Coy Watson, Jr.

Coy Watson Jr.
Born November 16, 1912(1912-11-16)
Los Angeles, California, US
Died March 14, 2009(2009-03-14) (aged 96)
Alpine, California, US
Occupation Child actor, News photographer, Television cameraman

James Caughey "Coy" Watson, Jr. (November 16, 1912 – March 14, 2009) was an American child actor of the silent era who appeared in more than 60 films [1]. He was the son of actor, stuntman, and pioneer special effects artist Coy Watson Sr. They lived by the Echo Park area of the city and Coy attended nearby Belmont High School[2]. He died of stomach cancer at 96.[3]

Biography

The younger Watson made his film debut in 1921, and appeared in approximately 24 films over a period of eight years. He had five brothers and three sisters who also acted in films, including Billy, Delmar, Garry, Harry, Vivian, Gloria, Louise Watson Roberts, and Bobs Watson. Because he was featured in several of Mack Sennett's popular "The Keystone Cops" comedies, he earned the nickname, "The Keystone Kid" [4].

Coy Watson Jr. was a Los Angeles-based news photographer for CBS Television in the 1950s. He was the head news photographer at KCRA-TV in Sacramento, Calif. in the late 1950s.

Watson's autobiography, The Keystone Kid: Tales of Early Hollywood, was published in 2001[5].

The Watsons were honored by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce by placing the Watson family star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, at 6674 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, California[4].

He was survived by three siblings, Louise, Billy and Garry, his wife, a daughter, a son, three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

See also

References

  1. ^ "LastingTribute.co.uk". http://www.lastingtribute.co.uk/tribute/watson_jr/3044464. 
  2. ^ Coy Watson Jr. at the Internet Movie Database
  3. ^ Los Angeles Times obituary: "Coy Watson Jr. dies at 96; one of nine silent-era sibling actors"
  4. ^ a b Pool, Bob. "Star Shines Brightly for Hollywood's First Family; Movies: The Watson clan of former child actors finally receives recognition for its pioneering contribution to films." The Los Angeles Times. April 23, 1999. Metro Part B Metro Desk Page 1.
  5. ^ Review of The Keystone Kid