Guy Oliver

George Guy Oliver (September 25, 1878 – September 1, 1932) was an American actor. He appeared in at least 189 silent film era motion pictures and 32 talkies in character roles between 1911 and 1931. His obituary gives him credit for at least 600. He directed three films in 1915.

Guy Oliver
Born
George Guy Oliver

(1878-09-25)September 25, 1878
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedSeptember 1, 1932(1932-09-01) (aged 53)
Hollywood, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1911–1931

Early years

Oliver was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of J. O. and Beno Oliver, on September 25, 1889. His father bought a music store in Lamar, Missouri, in 1891, and a few years later he formed the Lamar Ladies' Silver Cornet Band. Oliver was playing cornet in the group when he was 6 years old, and his mother was the conductor. Later the family formed The Musical Olivers, a troupe that "played Carthage, Springfield, Joplin, Rolla, and nearly every other town and city in Missouri". Later the group affiliated with the Southern Carnival Company and traveled across the United States. His mother's death ended the family performances.[1]

Career

After Oliver's mother died, he began acting with the Fennberg Stock Company in New England. Later, he and Joe Keaton teamed in a "burlesque boxing act" that they performed in amusement parks around the United States [1] Oliver followed that routine with a vaudeville act in which he sang and whistled.[1]

After "an unsuccessful engagement with a stock company in Rome, Georgia," in 1908 he began working for Lubin Studios in Philadelphia, earning $3.00 a day. He also worked for Eclair, Kinemacolor and the Selig Polyscope Company before he joined Jesse L. Lasky's company in California in 1916. Oliver appeared in at least 18 films starring Wallace Reid, and in those made by many other stars at Paramount. In 1931 his health led him to retire, but the studio continued to pay him.[2]

Personal life and death

Oliver was married on January 31, 1906, in Jackson, Mississippi.[1] He and his wife, Elinor, had a son, Parker, and a daughter, Georgie. He died at Hollywood Hospital in Hollywood, California.[2]

Partial filmography

References
  1. "Guy Oliver Not a Star, but Has Played 734 Film Roles and Made Money". The St. Louis Star and Times. April 17, 1929. p. 3. Retrieved July 13, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Veteran Of Films Plays Last Role". Los Angeles Times. September 3, 1932. p. A 1. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
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