Here is the biography of Harold Lloyd:
Born in Burchard, Nebraska, USA to Elizabeth Fraser and J. Darcie "Foxy" Lloyd, Harold Clayton Lloyd was the son of a chronically unemployed father and an overbearing mother. Lloyd grew up more attached to his father than his mother. He made his stage debut at age 12 as "Little Abe" in "Tess of d'Ubervilles" with the Burwood Stock company of Omaha.
Lloyd's early career was marked by a series of mishaps, including a fortuitous accident settlement that led to his family moving to California. He began working as a movie actor, making his debut with the Edison Company at the San Diego's Pan American Exposition. There, he met Hal Roach, who would become the most influential person in his professional life.
Lloyd's career as a silent film star began in earnest with his debut as "Lonesome Luke" and later as "The Boy" in his "glasses" persona. He became known for his daredevil stunts and his ability to perform complex physical comedy. He was also known for his generosity and his love of pranks.
Lloyd's popularity grew exponentially with each new release, but he grew dissatisfied with his relationship with Roach. The two fought constantly, and Lloyd eventually left Roach to sign with Paramount. He married his second co-star, Mildred Davis, in 1923, and the couple had three children.
Lloyd's success continued throughout the 1920s, with hits like "The Freshman" and "For Heaven's Sake." He was one of the few silent film stars to successfully transition to sound, and his first talkie, "Welcome Danger," grossed nearly $3 million.
However, Lloyd's career began to decline with the advent of sound. His next talkie, "Feet First," was a commercial failure, and he struggled to regain his footing. He left Paramount for Fox and suffered a string of flops, including "The Cat's-Paw" and "The Milky Way."
Lloyd's final film, "Professor Beware," was a commercial failure, and he eventually retired from acting. He produced two more films, "A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob" and "My Favorite Spy," but neither was successful.
Lloyd's later years were marked by his love of photography and his interest in color film experiments. He also became an active member of the Shriners and an effective administrator for their Los Angeles crippled children's hospital.
Lloyd died on March 8, 1971, at the age of 77, leaving behind an estate valued at $12 million. His granddaughter, Suzanne Lloyd, has worked to restore his reputation and preserve his surviving films.
