William Bakewell
#284,031 Most Popular
About
America actor who rose to fame as a young performer in the 1920s and 30s. Perhaps his most memorable role came in 1930, when he played German soldier Albert Kropp in All Quiet on the Western Front. In 1933, he contributed to the formation of the Screen Actor's Guild and was one of the original 50 members.
Before Fame
He was born in Los Angeles, California. He attended the Harvard School for Boys and the Page Military Academy. His first acting role was as an extra in the 1924 silent film, Fighting Blood.
Trivia
He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, with the rank of second lieutenant. In 1991, he published his autobiography, Hollywood Be Thy Name--Random Recollections of a Movie Veteran From Silents to Talkies to TV. In 1993, he died of leukemia. He also appeared in the 1955 film, Davey Crocket: King of the Wild Frontier.
Family Life
He was married to Jennifer Holt from 1946-1948. In 1955, he remarried to Diane Virginia Griffiths.
Associated With
He made a short appearance in the film Gone with the Wind, playing a mounted soldier whom Scarett O'Hara, played by Vivien Leigh, asks a question.