Wilfred Lucas

Overview

The youngest of three sons, he was born in Norfolk, Ontario, Canada and was educated at McGill University then In 1904 he moved to New York where he appeared in a number of plays on Broadway including The Blue Grass Handicap, The Superstition of Sue and successful The Chorus Lady after which he was invited by D.W. Griffith to join Biograph Studios where he made his film debut in The Greaser's Gauntlet (1908) followed by some 50 other films. Then, in 1910, he wrote his first film script, Sunshine Sue (1910), which was followed by many more. In 1912, he turned to directing with An Outcast Among Outcasts (1912) with a further 40 or so in the next 20 years. Acting wasn't neglected, with his appearing in Griffith's classic Intolerance (1916). Mack Sennett hired him to direct and star in a number of films at his Keystone Studios. He made the successful transition from silents to sound and frequently returned to his roots on Broadway. He married twice, first to actress Alice Louise Perine in October 1898 and had two children After their divorce and while working at Biograph Studios, he met and married actress/screenwriter Bess Meredyth (1890-1969) with whom he had a son.
- IMDb mini biography by: tonyman5

Leading man who later in his career found his niche as a character actor.
Associated with D.W. Griffith in early silent films, often cast as brawny types. Played various tough authority figures in the 1920s and 1930s. Was memorable as the prison warden in Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy's Pardon Us (1931), the comedy team's first full-length feature film.
Two children, Alice and Kirke, with Alice Louise Lucas. All three were living in London at the time Alice Louise was granted a divorce on the grounds of desertion.
Son, with Bess Meredyth, John Meredyth Lucas.
Off-screen pseudonym: Alexander Harvey

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