Wallace Beery's journey began in 1902 when he joined the Ringling Brothers Circus as an assistant to the elephant trainer at the tender age of 16. Two years later, a leopard's claw left a lasting mark on his arm, prompting him to leave the circus and venture to New York. There, he found success in musical variety shows, eventually becoming a leading man in musicals and appearing on Broadway and in traveling stock companies.
In 1913, Beery's career took a dramatic turn when he headed to Hollywood, where he began his ascent to stardom with the Sweedie comedy series for Essanay. He worked alongside young ingénue Gloria Swanson in Sweedie Goes to College (1915),and the two would eventually tie the knot in 1916. However, their marriage was marked by unhappiness, as Beery struggled with his drinking and Swanson grew tired of his abuse.
After the marriage dissolved, Beery continued to work in films, often playing the heavy or the beastly Hun. He appeared in a number of adventures in the 1920s, including The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1921),Robin Hood (1922),The Sea Hawk (1924),and The Pony Express (1925). Beery also played the role of Poole in So Big (1924),based on the best-selling novel by Edna Ferber.
As the 1920s gave way to the 1930s, Beery began to transition back into comedies, starting with Behind the Front (1926). However, with the advent of sound, Beery found himself among the victims of the wholesale studio purge. Despite his deep, folksy voice, his slow speech and tone made it difficult for him to adapt to the new technology.
It was MGM executive Irving Thalberg who saw something in Beery and gave him a second chance. Thalberg cast Beery in The Big House (1930),which was a major hit and earned Beery an Academy Award nomination. Beery's breakthrough year was 1930, which saw the release of the sentimental Min and Bill, one of the top-grossing films of the year.
The following year, Beery won the Oscar for Best Actor in The Champ (1931),a performance that cemented his status as a household name. He went on to play iconic roles, including Long John Silver in Treasure Island (1934),and became one of the top ten stars in Hollywood. Beery's on-screen persona was that of a tough, dim-witted, easy-going type, a characterization that belied his own complex and troubled life.
Throughout the 1930s, Beery continued to work in films, often playing lovable oafs and dim-witted characters. He appeared opposite Marie Dressler in such films as Dinner at Eight (1933),and after her death in 1934, he found a new partner in Marjorie Main, with whom he would work in the 1940s. The duo appeared in films like Wyoming (1940) and Barnacle Bill (1941).
As Beery entered his twilight years, his career slowed, and he appeared in only one or two films a year. He passed away in 1949 from a heart attack, leaving behind a legacy as one of Hollywood's most beloved and enduring stars.
