Charles Eaton (actor)
Encyclopedia
Charles Eaton was an American juvenile stage and film performer, and the most important performing male member of the clan once referred to as The Seven Little Eatons
. The siblings, all appeared, at one time or another, in The Ziegfeld Follies
each year between 1918 through 1923.
, in 1918's Mother Carey's Chickens. He achieved the latter distinction in a 1928 Broadway production called Skidding which ran for 472 performances. Eaton would act in ten Broadway
shows in total, including The Awakening, The Ziegfeld Follies of 1921, in which he shared the stage with W. C. Fields
, A Royal Fandango, with Ethel Barrymore
, Peter Pan, and Tommy. He also performed at vaudeville's storied Palace Theatre; toured in plays like Don't Count Your Chickens with Mary Boland
; and acted in a dozen, mainly forgettable films in the late 1920s and early 1930s
He began his film career in 1921, playing Wallace Reid
as a child in Forever (1921), the first screen version of Gerald du Maurier
's play Peter Ibbetson
. He successfully made the jump to 'talkies', and starred opposite Helen Twelvetrees
as the correspondence-school detective in the comedy The Ghost Talks
(1929), which was Fox Film Corporation's first talking picture; and as Marguerite Churchill
's brother in Harmony at Home (1930). His Last Film was "Sons of the sea" an English film in 1939.
Offers from both Broadway and Hollywood dried up with the arrival of the Depression, and eventually Eaton turned to alcohol, as did his sisters Pearl
and Broadway star, Mary Eaton
. Mary died in 1948 of liver problems brought on by her drinking, and Pearl was tragically murdered a decade later, but, although the case was ruled a homicide the crime has never been solved.
in Foggia, Italy
during World War II
. Following the war, he went into business with his sister Doris, who operated a thriving Arthur Murray Dance Studios franchise in Detroit, and did occasional theatrical engagements. In 2003, with his sister Doris, he co-wrote an Eaton family memoir entitled The Days We Danced. He died the following year in Norman, Oklahoma
at age of 94.
The Seven Little Eatons
The Seven Little Eatons was a family of American stage performers in the early part of the twentieth century.The Eatons, from Norfolk, Virginia, began their careers in show business in 1911, when three of the children,...
. The siblings, all appeared, at one time or another, in The Ziegfeld Follies
Ziegfeld Follies
The Ziegfeld Follies were a series of elaborate theatrical productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 through 1931. They became a radio program in 1932 and 1936 as The Ziegfeld Follies of the Air....
each year between 1918 through 1923.
Career
On stage from early childhood, Eaton made his Broadway debut, with his sister DorisDoris Eaton Travis
Doris Eaton Travis was a Broadway and film performer, dance instructor, and author. She was also the last surviving Ziegfeld girl.Travis began performing onstage as a young child, and made her Broadway debut at the age of 13...
, in 1918's Mother Carey's Chickens. He achieved the latter distinction in a 1928 Broadway production called Skidding which ran for 472 performances. Eaton would act in ten Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
shows in total, including The Awakening, The Ziegfeld Follies of 1921, in which he shared the stage with W. C. Fields
W. C. Fields
William Claude Dukenfield , better known as W. C. Fields, was an American comedian, actor, juggler and writer...
, A Royal Fandango, with Ethel Barrymore
Ethel Barrymore
Ethel Barrymore was an American actress and a member of the Barrymore family of actors.-Early life:Ethel Barrymore was born Ethel Mae Blythe in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the second child of the actors Maurice Barrymore and Georgiana Drew...
, Peter Pan, and Tommy. He also performed at vaudeville's storied Palace Theatre; toured in plays like Don't Count Your Chickens with Mary Boland
Mary Boland
-Career:Born Marie Anne Boland in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she was the daughter of William Boland, an actor, and his wife Mary Cecilia Hatton. She had an older sister named Sara....
; and acted in a dozen, mainly forgettable films in the late 1920s and early 1930s
He began his film career in 1921, playing Wallace Reid
Wallace Reid
Wallace Reid was an actor in silent film referred to as "the screen's most perfect lover".-Early life:Born William Wallace Reid in St...
as a child in Forever (1921), the first screen version of Gerald du Maurier
Gerald du Maurier
Sir Gerald Hubert Edward Busson du Maurier was an English actor and manager. He was the son of the writer George du Maurier and brother of Sylvia Llewelyn Davies. In 1902, he married the actress Muriel Beaumont with whom he had three daughters: Angela du Maurier , Daphne du Maurier and Jeanne...
's play Peter Ibbetson
Peter Ibbetson
Peter Ibbetson is an American black-and-white drama film released in 1935 and directed by Henry Hathaway.The picture is based on a novel by George du Maurier, first published in 1891. In 1917, du Maurier's story was adapted into a very successful Broadway play starring John Barrymore, Lionel...
