Walter Bickford was a renowned American character actor, renowned for his distinctive gruff voice and rugged appearance. Born in the first minute of 1891, as the fifth of seven children, he was a boisterous child who, at the tender age of nine, was tried and acquitted for attempted murder in the shooting of a motorman who had tragically run over his beloved dog.
Before embarking on a life of acting, Bickford worked as a lumberjack and investment promoter, and even briefly ran his own pest extermination business. However, he eventually gave up the business and spent his late teens traveling aimlessly around the country. It was during this period that he attempted to romance a burlesque actress in San Francisco, only to be offered a spot in her show as a performer.
For the next dozen years, Bickford toured the country with various road companies, eventually making a name for himself on Broadway in the hit production "Outside Looking In". His impressive stage presence caught the attention of none other than Cecil B. DeMille, who offered him the lead role in the 1929 film "Dynamite".
Despite being contracted to MGM, Bickford frequently clashed with studio head Louis B. Mayer, leading to a period of being blacklisted among the studios. He spent several years working in independent films as a freelancer before being offered a contract with Twentieth Century Fox. However, before his contract could take effect, Bickford was viciously mauled by a lion while filming "East of Java" in 1935.
The extensive scarring on his neck and the impact of his advancing age led to the loss of his leading man status and contract with Fox. Undeterred, Bickford continued to work as a character actor, establishing himself as a master of his craft in films like "The Song of Bernadette" (1943),for which he received his first of three Oscar nominations.
Throughout his career, Bickford played both heavies and father figures with equal aplomb, bringing a sense of gravitas and authenticity to his performances. He continued to act in generally prestigious films until his passing in 1967, leaving behind a legacy as one of Hollywood's most beloved character actors.
