Warner Baxter

Warner Leroy Baxter (March 29, 1889 – May 7, 1951)[1][note 1] was an American film actor from the 1910s to the 1940s. Baxter became known for his role as the Cisco Kid in the 1928 film In Old Arizona, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor at the 2nd Academy Awards.[4] He frequently played womanizing, charismatic Latin bandit types in Westerns, and played the Cisco Kid or a similar character throughout the 1930s, but had a range of other roles throughout his career.

Warner Baxter
Warner Baxter publicity photo
Born(1889-03-29)March 29, 1889
Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
DiedMay 7, 1951(1951-05-07) (aged 62)
Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
Resting placeForest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California
Occupationactor
Years active1914–50
Spouse(s)Viola Caldwell (m.1911–div.1913)
Winifred Bryson (m.1918)

Baxter began his movie career in silent films with his most notable roles being in The Great Gatsby (1926) and The Awful Truth (1925). Baxter's most notable talkies are In Old Arizona (1929), 42nd Street (1932), Slave Ship (1937) with Wallace Beery, Kidnapped (1938) with Freddie Bartholomew, and the 1931 ensemble short film, The Stolen Jools. In the 1940s, he was well known for his recurring role as Dr. Robert Ordway in the Crime Doctor series of 10 films.

For his contributions to the motion-picture industry, Baxter has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[5]

Early life

Baxter was born on March 29, 1889.[6] in Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio,[2] to Edwin F. Baxter, born October 1, 1867, Marysville, Union Co., Ohio[7] and Jennie (Jane) B. Barrett, born December 30, 1869, Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio.[8] Jennie Barrett was the daughter of Leroy Barrett and Hattie Snider.[9] (Note: Ohio Birth Index shows date as March 30, 1889.[10] Baxter's parents were married May 10, 1888, Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio.[11] Edwin Baxter owned a cigar stand in Columbus, Ohio.[12] Edwin F. Baxter, son of William E. Baxter and Mary C. Miller Baxter, died on September 16, 1889 at Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio.[13][14] Baxter was not quite 5 months old when his father died. Baxter's mother survived him by ten years. Jane/Jennie Barrett Baxter died on March 29, 1962 at her home in Beverly Hills, California.[15] Her cremated remains were inurned at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Great Mausoleum, Glendale, California.[16]

Baxter and his mother went to live with her brother in Columbus. They later moved to New York City, where he became active in dramatics, both participating in school productions and attending plays. In 1898, the two moved to San Francisco, where he graduated from Polytechnic High School. When the 1906 San Francisco earthquake struck, Baxter and his mother lived in Golden Gate Park for eight days and then went to live with friends in Alameda for three months. In 1908, they returned to Columbus. After selling farm implements for a living, Baxter worked for four months as the partner of Dorothy Shoemaker in an act on the Keith Vaudeville Circuit.[3]

Film career
With June Lang and Fredric March

Baxter began his film career as an extra in 1914 in a stock company. He had his first starring role in Sheltered Daughters (1921), and starred in 48 features during the 1920s. His most notable silent roles were in The Great Gatsby (1926), Aloma of the South Seas (1926) as an island love interest opposite dancer Gilda Gray, and an alcoholic doctor in West of Zanzibar (1928) with Lon Chaney.

Baxter's most notable starring role was as the Cisco Kid in In Old Arizona (1929), the first all-talking Western, for which he won the second Academy Award for Best Actor. He also starred in 42nd Street (1933), Grand Canary (1934), Broadway Bill (1934), and Kidnapped (1938).

By 1936, Baxter was the highest-paid actor in Hollywood, but by 1943, he had slipped to B movie roles, and he starred in a series of Crime Doctor films for Columbia Pictures. Baxter had roles in more than 100 films between 1914 and 1950.[17] In 1936, Baxter had what Leonard Maltin considered his finest job of acting in John Ford's "The Prisoner of Shark Island."[18]

Between 1935 and 1941, Internal Revenue Service published annually the individuals with the highest incomes. These amount may differ from other published sources that are usually higher. Baxter was under contract for a full years service to 20th Century Fox. Normally top talent contracts ran for seven years and allowed for six weeks off per year. The IRS stated in 1935, Baxter made $203,000 ($3,837,319.19 in 2019), 1936 reported $284,000 ($5,315,313.12 in 2019), and for 1937, $225,961 ($4,082,105.70 in 2019). As stated earlier, he was the highest paid contract actor in 1936.[19]

