Ernest Torrence

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

0.3184

Gender

Male

Birthday

24-Jun-1878

Age

(148 years old)

Place of Birth

Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

Also Known As
  • Ernest Torrance-Thomson

Ernest Torrence

Biography

He was the man you loved to hiss. This towering (6' 4"), highly imposing character star with cold, hollow, beady eyes and a huge, protruding snout would go on to become one of the silent screen's finest arch villains. Born Ernest Thayson Torrence-Thompson on June 26, 1878, in Edinburgh, Scotland, he was, unlikely enough, an exceptional pianist and operatic baritone. A graduate of the Stuttgart Conservatory, Edinburgh Academy before earning a scholarship at London's Royal Academy of Music, he toured with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in such productions as "The Emerald Isle" (1901) and "The Talk of the Town" (1905) before serious vocal problems set in. Both Ernest and his actor brother David Torrence came to America directly from Scotland prior to WWI. Focusing instead on a purely acting career, both brothers developed into seasoned players on the New York stage. Ernest made his Broadway bow with "Modest Suzanne" in 1912 and a standout role in "The Night Boat" in 1920 brought him to the attention of Hollywood filmmakers. He earned superb marks playing the despicable adversary Luke Hatburn in Tol'able David (1921) opposite Richard Barthelmess, and immediately settled into films for the rest of his career. Adept at both comedy and drama, Ernest avoided what could have been a damaging stereotype with his sympathetic portrayal of a grizzled old codger in the classic western The Covered Wagon (1923). He further bolstered his celebrity with plum, lip-smacking roles alongside Lon Chaney in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) as Clopin, king of the beggars, and Betty Bronson in Peter Pan (1924) as the dastardly Captain Hook. In an offbeat bit of casting he paired up with Clara Bow in Mantrap (1926) as a gentle, bear-like backwoodsman in search of a wife, and participated in other silent classics such as The King of Kings (1927) (as Peter) and Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928) as Buster Keaton's steamboat captain Dad. Despite his celluloid villainy, Ernest was known as a courtly and cultivated gentleman in private. He made the transition into talking films intact and was able to play a marvelous nemesis, Dr. Moriarty, to Clive Brooks ' Sherlock Holmes (1932) before his untimely death. Ernest died following his filming as a smuggler in I Cover the Waterfront (1933) starring Claudette Colbert in New York on May 15,1933, at the relatively young age of 54. It seems that while en route to Europe by ship, Torrence suffered an acute attack of gall stones and was rushed back to a New York hospital. He died of complications following surgery. Looking and usually playing much older than he was, Hollywood lost a marvelously talented and robust character player who had dozens of films ahead of him.


