ERIC CAMPBELL—SIGNED PHOTO—CHARLIE CHAPLIN “Heavy”—11 Mutuals—Karno

Description: Eric CampbellAUTOGRAPHED SIGNED POSTCARD PHOTO Alfred Eric Campbell (April 26, 1879 – December 20, 1917) was an actor and comedian on stage and in silent films. He was, too briefly, a key member of Charlie Chaplin's film ensemble, invariably playing intimidating bullies, and appeared in eleven of Chaplin's films before he was killed in a car crash at the age of 38. He is the subject of a documentary by filmmaker Kevin Macdonald. CareerCampbell began acting in theatres in Scotland and Wales, playing melodramatic roles. In this setting he was discovered by Fred Karno, the English impresario who was impressed by Campbell's size and baritone voice and took him to London to act in the slapstick comedy style. Campbell travelled to New York in 1914, in the wake of the Karno tour that brought Chaplin and his then-understudy Stan Laurel, who had moved to the USA in 1913. Campbell soon became established in America as a stage actor. By 1916, Chaplin — in New York to sign his contract with Mutual — saw Campbell in the actor’s second Broadway show. As a result, Chaplin invited him to Hollywood to join the cast of actors for the 12 Mutual films Chaplin had contracted to make.(Campbell wound up not appearing in One A.M., which was virtually a Chaplin one-hander after an opening scene with Albert Austin as a taxi driver). Campbell's first film with Chaplin was The Floorwalker (1916). In it he achieved recognition for the "escalator scene", in which he chased Chaplin through a department store. It was in their second film together, The Fireman (1916), that Campbell developed the role which featured in all his remaining work with Chaplin. A tall man towering 6 ft. 5 in. and weighing almost 300 pounds (136 kg), he became the bully and comic foil to the Little Tramp's antics. His best role is probably in Easy Street (1917), in which, as a brutal bully, he bends a cast-iron street lamp standard to a right angle to intimidate the novice policeman played by Chaplin. Campbell perfected his fiercely menacing eye make-up when performing in Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado prior to entering the movie industry.Just as Chaplin — then the highest-profile film star in the world — had many imitators. Campbell also had his own clones, including Oliver Hardy who played second banana to Chaplin's impersonator, Billy West.When Chaplin's contract with Mutual ended, he signed another with First National, intending to take Campbell with him. Between films, Chaplin lent Campbell to Mary Pickford, who cast him in Amarilly of Clothes-Line Alley (1918). Personal lifeOn July 9 1917, Campbell’s wife died suddenly of a heart attack after dinner at a Santa Monica restaurant near their home. Walking to a nearby store to buy a mourning dress, his 16-year-old daughter Una was hit by a car and seriously injured. Still mourning, at a September 12 party given for Artcraft Studio publicity man Pete Schmid, Campbell met Pearl Gilman, a diminutive vaudeville comedian with a family reputation for gold-digging. She had been married to candy heir Charles W. Alisky in 1912, and a few years later divorced and married another wealthy man, Theodore Arnreiter. Her sister Mabelle was married to elderly steel magnate William Ellis Corey, the owner of U.S. Steel. Just five days after they met, Campbell and Gilman Alisky-Arnreiter were married at the home of Elaine Hardy at 824 5th Street in Santa Monica. His daughter Una, still recuperating at a friend's home in Santa Monica Canyon, was not told of the wedding for several weeks. Less than two months after marrying him Gilman Alisky-Arnreiter sued him for divorce, claiming he abused her with his heavy drinking and profanity. He moved out of their Santa Monica bungalow and into the Los Angeles Athletic Club, taking a room next to his best friend Chaplin. DeathAt a cast party, Campbell got drunk and, driving home at 4 am, crashed his car and died as a result. His ashes remained unclaimed for over 30 years until laid to rest at an unknown site at Rosedale Cemetery.Una Campbell, the actor's only child, returned to the UK to live with relatives in Nottingham after her father died. She married a Philip O. Bull in Lewisham in 1930 and died in Croydon in 1967. LegacyThe 1996 documentary, Chaplin's Goliath: In Search of Scotland's Forgotten Star, written and directed by Kevin MacDonald, explored Campbell's life and work. During the making of the film, a plaque commemorating Campbell was placed at Rosedale Cemetery and another was added to the Castle House Museum at Castle Gardens, Dunoon. Filmography 1916 The Floorwalker Manager The Fireman Foreman of Brigade The Vagabond Roma Chieftain The Count A Tailor The Pawnshop Burglar Behind the Screen Goliath The Rink Mr. Stout, Edna's 1917 Easy Street The Bully The Cure Man with goutThe Immigrant Head waiter The Adventurer The Suitor 1918 How To Make Movies (Unreleased Film) Golfer 1983 Unknown Chaplin(doc. with unseen footage) Broadway Pom-Pom (Feb 28 - Jun 17 1916)Tipping the Winner (Sep - Oct 1914) $6.00 INSURED BOXED SHIPPING

Price: 8500 USD

Location: Chicago, Illinois

End Time: 2025-01-21T03:26:22.000Z

Shipping Cost: 6 USD