Jump to content

Eugene Strong

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Eugene Strong
Strong in The Front Page (1931)
Born(1893-08-09)August 9, 1893
Wisconsin, U.S.
DiedJune 25, 1962(1962-06-25) (aged 68)
Resting placeHollywood Forever Cemetery
OccupationActor
Years active1916–1938
Spouses
Gladys Webster
(div. 1919)
Maryland Morne
(m. 1935, died)

Eugene Strong (August 9, 1893 – June 25, 1962) was an American film actor and vaudevillian.

Career

[edit]

Eugene Strong oscillated between stage and film work throughout his acting career. He played the lead role in the stage production of The Virginian for two years.[1] He was working in vaudeville in 1915.[2]

Strong's first film was The Crimson Stain Mystery (1916); he received positive notice for his role as a man seduced by a vampire.[3]

Strong returned to vaudeville in the 1920s.[4] Strong worked with Valeska Surrat and supported Surrat in a lawsuit brought against her by Walter Percival in 1920.[5] He was part of the vaudeville act Mann and Strong, with singer Hazel Mann. A Variety review of the play Garage Love states, "Strong, as always, is the personified matinee hero who gets the flappers on sight... Strong is a romantic 'hero' who has few equals. With any kind of luck he should be a 'name' in the native legitimate drama. He has proven it. Even in vaudeville he has done worth-while and outstanding things".[6] A 1925 Billboard review of the act at The Palace Theatre in Cincinnati noted, "Eugene Strong has a likable easy-going manner that does much to put the act over."[7]

He was signed to a five-year motion picture contract with Edward Small in 1926.[8] One of his final films as an actor was The Front Page (1931).[9]

Personal life

[edit]

Strong's marriage to Gladys Webster ended in divorce in 1919 on the grounds of his adultery.[10]

Strong was married to Maryland Morne, an actress, until her death in 1935.[11]

Death

[edit]

On June 25, 1962, Strong died in Los Angeles, California, aged 68. He was buried in Abbey of the Psalms of Hollywood.[12]

Partial filmography

[edit]

As actor

[edit]

Production

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ The Moving Picture World. World Photographic Publishing Company. 1916.
  2. ^ "Vaudeville". Newspapers.com. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  3. ^ "New Film Star in Crimson Stain: Eugene Strong Is Appearing with Olga Olonova in SIlent Drama". San Francisco Chronicle. October 15, 1916. p. 34. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  4. ^ "Star of Films to Play Here: Eugene strong to Appear on Stage of Grand in Vaudeville Number". The Times. March 23, 1924. p. 35. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  5. ^ "Vaudeville: Percival-Suratt Dispute." Variety. Vol. 60, Iss. 6, (Oct 1, 1920): 5. Via Proquest.
  6. ^ "New Acts This Week: Mann and Strong." Variety. Vol. 75, Iss. 9, (Jul 16, 1924): Pg. 34. Via Proquest.
  7. ^ Wesselmann, Cliff. Big City Vaudeville Reviews by special wire: Palace, Cincinnati. The Billboard (Archive: 1894-1960); Cincinnati Vol. 37, Iss. 34, (Aug 22, 1925): pg. 14.
  8. ^ "Vaudeville: Eugene Strong Contracted for 5 Years in Films." Variety. Vol. 84, Iss. 5, (Aug 18, 1926): Pg. 70. Via Proquest.
  9. ^ "Realistic Story and Splendid Cast Help in Making Up The Front Page". Messenger-Inquirer. March 26, 1931. p. 4. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  10. ^ "Moving Pictures: Strong's Wife Wins Divorce." Variety. Vol. 55, Iss. 4, (Jun 20, 1919): Pg. 57. Via Proquest.
  11. ^ "The Final Curtain". The Billboard. Vol. 47, Iss. 31, (Aug 3, 1935): Pg. 28. Via Proquest.
  12. ^ Ellenberger, Allan R. (2001). Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory. McFarland. p. 14. ISBN 978-0-7864-0983-9. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
[edit]