Vincent Coleman

Vincent Coleman (February 16, 1900 – October 26, 1971) was an American stage and film actor of the silent film era of the late 1910s and early 1920s.

For the former professional baseball player, see Vince Coleman. For the Canadian train dispatcher, see Vince Coleman (train dispatcher).
Vincent Coleman
Born(1900-02-16)February 16, 1900
Louisiana, U.S.
DiedOctober 26, 1971(1971-10-26) (aged 71)
Los Angeles U.S.
Other namesWillie B. Coleman
Years active1912–1923

Biography

Born in Louisiana, Coleman began his acting career while still a young boy; touring the United States with the Cecil Spooner stock theater company. Occasionally credited in the early years of his career as Willie B. Coleman, he made the transition to film in the 1912 Frank Montgomery drama short The Junior Officer at age twelve opposite film actors Hobart Bosworth and Camille Astor before returning to Broadway at the age of sixteen to appear in the 1917 play Difference in Gods.[1] Coleman then returned to filmmaking to play a variety of juvenile roles for such film studios as Fox, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation, First National and Paramount opposite such actors as Corinne Griffith, Mae Murray, Constance Talmadge and Constance Binney.[2]

At the beginning of the 1920s, Hollywood film producers took notice of the handsome, fair, young actor and saw in Coleman a possible "All American" matinee idol to counter the "Latin lover" types such as Ramón Novarro, Antonio Moreno and Rudolf Valentino that were becoming increasingly popular among the nation's theater-goers. In 1919 however, Coleman's further foray into moving pictures was a less than glamorous role in the anti-syphilis propaganda film Scarlet Trail, which was inspired by the World War I era for-men-only medical pamphlet Don't Take a Chance. Coleman was eventually groomed by the studios to become a leading man and had starring roles in the 1921 George Fawcett directed remake of the 1914 Mary Pickford comedy film Such A Little Queen and The Magic Cup, released the same year before returning to Broadway in July 1921 to star in the Sam H. Harris produced play Nice People opposite renowned stage actress Tallulah Bankhead.[1]

In 1923 Coleman appeared in the independently produced "epic" film Salome as Herod, opposite actress Diana Allen. The film proved to be a colossal financial disappointment however and Coleman's film career never recovered and the young actor became disillusioned with film. Coleman made only two more motion pictures (both released in 1923); Has The World Gone Mad! with Hedda Hopper and Elinor Fair and the comedy The Purple Highway starring Monte Blue, Madge Kennedy and Pedro de Cordoba.

After retiring from films at the age of twenty-two, Coleman concentrated further on his stage career.

Coleman died in Los Angeles, California in 1971 at the age of seventy-one.

Complete filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1912The Junior OfficerShort
1918The Scarlet TrailBob Grafton
1918The Prodigal WifeVictor Middleton
1919The Law of NatureGuy Bolton
1919Should a Husband Forgive?Joh Carroll Jr.
1920Partners of the NightGerald
1920Good ReferencesWilliam Marshall
1920For the Freedom of IrelandRobert Emmett Corrigan
1921Princess JonesArthur Forbes
1921The Magic CupBob Norton
1921Such a Little QueenStephen of Hetland
1922FascinationRalph Kellogg (an American)
1922Divorce CouponsBuddy
1922A Game of Graftshort film
1923SaloméHerod
1923Has the World Gone Mad?The Adams Son
1923The Purple HighwayDudley Quail(final film role)
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References
  1. Internet Broadway Database
  2. Silent Ladies & Gents: Photoplay: Who's Who on the Screen (1920)
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