Wallace Beery
A gruff, bear-like character actor who became one of MGM's top stars in the early sound era, often playing lovable roughnecks and villains.
1885–1949 (age 64)·American actor·Birthday: April 1·The Lost Generation
Biography
Wallace Beery's path to stardom was as unconventional as his screen persona. Running away to join the circus as a teen, he worked as an elephant trainer before drifting into vaudeville and silent film comedies, often playing Swedish maids in drag. The arrival of talkies unlocked his true potential: a gravelly voice and a natural, unpolished presence perfect for the era. He struck gold playing a tough waterfront barge captain in 'Min and Bill' opposite Marie Dressler, a partnership audiences adored. The following year, he won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as a washed-up, alcoholic boxer trying to reconnect with his son in 'The Champ,' a performance dripping with sentimental bravado. Throughout the 1930s, Beery was a box office king, specializing in pirates, historical figures like Pancho Villa, and gruff but tender-hearted souls. His career waned with changing tastes, but he left an indelible mark as one of cinema's most memorable character actors turned leading men.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
Wallace was born in 1885, placing them squarely in The Lost Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Wallace Was Born
The biggest hits of 1885
Wallace's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1885Born
Karl Benz builds the first gasoline-powered automobile
President: Grover Cleveland
1890Started school
Wounded Knee massacre marks the end of the Indian Wars
President: Benjamin Harrison
1898Became a teenager
Spanish-American War; US emerges as a world power
President: William McKinley
1901Could drive
Queen Victoria dies, ending the Victorian era
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1903Could vote
Wright brothers achieve first powered flight
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1906Turned 21
San Francisco earthquake devastates the city
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1915Turned 30
The Lusitania is sunk by a German U-boat
President: Woodrow Wilson
1925Turned 40
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1935Turned 50
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1945Turned 60
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1949Died at 64
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
Key Achievements
- Won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in 'The Champ' (1931).
- Starred in the hugely successful partnership with Marie Dressler in 'Min and Bill' (1930) and 'Tugboat Annie' (1933).
- Appeared in nearly 250 films over a career spanning from the silent era to the late 1940s.
- Had a famous contract clause with MGM stating he would be paid one dollar more than any other contract player at the studio.
Did You Know?
He was a skilled elephant trainer during his brief time with the Ringling Brothers Circus.
His sister, Gloria Swanson, was also a famous silent film actress (no relation to the Gloria Swanson).
He was married to actress Gloria Swanson from 1916 to 1919; their divorce was highly publicized.
He played Long John Silver in the 1934 adaptation of 'Treasure Island,' a role often associated with him.
“I never let the audience forget the villain is human.”
