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{{More citations needed|date=June 2019}}
{{short description|American actor}}
{{short description|American actor}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2018}}
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| caption = Lessey (right) in ''Hope, a Red Cross Seal Story'' (1912)
| caption = Lessey (right) in ''Hope, a Red Cross Seal Story'' (1912)
| birth_date = {{birth date|1879|6|8}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1879|6|8}}
| birth_place = [[Amherst, Massachusetts]], USA
| birth_place = [[Amherst, Massachusetts]], US
| death_date = {{death date and age|1947|6|3|1879|6|8}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|1947|6|3|1879|6|8}}
| death_place = [[Westbrook, Connecticut]], USA
| death_place = [[Westbrook, Connecticut]], US
| yearsactive = 1910-1946
| yearsactive = 1910–1946
}}
}}


'''George Lessey''' (June 8, 1879 – June 3, 1947) was an American actor and [[film director|director]] of the [[silent film|silent era]]. He appeared in 123 films between 1910 and 1946. He also directed 76 films between 1913 and 1922. Lessey also appeared in the original Broadway production of ''[[Porgy and Bess]]'' (1935) in one of the few [[Caucasian race|white]] roles, that of the lawyer Mr. Archdale. He was born in [[Amherst, Massachusetts]] and died in [[Westbrook, Connecticut]].
'''George Lessey''' (June 8, 1879 – June 3, 1947) was an American actor and [[film director|director]] of the [[silent film|silent era]]. He appeared in more than 120 films between 1910 and 1946. He also directed more than 70 films between 1913 and 1922.

Lessey was born in [[Amherst, Massachusetts]],<ref name=wb/> and as a boy he acted in theatrical productions there.<ref name="lp">{{cite news |title=Star Director Goes to Hollywood |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35868899/the_leavenworth_post/ |accessdate=September 12, 2019 |work=The Leavenworth Post |date=August 24, 1914 |location=Kansas, Leavenworth |page=6|via = [[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> He graduated from [[Amherst College]].<ref name="wb">{{cite news |title=More talented folk of Irving Players to make bow Monday in 'Best People' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35867938/wilkesbarre_times_leader_the_evening/ |accessdate=September 11, 2019 |work=The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, the Evening News |date=January 30, 1926 |location=Pennsylvania, Wilkes-Barre |page=10|via = [[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

For a year, Lessey was a leading man for [[Edison Studios]], after which he directed films for the company for two years. In 1914, he joined [[Universal Pictures|Universal Studios]] as a director.<ref name="lp" /> He portrayed Romeo in the initial film version of ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]'', directed the first serial, ''[[What Happened to Mary]]'',<ref name="wb" /> and played the first dual role in film as twins in ''[[The Corsican Brothers (1920 film)|The Corsican Brothers]].''<ref name=":0" />

On stage, Lessey appeared in the original Broadway production of ''[[Porgy and Bess]]'' (1935) in one of the few [[Caucasian race|white]] roles, that of the lawyer Mr. Archdale.<ref name="ibdb">{{cite web |title=George Lessey |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/george-lessey-49588 |website=Internet Broadway Database |publisher=The Broadway League |accessdate=September 11, 2019}}</ref>

In the 1930s, Lessey worked as a model for men's clothes.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |last1=Gunn |first1=Eleanor |title=You've Seen This Man Before -- He's Big Executive in Ad Photos |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35869719/george_lessey/ |accessdate=September 12, 2019 |work=Mount Union Times |date=September 29, 1938 |location=Pennsylvania, Mount Union |page=5|via = [[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

Lessey was married to the former May Abbey.<ref name="hc" /> On June 3, 1947, Lessey died on vacation in [[Westbrook, Connecticut]], aged 67.<ref name="hc">{{cite news |title=George Lessey |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35838762/obituary_for_george_lessey_aged_67/ |accessdate=September 11, 2019 |work=Hartford Courant |agency=Associated Press |date=June 5, 1947 |location=Connecticut, Hartford |page=4|via = [[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>


