Coy Watson Jr.

James Caughey Watson Jr. (November 16, 1912 – March 14, 2009), professionally known as Coy Watson, was an American child actor of the silent era, who was from an extended family of nine siblings of fellow performers known as The Watson Family. He appeared in more than 60 films.[1]

Coy Watson Jr.
Born
James Caughey Watson Jr.

(1912-11-16)November 16, 1912
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
DiedMarch 14, 2009(2009-03-14) (aged 96)
Alpine, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Child actor, news photographer, television cameraman
Parent(s)James Caughey Watson Sr, Golda Watson
Family(siblings)

Life and career

Coy Watson Jr. was the son of actor, stuntman, and pioneer special effects artist James Caughey "Coy" Watson Sr and his wife Golda. They lived by the Echo Park area of the city and Coy attended nearby Belmont High School.[2] The younger Watson made his film debut in 1921 and appeared in approximately 24 films over a period of eight years. He had five brothers and three sisters who also acted in films, including Billy, Delmar, Garry, Harry, Vivian, Gloria, Louise Watson Roberts, and Bobs Watson. Because he was featured in several of Mack Sennett's popular "The Keystone Cops" comedies, he earned the nickname "The Keystone Kid".[3]

During World War II, Watson served in the United States Coast Guard, based out of San Diego.[4][5] Coy Watson Jr. was a Los Angeles-based news photographer for CBS Television in the 1950s. He was the head news photographer at KCRA-TV in Sacramento, California, in the late 1950s. He was credited with teaching brother Harry R. Watson photography.[6]

Watson's autobiography, The Keystone Kid: Tales of Early Hollywood, was published in 2001.[7]

The Watson family were collectively honoured by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce by placing The Watson Family Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located at 6674 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, California.[3]

Watson died of stomach cancer in Alpine, California, on March 14, 2009, at the age of 96.[4]

Partial filmography

See also

References
  1. "LastingTribute.co.uk". Archived from the original on 2012-08-04.
  2. Coy Watson Jr. at IMDb
  3. Pool, Bob. "Star Shines Brightly for Hollywood's First Family; Movies: The Watson clan of former child actors finally receives recognition for its pioneering contribution to films." Los Angeles Times. April 23, 1999. Metro Part B Metro Desk Page 1.
  4. Los Angeles Times obituary: "Coy Watson Jr. dies at 96; one of nine silent-era sibling actors"
  5. Harris M. Lentz III (21 March 2016). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2009: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons and Pop Culture. McFarland. p. 556. ISBN 978-0-7864-5645-1.
  6. Campanile, Belmont High School, 1938
  7. Review of The Keystone Kid

Bibliography
  • John Holmstrom, The Moving Picture Boy: An International Encyclopaedia from 1895 to 1995, Norwich, Michael Russell, 1996, p. 56.
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