Jack Holt (actor)
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| Jack Holt | |
 Film actor Jack Holt |
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| Birth name | Charles John Holt |
| Born | May 31, 1888 Fordham, New York, USA |
| Died | January 18, 1951 Sawtelle, Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Spouse(s) | Margaret Woods (1916 – January 18, 1951) (his death) 3 children |
Jack Holt (May 31, 1888 – January 18, 1951) was an American motion picture actor.
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[edit] Early Life
Born Charles John Holt in New York City. Staunch, granite-jawed American leading man of silent and early talkie films, much associated with Westerns. A native of New York City, Holt often claimed to have been born in Winchester, Virginia, where he grew up. He attended Trinity School in Manhattan, then the Virginia Military Institute, from which he was expelled for bad behavior. Giving up his vague hopes of becoming a lawyer, he went on the road, engaging in numerous occupations. He mined gold in Alaska, worked as both a railroad and a civil engineer, delivered mail, rode herd on cattle, and played parts in traveling stage productions. While looking for work as a surveyor in San Francisco in 1914, he volunteered to ride a horse over a cliff in a stunt for a film crew shooting in San Rafael. In gratitude, the director gave him a part in the film. Holt followed the movie people to Hollywood and began getting bits and stunt jobs in the many Westerns and serials being made there. He impressed a number of co-workers at Universal Pictures, among them Francis Ford and his brother John Ford, and Grace Cunard. Holt soon became a frequent supporting player in their films, and then a star in serials.
[edit] Death
Jack Holt died from a myocardial infarction in Los Angeles, California and is buried there in the Los Angeles National Cemetery. His son Tim and daughter Jennifer would both have successful careers as film actors.
[edit] Contribution
For his contribution to the motion picture industry, Jack Holt has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6313-1/2 Hollywood Blvd.