==Selected filmography==
==Selected filmography==
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}
{{Div col|colwidth=25em}}
* ''[[A Fresh Air Romance]]'' (1912, Short) - Young Doctor Fogg
* ''[[A Fresh Air Romance]]'' (1912, Short) - Young Doctor Fogg
* ''[[A Soldier's Duty]]'' (1912, Short) - Commanding General
* ''[[A Soldier's Duty]]'' (1912, Short) - Commanding General
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* ''[[Graft (1915 serial)|Graft]]'' (1915, Serial)
* ''[[Graft (1915 serial)|Graft]]'' (1915, Serial)
* ''[[The Purple Lady]]'' (1916, director)
* ''[[The Purple Lady]]'' (1916, director)
* ''Patria'' (1917, Serial)
* ''[[Patria (serial)|Patria]]'' (1917, Serial)
* ''[[The Eagle's Eye]]'' (1918, director)
* ''[[The Eagle's Eye]]'' (1918, director)
* ''To Him That Hath'' (1918) - Henry Allen
* ''To Him That Hath'' (1918) - Henry Allen
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* ''[[The Harvest Moon]]'' (1920) - Jacques Vavin
* ''[[The Harvest Moon]]'' (1920) - Jacques Vavin
* ''Wits vs. Wits'' (1920) - James Marsley
* ''Wits vs. Wits'' (1920) - James Marsley
* ''A Divorce of Convenience'' (1921) - Senator Wakefield
* ''[[A Divorce of Convenience]]'' (1921) - Senator Wakefield
* ''[[Is Life Worth Living?]]'' (1921) - Lawyer
* ''[[Is Life Worth Living?]]'' (1921) - Lawyer
* ''[[Why Girls Leave Home (1921 film)|Why Girls Leave Home]]'' (1921) - Mr. Hedder
* ''[[Why Girls Leave Home (1921 film)|Why Girls Leave Home]]'' (1921) - Mr. Hedder
* ''[[Handcuffs or Kisses]]'' (1921) - Elias Pratt
* ''[[Handcuffs or Kisses]]'' (1921) - Elias Pratt
* ''Rainbow'' (1921) - Rufus Halliday
* ''[[Rainbow (1921 film)|Rainbow]]'' (1921) - Rufus Halliday
* ''[[School Days (1921 film)|School Days]]'' (1921) - His Guardian - the Deacon
* ''[[School Days (1921 film)|School Days]]'' (1921) - His Guardian - the Deacon
* ''[[The Snitching Hour]]'' (1922) - Larry
* ''[[The Snitching Hour]]'' (1922) - Larry
* ''[[The Silent Command]]'' (1923) - Mr. Collins
* ''[[The Silent Command]]'' (1923) - Mr. Collins
* ''[[It Is the Law]]'' (1924) - Inspector Dolan
* ''[[It Is the Law]]'' (1924) - Inspector Dolan
* ''Scar Hanan'' (1925) - Bart Hutchins
* ''[[Scar Hanan]]'' (1925) - Bart Hutchins
* ''[[The Fool (1925 film)|The Fool]]'' (1925) - Goodkind
* ''[[The Fool (1925 film)|The Fool]]'' (1925) - Goodkind
* ''White Thunder'' (1925) - Sheriff Richards
* ''[[White Thunder (film)|White Thunder]]'' (1925) - Sheriff Richards
* ''[[Durand of the Bad Lands (1925 film)|Durand of the Bad Lands]]'' (1925) - John Boyd
* ''[[Durand of the Bad Lands (1925 film)|Durand of the Bad Lands]]'' (1925) - John Boyd
* ''[[Annapolis Salute]]'' (1937) - Captain Brooks (uncredited)
* ''[[Annapolis Salute]]'' (1937) - Captain Brooks (uncredited)
* ''[[...One Third of a Nation...]]'' (1939) - Doctor (uncredited)
* ''[[...One Third of a Nation...]]'' (1939) - Doctor (uncredited)
* ''Birthright'' (1939)
* ''[[Birthright (1939 film)|Birthright]]'' (1939)
* ''[[Dr. Kildare's Strange Case]]'' (1940) - Rufus Ingersoll
* ''[[Dr. Kildare's Strange Case]]'' (1940) - Rufus Ingersoll
* ''[[Edison, the Man]]'' (1940) - Toastmaster
* ''[[Edison, the Man]]'' (1940) - Toastmaster
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* ''[[Forbidden Passage]]'' (1941, Short) - American Consul in Lisbon
* ''[[Forbidden Passage]]'' (1941, Short) - American Consul in Lisbon
* ''[[Men of Boys Town]]'' (1941) - Bradford Stone
* ''[[Men of Boys Town]]'' (1941) - Bradford Stone
* ''The Big Boss'' (1941) - Senator Williams
* ''[[The Big Boss (1941 film)|The Big Boss]]'' (1941) - Senator Williams
* ''[[Adventure in Washington]]'' (1941) - Vice-President (uncredited)
* ''[[Adventure in Washington]]'' (1941) - Vice-President (uncredited)
* ''[[Moon Over Miami (film)|Moon Over Miami]]'' (1941) - William Boulton
* ''[[Moon Over Miami (film)|Moon Over Miami]]'' (1941) - William Boulton
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* ''[[Charlie Chan in the Secret Service]]'' (1944) - Slade (uncredited)
* ''[[Charlie Chan in the Secret Service]]'' (1944) - Slade (uncredited)
* ''[[Cover Girl (film)|Cover Girl]]'' (1944) - Minister (uncredited)
* ''[[Cover Girl (film)|Cover Girl]]'' (1944) - Minister (uncredited)
* ''[[Buffalo Bill (film)|Buffalo Bill]]'' (1944) - Mr. Schyler Vandervere
* ''[[Buffalo Bill (1944 film)|Buffalo Bill]]'' (1944) - Mr. Schyler Vandervere
* ''[[The Adventures of Mark Twain (1944 film)|The Adventures of Mark Twain]]'' (1944) - Henry H. Rogers (uncredited)
* ''[[The Adventures of Mark Twain (1944 film)|The Adventures of Mark Twain]]'' (1944) - Henry H. Rogers (uncredited)
* ''[[Roger Touhy, Gangster]]'' (1944) - Judge (uncredited)
* ''[[Roger Touhy, Gangster]]'' (1944) - Judge (uncredited)
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* ''[[The Missing Lady]]'' (1946) - James Douglas (uncredited)
* ''[[The Missing Lady]]'' (1946) - James Douglas (uncredited)
{{Div col end}}
{{Div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
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[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:Film directors from Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Film directors from Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Amherst College alumni]]

