Harry Wilde |
born:
25 February 1885 New York City, New York, United States of America |
died:
10 December 1939 Los Angeles, California, United States of America (cerebral hemorrhage, age 54) |
American actor, formerly of the stage, who was a regular face in Hal Roach comedies of the late 1920s and early-mid 1930s. His younger brother, Ted Wilde (Theodore Schneck, Jr., 1889-1929) was a writer and director for Roach, but Ted's most notable work came on Harold Lloyd's post-Roach silent features ("Girl Shy," "The Freshman," "For Heaven's Sake," "The Kid Brother," "Speedy" -- earning an Oscar nomination for directing the last film). Their parents were German immigrants Anna (née Wild, 1863-1935) and Theodore Schneck (1863-1912), who married in 1884. Theodore Sr. worked as a brewer in the 1900 and 1910 Censuses, while Anna was working as a "janitress" in an apartment in 1910. By the time of the 1910 Census, Henry/Harry was working as an actor in the theatre, while Theodore Jr./Ted was working as an elevator man in an office building. Both sons were professional actors by the time of the 1920 Census. As Harry Charles Wilde, he registered for the World War I draft on 07 September 1918. Living at 483 Amsterdam Ave. in New York City, he is an actor working for producer William P. Orr. He gives mother Anna Schneck (same address) as his nearest relative. Statistics: Medium height, medium build, blue eyes, dark hair. On 03 February 1920, Harry Schneck Wilde married Philadelphia-born actress Kitty Starr (Katherine Irene Starr, 1895-1944) in New York City. On the marriage record, Harry removed ten years from his age to match hers. Interestingly, while Katherine was there to be the informant on Harry's death certificate in 1939 (and is listed as living at the same address as him), she is not present with him in the 1930 Census, although Harry is listed as married. At that time, Harry is living in Culver City, California with his widowed mother Anna and working as an actor at a [motion picture] studio. Harry S. Wilde passed away at Los Angeles County General Hospital at 6:30pm on 10 December 1939. Cause of death was a "massive cerebral hemorrhage" with hypertension and bronchopneumonia both contributory causes. He was an actor in motion pictures, his last work in the field was that year (1939), and he had been working as such for 25 years (a total that probably included some of his years on the stage). His usual residence was at 1702 S. Grand Ave. His wife Katherine was the informant on the death certificate. He is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. He is not to be confused with cinematographer (and fellow NYC native) Harry J. Wild (1901-1961). |
Real name: Henry Schneck |
Films listed on this page: complete Hal Roach filmography. |
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