Between 1930 and 1936, Myrna Loy was costarred with Baxter four times. Renegades, Penthouse, Broadway Bill, and To Mary-With Love. She wrote in her 1987 autobiography, "And I have fond memories of Warner, a good actor and a charming man, because we did several pictures together. Renegades was a happy film because of them (Baxter and director Victor Fleming). Only two other actors did she costar with more often, Clark Gable and William Powell."[20]

Toward the end of Baxter's career and life he wrote a one time guest column published in the Saturday Evening Post in 1948, entitled "The Roll I Liked Best." He wrote in part, "I must admit that I rate the Kid's (Cisco Kid) first film, In Old Arizona, as my top favorite." He went on to write how as an early "talkie" and the first outdoor talking feature picture made they had to hide microphones in trees and behind rocks at that time. "In Old Arizona started as a two-reeler and we built it up to an eight-reeler. I thoroughly enjoyed the building-up part. It made me feel that I had helped create a new Cisco Kid for the pictures. Then, too, the fact that I got an Oscar for the job caused me no pain." He said this film allowed him to ultimately play the roll of Cisco five times. Arizona Kid in 1930 was the second of five. He liked the warmth and color of the character while modifying O. Henry's story with comedy and drama.[21] In keeping his Oscar in proper perspective, around 1945, Life Magazine photographed him with the trophy but never published it. The photo shows Baxter in a club chair in his Beverly Hills home looking fondly at his dog, an American Cocker Spaniel on the floor. The dog's leash is anchored to his gold Oscar and sitting on the floor with the dog.[22]

For a number of years stunt man and western actor Frank McGrath known best for his roll on the TV series Wagon Train was a stand-in and stunt double for Baxter. He so greatly resembled Baxter that they could have passed for brothers per Los Angeles Times reporter John Scott. The two men formed a friendship outside of the studios and McGrath worked in several capacities for him away from filming.[23] Studio still photos exist today from 20th Century Fox film "Slave Ship" (1937) showing identically dressed Baxter and McGrath looking like brothers.

Personal life

Baxter married Viola Caldwell in 1911, but they were soon separated and then divorced in 1913. He married actress Winifred Bryson in 1918, remaining married until his death in 1951.[24]

Married Viola Pauline Colwell in 1914 at Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co., Pennsylvania. NOTE: her surname was COLWELL on license and several census sheets.[25]

Married Winifred M. Bryson on January 29, 1918, Bronx, New York City, New York.[26]

Draft Registration for World War One, living at 333 S. Hope St., Los Angeles, CA. Gave date of birth of March 29, 1889. Stated sole support of mother.[27]

Registered Republican 1924 though 1950.[28]

Baxter had a personal listing submitted by him in Who's Who of California in 1928. He stated his address, listed his birth date correct but taking four years off his age, Mason, Republican, Protestant and was a member of the Maskers Club, Hollywood Athletic, and both the Edgewater Beach and Casa del Mar Clubs in Santa Monica.[29]

Homeowner living at 138 S. Beachwood Drive, Los Angeles, California with wife and two household servants on April 8, 1930. Lived there as early as 1924. House is existent as of 2020.[30][31]

Homeowner living at 688 Nimes Road, Bel Aire, Los Angeles, California with wife, Winifred, and four household servants on April 10, 1940. House razed in 1985.[32] The Tudor styled house situated on four acres was 16,000 square feet containing 7 kitchens. The house, pool, garages, tennis court and outbuildings were designed in 1932 by architect Harry G. Werner. It was ready for occupancy in 1933. Among other unique features, the house had secret panels and passageways, due to low cost of electricity at the time it was constructed the house was entirely electric with a heating system for each room along with a communications system. It was obviously built on that scale for entertaining.[33] After Baxter sold it the house underwent major modernization during the ownership of Barbie Doll creator Jack Ryan who owned it from 1963 until 1977. The house was razed in 1985.

