{{short description|English actor}} {{more citations needed|date=June 2019}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}} {{Infobox person | name = Courtenay Foote | image = Courtenay-Foote.jpg | birth_date = 22 November 1878 | birth_place = Harrogate, West Riding of Yorkshire, England | death_date = {{death date and age|1925|5|4|1878|11|22|df=yes}} | death_place = Italy | occupation = Actor | years_active = 1914–1924 }}
'''Courtenay Foote''' (22 November 1878 – 4 May 1925) was an English stage and silent film actor.
Born in Yorkshire, England,<ref name="wws">{{cite book |last1=Fox |first1=Charles Donald |last2=Silver |first2=Milton L. |title=Who's Who on the Screen |date=1920 |publisher=Ross publishing Company |page=204 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4DAOAAAAIAAJ&dq=%22Courtenay+Foote%22&pg=PA204 |access-date=January 5, 2022 |language=en}}</ref> Foote attended Oxford, studied engineering in Germany, and worked as a civil engineer in Scotland. Friends who heard him recite blank verse encouraged him to become an actor, but his grandfather opposed that idea. Foote abandoned the plan for a while and became a broker, but his lack of success in that field led his grandfather to drop his opposition to acting.<ref name="pm">{{cite journal |last1=Brooke |first1=Frederick |title=A Modern Wit and a Distinguished Actor |journal=Photoplay Magazine |date=November 1914 |pages=75–78 |url=https://archive.org/details/PhotoplayMagazineNov.1914/page/n74/mode/1up?view=theater |access-date=January 5, 2022}}</ref>
An introduction to F. R. Benson, followed by Foote's recitations as an audition, resulted in Foote's first acting job. He performed with Benson's troupe for 18 months, progressing from smaller parts to more significant roles. He went on to London, performing at the Haymarket Theatre, the Court Theatre, and the Shakesperean Festival.<ref name="pm" />
Foote's first play in the United States was ''The Debtors'', in which he debuted as Arthur Clenham in New York, followed by a touring production.<ref name="pm" />
A developing interest in motion pictures led Foote to visit Vitagraph Studios several times, each visit increasing his interest, His film debut was in the initial ''Captain Barnacle'' production. He went on to work for Reliance and Majestic studios.<ref name="pm" />
He appeared with George Arliss on stage in 1911 in the long running play ''Disraeli''. He appeared in 59 films between 1910 and 1924. He was born in Harrogate, West Riding of Yorkshire and died in Italy.
==Partial filmography== {{Div col|colwidth=30em}} * ''So Near, Yet so Far'' (1912) * ''The Quicksands'' (1914) * ''Home, Sweet Home'' (1914) * ''The Pursuit of the Phantom'' (1914) * ''Buckshot John'' (1915) * ''Captain Courtesy'' (1915) * ''Hypocrites'' (1915) * ''His Parisian Wife'' (1919) * ''The Two Brides'' (1919) * ''The Bronze Bell'' (1921) * ''The Passion Flower'' (1921) * ''Fascination'' (1922) * ''Ashes of Vengeance'' (1923) * ''Little Old New York'' (1923) * ''Tess of the d'Urbervilles'' (1924) {{Div col end}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category}} *{{IMDb name|0285202|Courtenay Foote}} *{{IBDB name}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Foote, Courtenay}} Category:1878 births Category:1925 deaths Category:English male film actors Category:English male silent film actors Category:Male actors from Harrogate Category:20th-century English male actors Category:English expatriates in Italy