Francis X. Bushman
Overview
Francis Xavier Bushman was an American
actor, film director
, and screenwriter
. His matinee idol
career started in 1911 in the silent film
His Friend's Wife
, but it did not survive the silent screen era.
Bushman, like many of his contemporaries, moved into the films from the stage. He was performing at Broncho Billy Anderson
's Essanay Studios
in Chicago, Illinois, when he was noticed for his muscular, sculpted torso. Bushman appeared in nearly 200 feature film
roles—more than 175 films before 1920, and 17 in his screen debut year of 1911 alone.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor, film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, and screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
. His matinee idol
Matinee idol
Matinée idol is a term used mainly to describe film or theatre stars who are adored to the point of adulation by their fans.The term almost exclusively refers to male actors. Invariably the adulation was fixated on the actor's looks rather than performance...
career started in 1911 in the silent film
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
His Friend's Wife
His Friend's Wife
His Friend's Wife is a 1911 American short silent romantic drama starring Francis X. Bushman, Lottie Briscoe, and Dorothy Phillips. Directed by R.E. Baker, His Friend's Wife was the film debut of Francis X. Bushman....
, but it did not survive the silent screen era.
Bushman, like many of his contemporaries, moved into the films from the stage. He was performing at Broncho Billy Anderson
Broncho Billy Anderson
Gilbert M. "Broncho Billy" Anderson was an American actor, writer, film director, and film producer, who is best known as the first star of the Western film genre.-Early life:...
's Essanay Studios
Essanay Studios
The Essanay Film Manufacturing Company was an American motion picture studio. It is best known today for its series of Charlie Chaplin comedies of 1915.-Founding:...
in Chicago, Illinois, when he was noticed for his muscular, sculpted torso. Bushman appeared in nearly 200 feature film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
roles—more than 175 films before 1920, and 17 in his screen debut year of 1911 alone.