Revision as of 21:26, 24 April 2023

George Lessey
Lessey (right) in Hope, a Red Cross Seal Story (1912)
Born(1879-06-08)June 8, 1879
Amherst, Massachusetts, US
DiedJune 3, 1947(1947-06-03) (aged 67)
Westbrook, Connecticut, US
Years active1910–1946

George Lessey (June 8, 1879 – June 3, 1947) was an American actor and director of the silent era. He appeared in more than 120 films between 1910 and 1946. He also directed more than 70 films between 1913 and 1922.

Lessey was born in Amherst, Massachusetts,[1] and as a boy he acted in theatrical productions there.[2] He graduated from Amherst College.[1]

For a year, Lessey was a leading man for Edison Studios, after which he directed films for the company for two years. In 1914, he joined Universal Studios as a director.[2] He portrayed Romeo in the initial film version of Romeo and Juliet, directed the first serial, What Happened to Mary,[1] and played the first dual role in film as twins in The Corsican Brothers.[3]

On stage, Lessey appeared in the original Broadway production of Porgy and Bess (1935) in one of the few white roles, that of the lawyer Mr. Archdale.[4]

In the 1930s, Lessey worked as a model for men's clothes.[3]

Lessey was married to the former May Abbey.[5] On June 3, 1947, Lessey died on vacation in Westbrook, Connecticut, aged 67.[5]

Selected filmography

References

  1. ^ a b c "More talented folk of Irving Players to make bow Monday in 'Best People'". The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, the Evening News. Pennsylvania, Wilkes-Barre. January 30, 1926. p. 10. Retrieved September 11, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b "Star Director Goes to Hollywood". The Leavenworth Post. Kansas, Leavenworth. August 24, 1914. p. 6. Retrieved September 12, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b Gunn, Eleanor (September 29, 1938). "You've Seen This Man Before -- He's Big Executive in Ad Photos". Mount Union Times. Pennsylvania, Mount Union. p. 5. Retrieved September 12, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "George Lessey". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  5. ^ a b "George Lessey". Hartford Courant. Connecticut, Hartford. Associated Press. June 5, 1947. p. 4. Retrieved September 11, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
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