Credits

The Bridge of San Luis Rey The Bridge of San Luis Rey (1929) Character: Uncle Pio
This first cinematic version of the classic book is a part-talkie, although the only surviving print is silent (housed in the George Eastman House, Rochester, NY). It is a straight-forward telling of the intermingled lives of a group of strangers doomed to die in a collapsing bridge accident. The Art Direction, paltry and unremarkable, surprisingly won an Oscar over the far more remarkable work nominated in THE IRON MASK. The special effect scene of the lovers plummeting with the bridge into the chasm is unforgettable and remarkably done.
The Side Show of Life The Side Show of Life (1924) Character: Andrew Lackady
An English circus clown finds he's lost his touch after returning from war.
A Dangerous Affair A Dangerous Affair (1919) Character: Abner (as Ernest Torrance)
Elderly millionaire James Rance, whose only passion is chess, warns his grandson Tommy, who missed the previous evening's game because he played poker with his uncle Gilbert, that should he miss another game, Gilbert will gain the boy's inheritance. During another poker game the next night, Gilbert provokes a fight between Tommy and another player that results in the other player's supposed death. Meanwhile, Terrence Redmond, the guardian of an orphan he found while fighting in France, falls in love with Dawn Moyer.
The Kingdom Within The Kingdom Within (1922) Character: Kreig
Silent film directed by Victor Schertzinger
West of the Water Tower West of the Water Tower (1924) Character: Rev. Adrian Plummer
Young marrieds Guy & Bee are ostracized by their supposed friends in town when Bee discovers she is expecting but the legitimacy of their union is called into question. Eventually the squire who performed their ceremony becomes aware of the scandal and produces the necessary certificate.
Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10) Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10) (1942) Character: Self (archive footage)
The edition of Screen Snapshots celebrates 25 years of production. It looks at the content of edition #1, then a tribute to movie people who have died in those 25 years. Finally there are tributes to the Screen Snapshots series by Cecil De Mille, Walt Disney, Louella Parsons and Rosalind Russell.
The Dressmaker from Paris The Dressmaker from Paris (1925) Character: Angus McGregor
An American soldier falls in love with a French maiden but their romance is thwarted when the Yanks return home. Years later she comes to America to put on a fashion show and find her long lost lover.
Shipmates Shipmates (1931) Character: Chief Bosuns Mate Scotty McTavish
A sailor falls in love with the admiral's daughter but finds they can't marry because of his lowly rank.
Hypnotized Hypnotized (1932) Character: Prof. Horace S. Limberly - Hypnotist
A Gypsy violinist searches for her missing fiance, a circus worker who recently won a sweepstakes prize and was kidnapped by a hypnotist.
The Tingler The Tingler (1959) Character: Luke Hatburn (archive footage) (uncredited)
A pathologist experiments with a deaf-mute woman who is unable to scream to prove that humans die of fright due to an organism he names The Tingler that lives within each person on the spinal cord and is suppressed only when people scream when scared.
The Trail of the Lonesome Pine The Trail of the Lonesome Pine (1923) Character: 'Devil' Jud Tolliver
June Tolliver is a Kentucky mountain girl whose family is feuding with the Falins. But their differences are temporarily put on hold when revenue officer John Hale (Antonio Moreno) comes around. He falls in love with June and sends her to the city to get an education. When she returns and the feud breaks out once again, June tries to become a peacemaker between the two families.
The Heritage of the Desert The Heritage of the Desert (1924) Character: August Naab
The year is 1876 and Holderness "tyrant of the desert" is trying to force August Naab to sell his property. Naab's feisty daughter, Mescal has been pushed into a loveless marriage, and as she is trying to escape, she is captured by Holderness' men.
The American Venus The American Venus (1926) Character: King Neptune
A lost film - Mary Gray, whose father manufactures cold cream, is engaged to sappy Horace Niles, the son of Hugo Niles, the elder Gray's most competitive rival in the cosmetics business. Chip Armstrong, a hot-shot public relations man, quits the employ of Hugo Niles and goes to work for Gray, persuading Mary to enter the Miss America contest at Atlantic City, with the intention of using her to endorse her father's cold cream should she win. Mary breaks her engagement with Horace. When it appears that she will win the contest, Hugo lures her home on the pretext that her father is ill, and she misses the contest. Chip and Mary return to Atlantic City, discovering that the new Miss America has told the world that she owes all her success to Gray's cold cream. On this note, Chip and Mary decide to get married.
