W. C. Fields
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Born Name:
William Claude Dukenfield
Born Date: January 29, 1880
Born Place: Darby, Pennsylvania
Died Date: December 25, 1946
Died Place: Pasadena, California
Occupations: Actor, comedian, juggler, writer
Brief Biography: W. C. Fields known for his misanthropic, hard-drinking persona and a career that spanned vaudeville, Broadway, and cinema. He was celebrated for his raspy drawl, bulbous red nose, and "grandiloquent vocabulary," often playing scoundrels or henpecked husbands who harbored a famous (if largely fictional) distaste for children and dogs.
Early Life and Vaudeville Career:
Humble Beginnings: Born in Darby, Pennsylvania, Fields had a working-class upbringing and a strained relationship with his father. He later embellished stories of being a homeless runaway, though his home life was likely more stable than his "Whitey" persona suggested.
The Silent Juggler: Fields began his career as a silent juggler, achieving international fame by his early twenties. He was once billed as the "world's greatest juggler" and performed for royalty like King Edward VII.
Evolution of Voice: He eventually added sarcastic "muttered patter" and asides to his act, transitioning from a silent performer to a speaking comedian.
Stardom on Stage and Screen:
Ziegfeld Follies: Between 1915 and 1921, Fields was a star of the Ziegfeld Follies, where he introduced legendary skits like his trick billiards routine.
Broadway and "Poppy": In 1923, he starred in the musical Poppy, creating the quintessential con man character—Eustace McGargle—that would define his future film work.
Film Success: While he appeared in silent films, Fields' true genius emerged with the advent of "talkies" in the 1930s. His most famous works include:
It's a Gift (1934): Often cited as his masterpiece, featuring the "sleeping on the back porch" sketch.
David Copperfield (1935): A rare prestigious role as Mr. Micawber, a character from his favorite author, Charles Dickens.
The Bank Dick (1940) and My Little Chickadee (1940): The latter co-starred Mae West, despite a famously prickly professional relationship between the two stars.
The Man vs. The Myth:
Fields was a master of self-marketing; he often leaked fake stories to the press to bolster his antisocial image. In reality, though long estranged from his wife Harriet, he financially supported his son and was a loving grandfather.
Born Date: January 29, 1880
Born Place: Darby, Pennsylvania
Died Date: December 25, 1946
Died Place: Pasadena, California
Occupations: Actor, comedian, juggler, writer
Brief Biography: W. C. Fields known for his misanthropic, hard-drinking persona and a career that spanned vaudeville, Broadway, and cinema. He was celebrated for his raspy drawl, bulbous red nose, and "grandiloquent vocabulary," often playing scoundrels or henpecked husbands who harbored a famous (if largely fictional) distaste for children and dogs.
Early Life and Vaudeville Career:
Humble Beginnings: Born in Darby, Pennsylvania, Fields had a working-class upbringing and a strained relationship with his father. He later embellished stories of being a homeless runaway, though his home life was likely more stable than his "Whitey" persona suggested.
The Silent Juggler: Fields began his career as a silent juggler, achieving international fame by his early twenties. He was once billed as the "world's greatest juggler" and performed for royalty like King Edward VII.
Evolution of Voice: He eventually added sarcastic "muttered patter" and asides to his act, transitioning from a silent performer to a speaking comedian.
Stardom on Stage and Screen:
Ziegfeld Follies: Between 1915 and 1921, Fields was a star of the Ziegfeld Follies, where he introduced legendary skits like his trick billiards routine.
Broadway and "Poppy": In 1923, he starred in the musical Poppy, creating the quintessential con man character—Eustace McGargle—that would define his future film work.
Film Success: While he appeared in silent films, Fields' true genius emerged with the advent of "talkies" in the 1930s. His most famous works include:
It's a Gift (1934): Often cited as his masterpiece, featuring the "sleeping on the back porch" sketch.
David Copperfield (1935): A rare prestigious role as Mr. Micawber, a character from his favorite author, Charles Dickens.
The Bank Dick (1940) and My Little Chickadee (1940): The latter co-starred Mae West, despite a famously prickly professional relationship between the two stars.
The Man vs. The Myth:
Fields was a master of self-marketing; he often leaked fake stories to the press to bolster his antisocial image. In reality, though long estranged from his wife Harriet, he financially supported his son and was a loving grandfather.