Conway Tearle, a West Point-educated actor, was a tall, dark, and handsome American co-star who captivated the hearts of many illustrious femme stars during the silent era. Born Frederick Conway Levy in New York City on May 17, 1878, to a family of entertainers, he was the son of Jules Levy, a jazz musician, and Marianne Conway, an American actress. After his parents' divorce, his mother remarried British Shakespearean actor Osmond Tearle, and Conway was raised in England from the age of 10.
Conway gained experience on his stepfather's stage, performing under the names "Frederick Levy" and "Frederick Conway" before settling on the marquee name of Conway Tearle. He returned to the United States in 1905 and made his Broadway debut with "Abigail" that same year. He went on to establish himself as a reliable romancer on the stage for nearly a decade before venturing into films in 1914. His two half-brothers, Godfrey Tearle and Malcolm Tearle, also became actors on both the stage and screen.
Conway's most notable films are considered "women's pictures," where he played the role of a dashing hero or ardent lover. Some of his most famous films include 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 continued to appear in "B" level films as a leading star or prime support. He ended his film career with a role in Klondike Annie (1936),in which he was spurned by Mae West, and 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," which had to close early in Washington, D.C. due to his poor health. Conway Tearle passed away on October 1, 1938, at the age of 60, in Hollywood, due to a heart attack.