The Cossacks The Cossacks (1928) Character: Ivan
Stirring romance, hard riding, desperate fighting with the Cossacks playing their game of war and chivalry. A mighty picturization of Count Leo Tolstoi's famous novel of the same name.
Call of the Flesh Call of the Flesh (1930) Character: Esteban
A postulant falls in love with a flamboyant singer from a cafe next door to her convent.
The Rainmaker The Rainmaker (1926) Character: Mike
The story of a racetrack tout whose prayers could bring a dry or muddy racetrack, and how he learned to capitalize on those powers. Until the day he lost the power and bet the wrong way.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) Character: Clopin
In 15th century France, a gypsy girl is framed for murder by the infatuated Chief Justice, and only the deformed bellringer of Notre Dame Cathedral can save her.
Peter Pan Peter Pan (1924) Character: Captain James Hook
Peter Pan enters the nursery of the Darling children and, with the help of fairy dust, leads them off to Never Never Land, where they meet the nefarious Captain Hook.
Untamed Untamed (1929) Character: Uncle Ben Murchison
In her first Talkie, Joan Crawford plays Bingo, a jungle-raised oil heiress, who turns Manhattan upside down in her hunt for Andy McAllister, the man of her dreams. Unfortunately for Bingo, Andy is penniless and refuses to agree to the match until he can provide for the wild, rich girl. Andy's prideful position is more than encouraged by Bingo's Uncle Ben, who seeks to scuttle their love match.
Tol'able David Tol'able David (1921) Character: Luke Hatburn
Young David Kinemon is a good-natured, easy-going lad in a mountain village. Circumstances force him to take his brother's place as mail carrier for the community, and this brings him into deadly contact with the vicious Hatburn brothers.
The Fighting Coward The Fighting Coward (1924) Character: Gen. Orlando Jackson
Southerner Tom Rumford was sent up north to be raised by relatives who happen to be Quakers. As a result, he returns home a passive, peace-loving young man, completely out of place in an area where men kill over issues of honor.
The Covered Wagon The Covered Wagon (1923) Character: Jackson
Two wagon caravans converge at what is now Kansas City, and combine for the westward push to Oregon. On their quest the pilgrims will experience desert heat, mountain snow, hunger, and Indian attack. To complicate matters further, a love triangle develops, as pretty Molly must chose between Sam, a brute, and Will, the dashing captain of the other caravan. Can Will overcome the skeleton in his closet and win Molly's heart?
Fighting Caravans Fighting Caravans (1931) Character: Bill Jackson
Clint Belmet is a bit of a firebrand and is sentenced to at least 30 days in jail, but his partners, Bill Jackson and Jim Bridger talk a sympathetic Frenchwoman named Felice into telling the bumbling, drunken marshal that Clint had married her the previous night. Clint is released so he can accompany Felice on the wagon train heading west to California.
New Adventures of Get Rich Quick Wallingford New Adventures of Get Rich Quick Wallingford (1931) Character: Blackie Daw
Wallingford is a con-man whose specialty is taking money from suckers. His partners are Schnozzle, a pickpocket and car thief; and Blackie, who has played the game for years.
Ruggles of Red Gap Ruggles of Red Gap (1923) Character: Cousin Egbert Floud
An English valet brought to the American west assimilates into the American way of life.
Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes (1932) Character: Professor James Moriarty
Moriarty is sentenced to death, and Sherlock Holmes prepares to retire to the country and marry his girl. But Moriarty has sworn that Holmes, Lt. Col. Gore-King of Scotland Yard, and his trial judge shall all be hanged too. When Moriarty escapes and proceeds to put his threat into operation, Holmes has to postpone his retirement.
Singed Wings Singed Wings (1922) Character: Emilio
Spanish dancer Bonita della Guerda has a dream in which she is killed by a jester after declaring her love for a prince. Because she fears the dream will come true, she dares not reveal her love for Peter Gordon, whose uncle, Bliss Gordon, also shows her considerable attention. Bonita's relationship with Bliss is misunderstood by both Peter and her longtime protector, Emilio. In his jealousy the latter shoots Bliss's wife, Eve, who is performing Bonita's dance in hopes of recapturing her husband's love. Bonita no longer fears her dream and is united with Peter. A lost film.
