Canadian actor
Rapley Holmes (June 1, 1868 – January 11, 1928)[1] was a stage and screen actor. He was born in Canada and married actress Gerda Holmes .[2]
Holmes played the part of Joe Horn in the long running Somerset Maugham play Rain (1922) starring Jeanne Eagels .[3] On stage he appeared with many greats of the Edwardian era including Maxine Elliott , Elsie Ferguson , Nance O'Neil , Doug Fairbanks and both William and Dustin Farnum .
Holmes (right ) with Justine Johnstone and Taylor Holmes (no relation) in Nothing But Lies , 1920
Holmes began appearing in silent films in 1914 while still maintaining an active role in Broadway plays. His last film role was in 1920, two years before the huge hit of Rain . Acting in Rain dominated the rest of Holmes's career up until his death in January 1928. His role in Rain was played by James A. Marcus in the 1928 Gloria Swanson hit re-titled Sadie Thompson and by Guy Kibbee in the 1932 talkie Rain with Joan Crawford .[4]
Selected filmography One Wonderful Night (1914)The Verdict (1914), a shortThrough Eyes of Love (1914), a shortThe Fable of the People's Choice Who Answered the Call of Duty and Took Seltzer (1914)*shortWithin Three Hundred Pages (1914)*shortThe Servant Question (1914), a shortThe Means and the End (1914), a shortThe Buffer (1914), a shortThe Place, the Time and the Man (1914)*shortThe Fable of the Bush League Lover Who Failed to Qualify (1914), a shortThe Battle of Love (1914)The Fable of the City Grafter and the Unprotected Rubes (1915), a shortThe Fable of Hifaluting Tillie and Her Plain Parents (1915), a shortThe Fable of the Syndicate Lover (1915)*shortThe Creed of the Clan (1915), a shortThe Fable of Elvira and Farina and the Meal Ticket (1915)*shortThe Fable of the Cold Gray Dawn of the Morning After (1915)*shortThe Victory of Virtue (1915)Gloria's Romance (1916)Nothing But Lies (1920)The Servant Question (1920)
References ^ Silent Film Necrology , p.248 2ndEdition c.2001 by Eugene Michael Vazzana^ "Rapley Holmes Theatre Credits, News, Bio and Photos". ^ Pictorial History of the American Theatre: 1860-1985 p.194 c.1985 by Daniel Blum^ Who Was Who On Screen , p.219 2nd Edition c.1977 by Evelyn Mack Truitt
External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rapley Holmes .
Rapley Holmes at IMDb.com Rapley Holmes at IBDb.com