Born Name:  Raymond Griffith

Born Date:  January 23, 1895

Born Place:  Boston, Massachusetts

Died Date:  November 25, 1957

Died Place:  Los Angeles, California

Occupations:  Actor, comedian, producer, screenwriter

Brief Biography:  Raymond Griffith was known as the "silk-hat comedian" for his sophisticated, dapper persona. Renowned for his dry wit and refined physical comedy in 1920s Paramount films like [Hands Up!] (1926), he stood out from the era's broader slapstick style.

Early Life and Career:
Child Actor: Made his stage debut at 15 months old and played the title role in Little Lord Fauntleroy at age seven.
Voice Condition: A childhood illness (often cited as diphtheria or overstraining his voice in melodrama) left him with a permanently hoarse whisper, which impacted his later sound film career.
Early Jobs: Enlisted in the U.S. Navy at age 15 and later toured with a pantomime group.
Silent Film Success (The "Silk Hat" Persona):
Griffith moved into film, working at Vitagraph, Fox, and eventually Paramount.
He developed a unique character who wore a top hat, tuxedo, and maintained a calm, clever demeanor in chaotic situations.
Key starring films included Paths to Paradise (1925) and the Civil War comedy Hands Up! (1926).

Transition to Sound and Later Career:
The Talkies: His voice restriction made the transition to sound difficult, ending his acting career as a leading man.
Final Role: Notably appeared as a dying French soldier in All Quiet on the Western Front (1930), a role that allowed for his whispering voice.
Producer/Writer: Transitioned to working behind the scenes as a producer and writer, working at Warner Bros. and 20th Century Fox with Darryl F. Zanuck.