. He successfully made the jump to 'talkies', and starred opposite Helen Twelvetrees
Helen Twelvetrees
Helen Twelvetrees was an American stage and screen performer, considered a top female star in the early days of sound films.- Early life and career :...
as the correspondence-school detective in the comedy The Ghost Talks
The Ghost Talks (1929 film)
The Ghost Talks is a 1929 comedy genre film, directed by Lewis Seiler; based on a Max Marcin and Edward Hammond's Broadway play.-Cast:* Helen Twelvetrees* Charles Eaton* Carmel Myers* Stepin Fetchit* Earle Foxe* Henry Sedley* Joe Brown...
(1929), which was Fox Film Corporation's first talking picture; and as Marguerite Churchill
Marguerite Churchill
Marguerite Churchill was an American movie actress with a film career spanning from 1929 to 1952.She was daughter of a producer who owned a chain of theaters but he died when she was ten years old. She was educated in New York at the Professional Children's School and the Theatre Guild Dramatic...
's brother in Harmony at Home (1930). His Last Film was "Sons of the sea" an English film in 1939.
Offers from both Broadway and Hollywood dried up with the arrival of the Depression, and eventually Eaton turned to alcohol, as did his sisters Pearl
Pearl Eaton
Pearl Eaton was a Broadway performer, choreographer, and dance supervisor of the 1910s and 1920s.-Early life and career:...
and Broadway star, Mary Eaton
Mary Eaton
Mary Eaton was a leading stage actress, singer, and dancer in the 1910s and 1920s. A professional performer since childhood, she enjoyed success in stage productions such as the Ziegfeld Follies and early sound films such as Glorifying the American Girl and The Cocoanuts, but found her career in...
. Mary died in 1948 of liver problems brought on by her drinking, and Pearl was tragically murdered a decade later, but, although the case was ruled a homicide the crime has never been solved.
Later life
Long after his showbiz career was over, Eaton served as a captain in the Army Air CorpsUnited States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
in Foggia, Italy
Foggia
Foggia is a city and comune of Apulia, Italy, capital of the province of Foggia. Foggia is the main city of a plain called Tavoliere, also known as the "granary of Italy".-History:...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Following the war, he went into business with his sister Doris, who operated a thriving Arthur Murray Dance Studios franchise in Detroit, and did occasional theatrical engagements. In 2003, with his sister Doris, he co-wrote an Eaton family memoir entitled The Days We Danced. He died the following year in Norman, Oklahoma
Norman, Oklahoma
Norman is a city in Cleveland County, Oklahoma, United States, and is located south of downtown Oklahoma City. It is part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, Norman was to have 110,925 full-time residents, making it the third-largest city in Oklahoma and the...
at age of 94.
Filmography
- Forever (1921)
- The Prodigal Judge (1922)
- The Ghost TalksThe Ghost Talks (1929 film)The Ghost Talks is a 1929 comedy genre film, directed by Lewis Seiler; based on a Max Marcin and Edward Hammond's Broadway play.-Cast:* Helen Twelvetrees* Charles Eaton* Carmel Myers* Stepin Fetchit* Earle Foxe* Henry Sedley* Joe Brown...
(1929) - Knights OutKnights OutKnights Out is an organization of West Point alumni, staff and faculty who support the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people to serve openly in the U.S. military and who wish to educate young officers about the issues and contributions of LGBT troops...
(1929) - Harmony at Home (1930)
- Poor Little Rich Boy (1932)
- The Divorce Racket (1932)
- Enlighten Thy Daughter (Blind Fools) (1934)
- Who Goes Next?Who Goes Next?Who Goes Next? is a 1938 British war film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Barry K. Barnes, Sophie Stewart and Jack Hawkins. During the First World War, a number of captured British officers attempt to escape a Prisoner of War camp.-Cast:...
(1938) - The Gaunt StrangerThe Gaunt StrangerThe Gaunt Stranger is a 1938 British mystery thriller film directed by Walter Forde and starring Sonnie Hale, Wilfrid Lawson, Louise Henry, Alexander Knox and Patrick Barr....
(The Phantom Strikes) (1938) - Blondes for Danger (1938)
- Lightning ConductorLightning Conductor (film)Lightning Conductor is a 1938 British comedy film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Gordon Harker, John Davis Lodge and Sally Gray. A London bus driver becomes embroiled in a plot by foreign agents to steal secret documents.-Cast:...
(1938) - Sword of HonourSword of Honour (film)Sword of Honour is a 1939 British drama film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Geoffrey Toone, Sally Gray, Wally Patch and Peter Gawthorne...
(1938) - Sons of the SeaSons of the Sea (film)Sons of the Sea is a 1939 British drama film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Leslie Banks, Kay Walsh, Mackenzie Ward and Cecil Parker.-Synopsis:...
(1939)