| James Kirkwood, Sr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 22, 1875 Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA |
| Died | August 24, 1963 Woodland Hills, California, USA |
| Occupation | Actor and Film director |
| Years active | 1909 - 1956 |
James Kirkwood, Sr. (February 22, 1875, Grand Rapids, Michigan – August 24, 1963, Woodland Hills, California) was an American actor and director.
He debuted on screen in 1909 and was soon playing leads for D.W. Griffith. He started directing in 1912, and became a favorite of Mary Pickford. In 1923 he married actress Lila Lee; with her, he had a son, James Kirkwood, Jr., who became a writer.
His directing career fizzled in 1920, but he continued acting well into the 1950s.
Kirkwood’s film career would eventually span more than two hundred films over nearly a half century. Many years later his son, James Jr., would become a successful writer, winning both a Tony Award and a Pulitzer Prize for A Chorus Line.[1]
Following his death at age 88, he was interred at the Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City.