William King Baggot, a renowned American actor, film director, and screenwriter, was born on November 7, 1879, and passed away on July 11, 1948, at the age of 68.
As an internationally acclaimed movie star of the silent film era, Baggot was referred to as the "King of the Movies", "The Most Photographed Man in the World", and "The Man Whose Face Is As Familiar As The Man In The Moon". He appeared in over 300 motion pictures from 1909 to 1947, wrote 18 screenplays, and directed 45 movies from 1912 to 1928.
Baggot's film career began on the stage, where he toured throughout the U.S. in a Shakespearean stock company. He started his acting career in stock in St. Louis in 1909, and later joined a company in New York. His big break came when he was cast as a supporting player in the Schubert touring production of The Wishing Ring.
Baggot's early film appearances include The Scarlet Letter (1911),Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1913),and Ivanhoe (1913). He also directed William S. Hart in his most famous western, Tumbleweeds (1925).
As a pioneer in the film industry, Baggot was one of the first actors to be given billing, a marquee, and promotion in advertising. He starred in at least 42 movies opposite Florence Lawrence from 1909 to 1911, and later worked with Mary Pickford on at least 16 films.
Baggot was a major star internationally and was mobbed at stage doors whenever he appeared "in person" at theatres. He was also a key figure in the formation of the prestigious Screen Club in New York, serving as its first president.
For his contributions to the film industry, Baggot received a motion pictures star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960. His star is located at 6312 Hollywood Boulevard.
