Ernest Cossart, born Emil Gottfried Adolph von Holst, was a renowned English actor who brought to life a plethora of iconic characters on the silver screen. He was born in Cheltenham, England, to a family of musicians, with his brother Gustav Holst becoming a celebrated composer and music teacher. Emil adopted the stage name "Ernest Cossart" after a brief stint as a clerk for a wine merchant and began his theatrical career in 1896, performing with provincial repertory companies before making the move to the United States in 1908.
Cossart's Broadway career took off with a leading role in the musical comedy "The Girls of Gottenberg," and he went on to maintain a prominent position in the credits for the next twenty years, interrupted only by his service with the Canadian Army during World War I. It wasn't until 1935 that he made the transition to Hollywood, signing with Paramount and remaining with the studio until 1945, aside from occasional loan-outs.
Throughout his Hollywood career, Cossart was known for his versatility, effortlessly taking on a range of roles, from butlers and valets to Roman Catholic priests, chimney sweeps, and waiters. One of his most memorable performances was as the irascible but kind-hearted Irish father of Ginger Rogers in "Kitty Foyle" (1940). Cossart retired from acting in 1949, making his final curtain call in the Broadway play "The Ivy Green," and passed away two years later in New York at the age of 74.
Despite his passing, Ernest Cossart's legacy lives on, with his iconic performances remaining an integral part of Hollywood's rich history. His ability to bring characters to life, from the quintessential English gentleman to the charming Irish father, continues to captivate audiences to this day.