Homeowner living at 911 North Roxbury Drive, Beverly Hills, CA from 1944 until his death. His widow continued to live in the house through the 1960's with her second husband. In the 1960's it was owned by actress Elizabeth Montgomery, daughter of actor Robert Montgomery. The house razed in 2019.[34]

Beach house at 77 Malibu Beach, Malibu, California for many years.[35] Was very active in Malibu civic affairs. Was named Honorary Mayor of Malibu from 1946, replacing Brian Donlevy, through 1949.[36]The Malibu Times, August 20, 1946, V 1, #17. pg 1.</ref>

He was a close friend of William Powell with whom he had starred in three films, and was at Powell's side when Jean Harlow died in 1937.[17]

When not acting, Baxter was an inventor who co-created a searchlight for revolvers in 1935, which allowed a shooter to more clearly see a target at night. He also developed a radio device that allowed emergency crews to change traffic signals from two blocks away, providing them with safe passage through intersections. He financed the device's installation at a Beverly Hills intersection in 1940.[17]

Death

Baxter suffered from arthritis for several years, and in 1951, he underwent a lobotomy as a last resort to ease the chronic pain.[37][38] On May 7, 1951, he died of pneumonia at age 62[2] and was interred in Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California. His grave is located in the private section, Garden of Memory. His bronze headstone has a reproduction of his signature. The inscription is in the handwriting of his wife, Winifred Bryson Baxter.[39][40] Warner Leroy Baxter's death certificate stated the following. He died at his residence on May 7, 1951 at 5:50 PM, 911 North Roxbury Drive, Beverly Hills, California (house razed in 2019). Informant Philip M. Schiefer (his agent). The death certificate further stated, "Cause of Death, Broncho-pneumonia, terminal 24 hrs. Carcinoma of prostate with generalized metastasis - 6 months. Treatment: 1/8/1943 to death; no operation; no autopsy."[41]

His funeral was held at the Wee Kirk O' The Heather chapel at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California on May 11, 1951. The service was conducted by Dr. Franklin Kelly of Christ Church, Unity. The Los Angeles Times noted that the private funeral service was markedly reminiscent of the film capitol's earlier days. Among his pallbearers were long time close friends Ronald Colman, William Powell, and Tim McCoy. He was buried in a bronze casket with a portrait of his wife.[42]

On June 13, 1951, his last will and testament dated April 10, 1946 was entered into probate at Los Angeles. He left all his property to his wife and no valuation was made in the documents other that stating it will exceed $10,000.[43] His obituary stated in recent years he had long been interested in real estate and business projects.[44]

Recognition

In 1960, Baxter posthumously received a motion pictures star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6284 Hollywood Boulevard.[5]

