Prolific in American films of the silent and early talkie eras, Kohler was a notable figure in the film industry.
Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Kohler left his hometown as a teenager, venturing out to establish a career in vaudeville.
During this period, Kohler worked a variety of jobs, including stints in a mine, where he suffered a devastating dynamite accident that resulted in the loss of part of his right hand.
Undeterred, Kohler continued to pursue his dreams, eventually joining a touring theatrical company and working on stage around the United States for several years.
As he entered his mid-twenties, Kohler made his way to California, where he found success in silent films, quickly establishing himself as a formidable screen villain due to his imposing size and fearsome features.
He became particularly well-known for his roles in Westerns, but his talent for playing the heavy was in high demand across a wide range of film genres.
Kohler's career spanned over two decades, during which he worked primarily in Westerns, as well as films based on Zane Grey novels, in which he not only played the heavy but also reprised some of these roles when the films were remade as talkies a decade later.
Despite his success, Kohler's life was cut tragically short when he suffered a heart attack at the age of 51 in 1938, bringing an end to his remarkable career.
