Hugh Trevor

Hugh Trevor (born Hugh Trevor-Thomas; October 28, 1903 – November 10, 1933) was an American actor whose short career began at the very end of the silent era in 1927. He would appear in nineteen films in the scant six years during which he was active. He did not fare well with the advent of talking pictures, and retired from the industry in 1931. His life was cut short when he unexpectedly died from complications following appendectomy surgery in 1933.

Not to be confused with the English historian Hugh Trevor-Roper.

Hugh Trevor
Trevor in 1929
Born
Hugh Trevor-Thomas

(1903-10-28)October 28, 1903
Yonkers, New York City, U.S.
DiedNovember 10, 1933(1933-11-10) (aged 30)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1927–1933

Early life

Trevor was born on October 28, 1903, in Yonkers, New York.[1] He studied at Harvard University.[2] After college, he began a successful insurance business. In 1925, through his uncle, producer William LeBaron,[3] he went to sell an insurance policy to Richard Dix,[4] the film star. Dix was impressed by Trevor, and arranged for him to screen test, which Dix himself directed.[5]

Film career

Subsequent to his screen test, Trevor made his film debut in the 1927 film, Ranger of the North, where he played second fiddle to the dog star, Ranger. Although he would work for several studios, the bulk of his films were produced by F.B.O. Productions (FBO – also known as FBO Pictures Corporation), and later by RKO Radio Pictures, after FBO was merged with RCA to form RKO. While he never worked with Dix, he did work with other famous film figures of that era, including Mary Astor, Bryant Washburn, Chester Conklin, Noah Beery, the comedy team of Wheeler & Woolsey (Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey), Betty Compson, and Lowell Sherman.[6] In 1929, Trevor was romantically linked with actress Aileen Pringle, following their working together on the film Beau Broadway the prior year.[7][8] During his film career he was also romantically linked with another co-star, Betty Compson, who at one point was considering marrying him (after her divorce from James Cruze).[3][9]

Trevor in the 1930 film, The Pay-Off

After the creation of RKO, Trevor would also work with his relative, William LeBaron.[6] As the film industry transitioned into sound pictures, studios would create films in both sound and silent versions. Trevor's film, Love in the Desert, was one such film, and he and his co-star, Olive Borden, were featured in Photoplay magazine highlighting the new "Photophone" sound process.[10] However, with the onset of talking pictures, his career began to fade,[5] and he retired from the film industry in 1931,[2] his last film being RKO's The Royal Bed.[6]

Later career

After leaving films, he remained in Los Angeles, returning to the insurance industry, where he went into partnership with James Ryan, specializing in policies to those in the film industry.[2] In 1933, less than two weeks after his thirtieth birthday, he suffered from appendicitis. He died of complications from the resulting appendectomy, and was buried in Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

Filmography

(as per AFI's database)[6]

Year Title Role Silent (S)/Talkie (T) Notes
1927 Ranger of the North Bob Fleming S
1928 Beau Broadway Killer Gordon S
1928 Dry Martini Bobbie Duncan S
1928 Her Summer Hero Kenneth Holmes S
1928 Hey Rube! String S
1928 The Pinto Kid Dan Logan S
1928 Red Lips "Spike" Blair S
1928 Skinner's Big Idea Jack McLaughlin S
1928 Taxi 13 Dan Regan S
1928 Wallflowers Rufus S
1929 Love in the Desert Bob Winslow S & T
1929 Night Parade Bobby Murray T
1929 The Very Idea Joe Garvin T
1930 Conspiracy John Howell T
1930 The Cuckoos Billy T
1930 Half Shot at Sunrise Lieut. Jim Reed T
1930 Midnight Mystery Gregory Sloane T
1930 The Pay-Off Rocky T
1931 The Royal Bed Crown Prince William T

References
  1. "Hugh Trevor". Theiapolis.com. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  2. Scott, Tony (13 March 2006). "The Stars of Hollywood Forever". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on 28 September 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  3. "Cal York's Monthly Broadcast from Hollywood". Photoplay. May 1931. p. 80.
  4. "The Answer Man". Motion Picture Magazine. January 1931. p. 115.
  5. "Hugh Trevor Biography". Fandango.com. Archived from the original on 28 September 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  6. "Hugh Trevor filmography". American Film Institute. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  7. "Hollywood – A Manless Town". Photoplay. September 1929. p. 42.
  8. "Gossip of all the Studios". Photoplay. November 1929. p. 105.
  9. "They say that – Quaint Quips". Motion Picture News. 20 September 1930. p. 43.
  10. "Hello, Readers!". Photoplay. October 1929. p. 72.
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