Filmography
Year Film Role Notes
1914 Her Own Money Lew Alden uncredited
1918 All Woman uncredited
1919 Lombardi, Ltd. uncredited
1921 First Love Donald Halliday Incomplete; Museum of Modern Art (New York)
Cheated Hearts Tom Gordon
The Love Charm Thomas Morgan
Sheltered Daughters Pep Mullins
1922 If I Were Queen Vladimir
A Girl's Desire Jones/Lord Dysart
The Ninety and Nine Tom Silverton/Phil Bradbury
The Girl in His Room Kirk Waring
Her Own Money Lew Alden
1923 St. Elmo Murray Hammond Lost
Blow Your Own Horn Jack Dunbar
In Search of a Thrill Adrian Torrens
Those Who Dance Bob Kane Extant; Library of Congress (per Tave/IMDb review)
1924 Christine of the Hungry Heart Stuart Knight Extant; Library of Congress (per Tave/IMDb review)
The Female Col. Valentia
His Forgotten Wife Donald Allen/John Rolfe Extant; Library of Congress
Alimony Jimmy Mason
The Garden of Weeds Douglas Crawford
1925 The Best People Henry Morgan Lost
A Son of His Father Big Boy Morgan
Rugged Water Calvin Horner Lost
Welcome Home Fred Prouty Extant
The Awful Truth Norman Satterlee print preserved at UCLA Film and Television (per IMDb)
The Air Mail Russ Kane Incomplete
The Golden Bed Bunny O'Neill Extant
Mismates Ted Carroll Lost
1926 Aloma of the South Seas Nuitane Lost
The Runaway Wade Murrell Lost
Mannequin John Herrick Extant
The Great Gatsby Jay Gatsby Lost
Miss Brewster's Millions Thomas B. Hancock Jr Lost
1927 The Coward Clinton Philbrook
Singed Royce Wingate
Drums of the Desert John Curry Lost
The Telephone Girl Matthew Standish
Craig's Wife Walter Craig Lost
1928 Danger Street Rolly Sigsby
Ramona Alessandro Extant
Three Sinners James Harris Lost
The Tragedy of Youth Frank Gordon Lost
West of Zanzibar Doc directed by Tod Browning; Extant
A Woman's Way Tony Lost
In Old Arizona The Cisco Kid Academy Award for Best Actor - Extant
1929 Romance of the Rio Grande Pablo Wharton Cameron
Behind That Curtain Col. John Beetham Extant
The Far Call ? Lost
Thru Different Eyes Jack Winfield Extant (special silent version only, incomplete)
Linda Dr. Paul Randall Extant
1930 Renegades Deucalion Extant
Such Men Are Dangerous Ludwig Kranz Extant; Library of Congress
The Arizona Kid The Cisco Kid Extant; Library of Congress
The Squaw Man James 'Jim' Wingate, aka Jim Carston Extant
1931 Their Mad Moment Esteban Cristera
Doctors' Wives Dr. Judson Penning
The Stolen Jools The Cisco Kid
Daddy Long Legs Jervis Pendleton
The Cisco Kid The Cisco Kid
Surrender Sgt. Dumaine
1932 Six Hours to Live Capt. Paul Onslow
Man About Town Stephen Morrow
Amateur Daddy Jim Gladden
1933 Dangerously Yours Andrew Burke
42nd Street Julian Marsh
I Loved You Wednesday Philip Fletcher
Paddy the Next Best Thing Lawrence Blake
Penthouse Jackson 'Jack' Durant
1934 Hell in the Heavens Lt. Steve Warner
As Husbands Go Charles Lingard
Grand Canary Dr. Harvey Leith
Stand Up and Cheer! Lawrence Cromwell
Such Women Are Dangerous Michael Shawn
Broadway Bill Dan Brooks
1935 Under the Pampas Moon Cesar Campo
One More Spring Jaret Otkar
La Fiesta de Santa Barbara Himself Short film
1936 White Hunter Capt. Clark Rutledge
To Mary - with Love Jack Wallace
The Road to Glory Captain Paul La Roche
The Prisoner of Shark Island Dr. Samuel Mudd
King of Burlesque Kerry Bolton
The Robin Hood of El Dorado Joaquin Murrieta
1937 Wife, Doctor and Nurse Dr. Judd Lewis
Vogues of 1938 George Curson
Slave Ship Jim Lovett
1938 I'll Give a Million Tony Newlander
Kidnapped Alan Breck
1939 Barricade Hank Topping
Wife, Husband and Friend Leonard Borland aka Logan Bennett
The Return of the Cisco Kid The Cisco Kid
1940 Earthbound Nick Desborough
1941 Adam Had Four Sons Adam Stoddard
1943 Crime Doctor Dr. Robert Ordway/Phil Morgan first of 10 films in the Crime Doctor B-film series
Crime Doctor's Strangest Case Dr. Robert Ordway
1944 Shadows in the Night Dr. Robert Ordway
Lady in the Dark Kendall Nesbitt
1945 Crime Doctor's Warning Dr. Robert Ordway
The Crime Doctor's Courage Dr. Robert Ordway
1946 Crime Doctor's Man Hunt Dr. Robert Ordway
Just Before Dawn Dr. Robert Ordway
1947 Crime Doctor's Gamble Dr. Robert Ordway
The Millerson Case Dr. Robert Ordway
1948 The Gentleman from Nowhere Earl Donovan/Robert Ashton
1949 The Crime Doctor's Diary Dr. Robert Ordway last of the Crime Doctor series
The Devil's Henchman Jess Arno
Prison Warden Warden Victor Burnell
1950 State Penitentiary Roger Manners
1952 O. Henry's Full House clip of Baxter from The Cisco Kid

See also

Note
  1. the book Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory gives his date of birth as March 29, 1891,[2] while American Classic Screen Profiles gives the date as March 29, 1892[3]