The King of Kings The King of Kings (1927) Character: Peter
The King of Kings is the Greatest Story Ever Told as only Cecil B. DeMille could tell it. In 1927, working with one of the biggest budgets in Hollywood history, DeMille spun the life and Passion of Christ into a silent-era blockbuster. Featuring text drawn directly from the Bible, a cast of thousands, and the great showman’s singular cinematic bag of tricks, The King of Kings is at once spectacular and deeply reverent—part Gospel, part Technicolor epic.
Mantrap Mantrap (1926) Character: Joe Easter
A sexy young manicurist living with her older backwoodsman husband in a small Canadian town finds herself attracted to a young, rich and famous divorce lawyer who comes to town on vacation.
The Wanderer The Wanderer (1925) Character: Tola
Jether, a shepherd, is lured from his home by Tisha, priestess of the goddess Ishtar. He journeys to the city of Babylon, where he lavishes Tisha with gifts and spends his share of his father's wealth on riotous living.
Across to Singapore Across to Singapore (1928) Character: Captain Mark Shore
While Joel and his older ship's captain brother Mark are at sea, the latter is abandoned in Singapore by devious ship's mate Finch who, upon their return, convinces the townspeople that Joel abandoned his brother. Joel, determined to not only find Mark but to see justice done, returns the ship to Singapore.
The Unholy Night The Unholy Night (1929) Character: Dr. Ballou
When a rash of murders depletes their number, a billionaire's employees are brought together at an Englishman's estate.
I Cover the Waterfront I Cover the Waterfront (1933) Character: Eli Kirk (Julie's father)
An investigative reporter romances a suspected smuggler's daughter.
Steamboat Bill, Jr. Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928) Character: William 'Steamboat Bill' Canfield Sr.
The just-out-of-college, effete son of a no-nonsense steamboat captain comes to visit his father whom he's not seen since he was a child.
Night Life of New York Night Life of New York (1925) Character: John Bentley
John Bentley hates New York City, because of an unhappy romance as a young man, but his son, Ronald, tired of living in Iowa, is determined to take up residence in Manhattan. The elder Bentley therefore conspires with his New York manager, William Workman, to involve Ronald in so much trouble that he will gladly return to the sedate life of an Iowa burgher. Arriving in Manhattan, Ronald strikes up an acquaintance with Meg, a telephone operator, whose brother, Jimmy, has come under the evil influence of Jerry. Jerry and Jimmy rob a wealthy woman, and Ronald is charged with the crime on circumstantial evidence, keeping quiet in order to protect Jimmy.
The Pony Express The Pony Express (1925) Character: 'Ascension' Jones
The Pony Express is a silent 1925 Western film produced by Famous Players-Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures. The film was directed by James Cruze and starred his wife Betty Compson along with Ricardo Cortez, Wallace Beery, and George Bancroft.
Strictly Unconventional Strictly Unconventional (1930) Character: Lord Porteous
An adaptation of W. Somerset Maugham's The Circle. A young woman married into an aristocratic English family finds life with her husband dull and decides to elope with a Canadian. However her mother-in-law, who did something similar thirty years before, tries to prevent her.
The Prodigal Judge The Prodigal Judge (1922) Character: Solomon Mahaffy
The story takes place in the pre-Civil War era South. Judge Price has a fondness for liquor which really goes into overdrive after his wife runs away with another man and she takes their boy with her. He then spends his time wandering around the country with his tee-totaling pal, Solomon Mahaffy. Years pass and the judge learns that his wife has died and her lover is trying to get his hands on her son's inheritance.
North of 36 North of 36 (1926) Character: Jim Nabours
A young woman inherits her father's large Texas ranch and plans to begin a cattle drive to Abilene, Kansas, 1000 miles away. The crooked State Treasurer plans to attack the cattle drive and steal all of the stock so he can gain control of her ranch.
The Blind Goddess The Blind Goddess (1926) Character: Mr. Clayton
