Handsome William Desmond (1878–1949) was an American actor, who appeared in 205 films between 1915 and 1948. He was nicknamed 'The King of the Silent Serials' and acted in numerous silent Westerns and adventure films.
![William Desmond]()
Swedish postcard by Förlag Nordisk Konst, Stockholm, no. 845. Photo: Triangle-Film.
![William Desmond]()
American Arcade card. Photo: Universal.
William Desmond was born William Mannion in Dublin, Ireland, in 1878. As a child, he moved with his family to New York, where he spent his childhood and adolescence.
He changed his name to William Desmond when he debuted on the stage. He worked in vaudeville and stage plays before embarking on a film career that would make him a silent film star.
His screen debut dates back to 1915: he appeared in a major role in Oscar Apfel's silent comedy Kilmeny (1915). The film was produced by a small production company, the Oliver Morosco Photoplay Company, and released by Paramount Pictures.
In 1916 he started to work for Triangle in films such as Not My Sister (1916) with Bessie Barriscale, and The Dawn Maker (1916) by and with William S. Hart. Desmond had a starring role as a detective in Flying Colors (1917). In a small part featured his future wife, the actress Mary McIvor.
In the later 1910s, Desmond starred in various Triangle Films directed by Frank Borzage, including Society for Sale (1918) with Gloria Swanson. From 1919 Desmond starred in a series of mostly Westerns, made by small companies and distributed by Pathé Exchange.
![William Desmond and Geo. Giegman Mixing It]()
American Arcade card by Exhibit Supply Co., Chicago. Caption: William Desmond and Geo. Giegman Mixing It.
![William Desmond, Having a Little Gun-Play With the Sheriff,]()
American Arcade card by Exhibit Supply Co., Chicago. Caption: William Desmond, Having a Little Gun-play with the Sheriff.
![William Desmond in the Ace of Spades]()
American Arcade card. Photo: Universal. William Desmond in the serial The Ace of Spades (Henry MacRae, 1925).
Swedish postcard by Förlag Nordisk Konst, Stockholm, no. 845. Photo: Triangle-Film.
American Arcade card. Photo: Universal.
A silent film star at Triangle
William Desmond was born William Mannion in Dublin, Ireland, in 1878. As a child, he moved with his family to New York, where he spent his childhood and adolescence.
He changed his name to William Desmond when he debuted on the stage. He worked in vaudeville and stage plays before embarking on a film career that would make him a silent film star.
His screen debut dates back to 1915: he appeared in a major role in Oscar Apfel's silent comedy Kilmeny (1915). The film was produced by a small production company, the Oliver Morosco Photoplay Company, and released by Paramount Pictures.
In 1916 he started to work for Triangle in films such as Not My Sister (1916) with Bessie Barriscale, and The Dawn Maker (1916) by and with William S. Hart. Desmond had a starring role as a detective in Flying Colors (1917). In a small part featured his future wife, the actress Mary McIvor.
In the later 1910s, Desmond starred in various Triangle Films directed by Frank Borzage, including Society for Sale (1918) with Gloria Swanson. From 1919 Desmond starred in a series of mostly Westerns, made by small companies and distributed by Pathé Exchange.
American Arcade card by Exhibit Supply Co., Chicago. Caption: William Desmond and Geo. Giegman Mixing It.
American Arcade card by Exhibit Supply Co., Chicago. Caption: William Desmond, Having a Little Gun-play with the Sheriff.
American Arcade card. Photo: Universal. William Desmond in the serial The Ace of Spades (Henry MacRae, 1925).
Western serials until the end
By 1922, William Desmond was working at Universal and did various - often Western - serials there. These included Perils of the Yukon (1922) and Around the World in 18 Days (1923) with Laura La Plante, and The Phantom Fortune (1923) with Esther Ralston.
Other serials were Beasts of Paradise (1923) and The Riddle Rider (1924) with Eileen Sedgwick, The Ace of Spades (1925) with Mary McAlister, The Winking Idol (1926) and Strings of Steel (1926) again with Sedgwick, The Return of the Riddle Rider (1927), The Vanishing Rider (1928), and The Mystery Rider (1928).
At Universal, Desmond also acted in features such as McGuire of the Mounted (1923), Shadows of the North (1923), and The Extra Girl (1923) with Mabel Normand in an early film about Hollywood. By the mid-1920s Desmond did various Universal Westerns with serial queen Helen Holmes.
During his career, Desmond made 213 films as an actor, and he also participated in some films as a guest. In 1921, he produced Fightin 'Mad, a Western comedy directed by Joseph Franz, of which he was the lead actor.
He practically worked until the end. Yet, after the coming of sound cinema Desmond had to be satisfied with supporting parts in crime films and Westerns. he appeared in Western features and serials with Tom Tyler, but also Tom Mix and Harry Carey. These were produced by smaller studios such as Mascot and Monogram but also often by Universal. In later years, Desmond's roles became even smaller, and he even played uncredited parts.
In 1949, William Desmond died of a heart attack in Los Angeles. He was 71. His remains were interred in the Californian city's Chapel of the Pines Crematory.
![William Desmond]()
British postcard by "Pictures" Portrait Gallery, London, no. 22.
![William Desmond]()
Spanish postcard by EFB (Editorial Fotografica, Barcelona), no. A-57. Photo: Zerkowitz.
Sources: Wikipedia (Italian and English), and IMDb.
At Universal, Desmond also acted in features such as McGuire of the Mounted (1923), Shadows of the North (1923), and The Extra Girl (1923) with Mabel Normand in an early film about Hollywood. By the mid-1920s Desmond did various Universal Westerns with serial queen Helen Holmes.
During his career, Desmond made 213 films as an actor, and he also participated in some films as a guest. In 1921, he produced Fightin 'Mad, a Western comedy directed by Joseph Franz, of which he was the lead actor.
He practically worked until the end. Yet, after the coming of sound cinema Desmond had to be satisfied with supporting parts in crime films and Westerns. he appeared in Western features and serials with Tom Tyler, but also Tom Mix and Harry Carey. These were produced by smaller studios such as Mascot and Monogram but also often by Universal. In later years, Desmond's roles became even smaller, and he even played uncredited parts.
In 1949, William Desmond died of a heart attack in Los Angeles. He was 71. His remains were interred in the Californian city's Chapel of the Pines Crematory.
British postcard by "Pictures" Portrait Gallery, London, no. 22.
Spanish postcard by EFB (Editorial Fotografica, Barcelona), no. A-57. Photo: Zerkowitz.
Sources: Wikipedia (Italian and English), and IMDb.