- Born
- Died
- Birth nameHenry William George Lupino
- Nickname
- Nipper
- Height5′ 3″ (1.60 m)
- Lupino 'Nipper' Lane was one of the few English actors to achieve fame in Hollywood in the 20's. He was a descendant of the clown Grimaldi, who, it was said, was the first to use concealed trap doors for comic effect. Lupino carried on that tradition and had many years of stage experience from his time in England..He was double-jointed and could twist his arms, legs and body into amazing positions. It was his acrobatic ability that caught the film goer's eye. He never developed a constant character, his comedy routines seemed to be more important to him and his chief delight was in dressing up. His films were mainly made at the Educational Studios in Hollywood and. sadly. many of them were lost forever, having been sold for their scrap value. He made over 40 films by the time 'talkies' arrived and was unable to adapt to sound. He thus concentrated on his first love, the theatre, and carried on a successful career, so much so, that when he died, none of his obituaries mentioned his films. These included 'Sword Points', loosely based on the Three Musketeers, 'Summer Saps', 'Naughty Boy' (with his brother Wallace) and 'Maid in Morocco'.
- IMDb mini biography by: Tonyman 5
- SpouseViolet Blythe(February 10, 1917 - November 10, 1959) (his death, 1 child)
- RelativesStanley Lupino(Cousin)
- Extreme physical comedy. He was extremely limber and agile and made use of this extensively. A few of his trademarks in his silent comedies were:
- Getting kicked in the behind (by his real life brother,Wallace Lupino, who acted as a rival/villain/buddy in most of his best shorts.
- Running around archways.
- Doing a funny little jump with arms swinging prior to landing a punch on anyone.
- A friend of cowboy star Tom Mix.
- In the 1930s, he worked at Elstree for British International Pictures as a director.
- His younger brother, Wallace Lupino, co-starred in many of his early shorts playing a rival, villain, or friend.
- Second cousin of Ida Lupino, daughter of Stanley Lupino, Lupino Lane's first cousin; cousin of Antoinette Lupino.
- Skilled as an acrobat, having had a previous circus background. He occasionally did his own stunts.
- All comedy, even slapstick, should be just a thin layer of laughter over pathos.
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