Even though Big Bill Devens is a powerful politician, he still sticks to his working man's roots. His wife walked out on him 20 years before and his daughter, Moira, believes she is dead. Moira falls in love with Hugh Dillon, a handsome young attorney, and Devens gets him a job in the district attorney's office. One night, Devens' wife, now an old, decrepit woman known as Aileen Clayton, returns to ask forgiveness.
Twelve Miles Out Twelve Miles Out (1927) Character: Red McCue
Jerry always wins in his rivalry with Red over women, gunrunning, and diamond smuggling. While running booze into the U.S. during Prohibition, Jerry seizes Jane's seaside home. When she tries to turn him in, he kidnaps her and her fiance John. Jane, now in love with Jerry, must watch as Jerry and Red shoot it out on board Jerry's boat.
Speedway Speedway (1929) Character: Jim MacDonald
Bill Whipple is a happy-go-lucky mechanic for MacDonald who thinks that he is the worlds greatest driver and lover. Mac has treated Bill like a son since he took him in. One day at the track, Bill sees Pat Bannon, and tries his best to impress her, but to no avail. On his way to catch a flight, he tricks Pat into taking him to the airport and she gets even by taking him up in a plane. He hates to fly, but will not show her that he is afraid and when the plane breaks up, he is a hero for rescuing her. This gets him publicity and Renny offers him his car to drive in the Indianapolis 500. Bill breaks with Mac to drive the car and puts it on the pole for the race. Then Renny double crosses Bill and plans to drive the car himself since Bill has tuned it so well.
Captain Salvation Captain Salvation (1927) Character: Captain of the 'Panther'
A young divinity student helps and protects a down and out prostitute, at the cost of his own standing in the community.
Officer O'Brien Officer O'Brien (1930) Character: John Patrick O'Brien
Bill O'Brien is promoted to lieutenant in the police department for his arrest of Mike Patello, gang leader and racketeer, for murder. Ruth Dale, who loves Bill, is concerned when her brother, Johnny, who witnessed the murder, proposes to testify against the racketeer. Meanwhile, Captain Antrim informs Bill that his father has just been released from prison and does not know his son is a policeman. On the way from prison, O'Brien (J. P.) meets Limo, a former cockney pal who recognizes Bill and keeps J. P. from seeing his son; later, J. P. arrives intoxicated and is enraged, forcing Bill to knock him unconscious. J. P. is arrested for robbery but returns the loot to save his son from disgrace; Johnny is killed before testifying against Patello, who is released but confronted by J. P., who proves his guilt and, when he struggles with the police, kills him. Bill plans to resign, but confident of Ruth's love, he decides to remain on the force.
The Cuban Love Song The Cuban Love Song (1931) Character: Romance
A guilt-ridden U.S. Marine returns to Cuba to try to find the woman he promised to marry.
Clara Bow: Discovering the Clara Bow: Discovering the "It" Girl (1999) Character: Self (from Mantrap [1926]) (archive footage)
Clara Bow: Discovering the 'It' Girl features scenes from 25 of her films, as well as interviews with family members and acquaintances.
The Great Lover The Great Lover (1931) Character: Potter
An aspiring classical singer is romanced by both a famous opera star and his younger understudy.
Desert Nights Desert Nights (1929) Character: Steve
Jewel thieves pull a heist on a diamond mining operation in Africa and take the foreman hostage before escaping into the Kalahari Desert, but when they get lost, the foreman must take charge and save them.
Sweet Kitty Bellairs Sweet Kitty Bellairs (1930) Character: Sir Jasper Standish
Kitty Bellairs, a flirtatious young woman of 18th Century England, cuts a swath of broken hearts and romantic conquests as she visits a resort with her sister.
The Brass Bottle The Brass Bottle (1923) Character: Fakresh-el-Aamash
Horace Ventimore, a young London architect, stumbles across an old brass bottle. When he picks it up a genie suddenly appears and promises Horace that he will grant every wish Horace wants in exchange for his freedom. Horace accepts the genie's offer but finds out that things aren't working out quite as well as he thought they would.
Sporting Blood Sporting Blood (1931) Character: Mr. Jim Rellence
A horse with great potential is reluctantly sold by the breeder and by chance passes through multiple hands who do not treat him well.
The Lady of the Harem The Lady of the Harem (1926) Character: Hassan
Rafi arrives in the city in search of Pervaneh who was taken by the Sultan. He is joined by Hassan the confectioner. Rafi is captured by the Sultan, but Hassan leads a surprise attack on the palace and the lovers are united.



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