- Born
- Died
- Birth nameFrederick Levy
- Height5′ 10½″ (1.79 m)
- This West Point-educated actor was a tall, dark and handsome American co-star who romanced some of the most illustrious femme stars ever to appear on the silent silver screen. Conway Tearle was born in New York City on May 17, 1878 to a family of entertainers. Christened Frederick Conway Levy, his father, Jules, was a jazz musician, and mother Marianne Conway, an American actress. Divorced when Conway was quite young, his mother subsequently married British Shakespearean actor/theatre manager Osmond Tearle and Conway was raised in England from the age of 10.
Tearle gained experience on his stepfather's stage and was alternately billed as "Frederick Levy" and "Frederick Conway" before settling on the marquee name of Conway Tearle. Having returned to the U.S. in 1905, he made his Broadway debut with "Abigail" that same year and would make a name for himself as a reliable romancer for nearly a decade before attempting films in 1914. His two half brothers, Godfrey Tearle and Malcolm Tearle would also become actors on both the stage and screen.
Tearle's more famous films are deemed "women's pictures," where he appeared meticulously as a dashing hero or ardent lover. Among his more notable were Helene of the North (1915) opposite Marguerite Clark, The Foolish Virgin (1916) and The Common Law (1916) both starring Clara Kimball Young, Stella Maris (1918) with Mary Pickford, A Virtuous Vamp (1919) with Constance Talmadge, She Loves and Lies (1920) and The Eternal Flame (1922), both opposite Norma Talmadge, Lilies of the Field (1924) featuring Corinne Griffith, and Dancing Mothers (1926) starring Clara Bow. Conway made a smooth transition into sound pictures and remained a leading star or prime support in "B" level pictures.
Tearle ended his film career spurned by Mae West in Klondike Annie (1936) and with a lesser role in the lavish production Romeo and Juliet (1936) starring Norma Shearer and Leslie Howard. In 1937 he appeared in his final stage lead with the comedy "Hey, Diddle Diddle." Headed for a Broadway run, the show had to close early in Washington, D.C. because of Tearle's poor health. He died in Hollywood of a heart attack at age 60, on October 1, 1938.
- IMDb mini biography by: Gary Brumburgh / gr-home@pacbell.net
- SpousesAdele Rowland(1922 - October 1, 1938) (his death)Roberta Menges-Corwin-Hill(1912 - 1913) (divorced)Josephine Park(January 5, 1910 - November 21, 1912) (divorced)Gertrude Maude Blennerhasset-Athill(1900 - 1904)
- Once lived at 1782 North Orange Drive, Hollywood CA. The structure was built as a private residence in a new development called "Hollywood." Tearle lived in the home during the 1920s. The American Society of Cinematographers acquired the building in 1936, and have preserved and maintained it to this day.
- Josephine Park was granted alimony of $25 per week upon her divorce from Tearle, in 1912. When National Picture Theaters gave Tearle a contract for $1750 per week, Park asked the courts for an increase in her alimony to $500 per week. Instead, she was awarded $75 per week.
- Older half-brother of actors Godfrey Tearle and Malcolm Tearle.
- Father: Jules Isaac Levy; Mother: Marianne Jane Conway.
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