References
  1. "Los Angeles Times Hollywood Star Walk - Warner Baxter". Los Angeles Times. May 8, 1951. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
  2. Ellenberger, Allan R. (2001). Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory. McFarland. p. 35. ISBN 9780786450190. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
  3. Tibbetts, John C.; Welsh, James M. (2010). American Classic Screen Profiles. Scarecrow Press. pp. 26–29. ISBN 9780810876774. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
  4. "The Official Academy Awards Database". oscars.org. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
  5. "Hollywood Walk of Fame - Warner Baxter". Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. 8 February 1960. Archived from the original on 2016-04-03. Retrieved 2016-10-06.
  6. CA Death Index and both WW1 and WW2 Draft Registration.
  7. Ohio Births and Christenings, 1774-1973
  8. Ohio Births and Christenings, 1774-1973.
  9. Ohio Births and Christenings Index, 1774-1973
  10. Ohio Birth and Christening Index, 1774-1973.
  11. Ohio County Marriage Records, 1774-1993.
  12. City Directory, 1889, Columbus, Ohio.
  13. Columbus, Ohio Greenlawn Cemetery Index.
  14. Ohio Birth and Christenings Index, 1774-1973.
  15. Los Angeles Recorder's Office, death certificate No. 6294.
  16. Forest Lawn Memorial Park website locator.
  17. Cliff Aliperti (29 March 2010). "Warner Baxter-A Brief Biography". Things and Other Stuff. Retrieved 2011-11-16.
  18. Leonard Maltin's Classic Movie Guide, 3rd edition.
  19. Gone Hollywood, The Movie Colony In The Golden Age, Christopher Finch and Linda Rosenkrantz, Doubleday, 1979, pg. 223, 224.
  20. Myrna Loy - Being and Becoming by Myrna Loy and James Kotsilibas-Davis, (1987) Knopf, pg. 61.
  21. Saturday Evening Post, January 3, 1948, Vol. 220, No. 27, pg. 86.
  22. Gettyimages, http://img1.bdbphotos.com/images/orig/2/f/2fj4cnaq4ih0an4j.jpg?kj8as6ye
  23. Los Angeles Times, February 10, 1935, "Screen Star's Stand-in Has Thankless Job" with photograph by John Scott, pg. 1A.
  24. "Warner Baxter, 62, Star Of Motion Pictures, Dies". The Morning Herald. Maryland, Hagerstown. Associated Press. May 8, 1951. p. 1. Retrieved February 11, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. Marriage License No. 315298, Pennsylvania Marriages, 1852-1968, File No. 004140386, Leni, Utah: Ancestry.com.
  26. License No. 376; New York Marriage License Indexes 1907-2018, Bronx 1918-1919.
  27. Draft Registration Card dated June 5, 1917: Ancestry.com
  28. California Voter Registrations 1900 - 1968; Ancestry.com
  29. Who's Who in California, 1928-1929, Who's Who Publishing, San Francisco, California (1929) pg. 301.
  30. 1920 U.S. Census, Los Angeles, CA.
  31. California Voter Registrations 1900 - 1968, Year 1924.
  32. 1940 U.S. Census, Los Angeles CA.
  33. Southwest Builder and Contractor, Los Angeles Public Library, periodical collection.
  34. California Voter Registrations 1900 - 1968; Ancestry.com
  35. 1942 voter roll, Malibu. California Voter Registrations 1900 - 1968; Ancestry.Com
  36. Santa Monica History Museum, photo archives.
  37. "Warner Baxter, 59, Film Star, Is Dead: Winner of 'Oscar' in 1929– Best Known for Cisco Kid and 'Crime Doctor' Portrayals". The New York Times. psychosurgery.org. 8 May 1951. Archived from the original on 13 December 2011. Retrieved 2011-11-16.
  38. "Warner Baxter, an Academy Award winning actor, sought out a lobotomy against doctors' advice". The Vintage News. 25 December 2017.
  39. Forest Lawn Glendale website grave locator.
  40. Photo. Find a Grave memorial page.
  41. Certificate of Death, No. 8092 county, Los Angeles Recorders Office.
  42. L A Times, May 12, 1951 pg.2.
  43. L A Times, June 14, 1951, pg. 2.
  44. L A Times, May 12, 1951, pg. 2.
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