conway made a smooth transition into sound pictures and remained a leading star or prime support in "B" level pictures.Tearle ended his film career spurned by 'Mae West' (qv) in _Klondike Annie (1936)_ (qv) and with a lesser role in the lavish production _Romeo and Juliet (1936)_ (qv) starring 'Norma Shearer' (qv) and 'Leslie Howard' (qv). In 1937 he appeared in his final stage lead with the comedy "Hey, Diddle Diddle." Headed for a Broadway run, the show had to close early in Washington, D.C. because of Tearle's poor health. He died in Hollywood of a heart attack at age 60, on October 1, 1938.::Gary Brumburgh / gr-home@pacbell.net