# Kenneth Thomson (actor) > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kenneth_Thomson_(actor) > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kenneth_Thomson_(actor).md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Thomson_(actor) > Source revision: 1354338441 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|American actor (1899–1967)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2015}} {{Infobox person | name = Kenneth Thomson | image = Kenneth Thomson - Jun 1926 MPN.jpg | caption = From a 1926 magazine | birth_date = {{birth date|1899|1|7}} | birth_place = [Pittsburgh](/source/Pittsburgh), [Pennsylvania](/source/Pennsylvania), U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|1967|1|26|1899|1|7}} | death_place = [Hollywood](/source/Hollywood%2C_Los_Angeles), [California](/source/California), U.S. | birth_name = Charles Kenneth Thomson | occupation = Actor | spouse = Alden Gay (1928 - ?) | years_active = 1926–1937 | alma_mater = [Carnegie Institute of Technology](/source/Carnegie_Mellon_University) }} '''Charles Kenneth Thomson''' (January 7, 1899 – January 26, 1967) was an American [character actor](/source/character_actor) active on stage and on film during the [silent](/source/silent_film) and early [sound film](/source/sound_film) eras. ==Early years== Born in [Pittsburgh](/source/Pittsburgh),{{cite book |last1=Ellenberger |first1=Allan R. |title=Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory |year= 2001 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-0-7864-5019-0 |page=29 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZraJCgAAQBAJ&q=%22Kenneth+Thomson%22+actor&pg=PA29 |access-date=November 26, 2020 |language=en}} Thomson was the son of Edith Taylor Thomson, a concert manager, who raised him alone after his father died when Kenneth was seven years old. As a youth, he worked as a [copy boy](/source/copy_boy) at the ''[Pittsburgh Leader](/source/Pittsburgh_Leader)'' and helped to distribute publicity material for concerts that his mother arranged. Later, he worked for a steel company and an insurance company{{cite news |last1=Baubie |first1=James A. |last2=Fritchey |first2=Clayton |title=Copy Boy Rises To Stardom In Films |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64041171/kenneth-thomson/ |access-date=November 26, 2020 |work=The Pittsburgh Press |date=February 7, 1931 |page=3|via = [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}} During [World War I](/source/World_War_I), Thomson was in the [United States Marine Corps](/source/United_States_Marine_Corps), with his service including being a gunner on the cruiser USS ''[Frederick](/source/USS_Maryland_(ACR-8))''. At the war's end, he went to the [Norfolk Navy Yard](/source/Norfolk_Navy_Yard) until he was discharged. After returning to Pittsburgh, he re-enrolled at [Carnegie Institute of Technology](/source/Carnegie_Mellon_University) (CIT), He acted in plays at the institute and graduated from CIT's Drama School,{{cite news |last1=Parry |first1=Florence Fisher |title=Screen Guild |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64039622/kenneth-thomson/ |access-date=November 26, 2020 |work=The Pittsburgh Press |date=May 24, 1936 |page=36|via = [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}} ==Career== After graduation from CIT, Thomson worked as an extra and assistant stage manager with a stock theater company in Lakewood, Maine, for several summers. He also acted with Ethel Barrymore in a touring production of ''Declassee''. During subsequent winters he acted in plays that included ''Shavings'' and ''The Emperor Jones.'' During a winter on the Pacific coast, he acted in a touring production of ''Three Wise Fools''. He later acted with a stock company headed by [Margaret Anglin](/source/Margaret_Anglin). Following his West Coast performance in ''The Rivals'', Thomson declined a contract offer to work in films from [Cecil B. DeMille](/source/Cecil_B._DeMille), Returning to New York, Thomson acted in ''Hush Money'' with [Henry Miller's](/source/Henry_Miller_(actor)) company., following which he accepted a two-year contract offer from DeMille. Thomson and his wife, Alden Gay, were founding members of the [Screen Actors Guild](/source/Screen_Actors_Guild).{{cite web | url=http://www.sagaftra.org/history/sag | publisher=Screen Actors Guild | title=SAG History | access-date=December 21, 2014}} The group was founded after meetings held at the Thomsons' home during 1933.{{cite web | url=http://www.sagaftra.org/content/masquers-club | publisher=SAG | title=Masquers Club | access-date=December 21, 2014}} He was the group's secretary and its magazine's managing editor. During Thomson's 12-year career in front of the camera, he appeared in over 60 films.{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/SearchResult.aspx?s=&Type=CA&Tbl=PN&CatID=&ID=93774&searchedFor=Kenneth_Thomson_&SortType=ASC&SortCol=RELEASE_YEAR | publisher=American Film Institute | title=Kenneth Thomson | access-date=December 21, 2014}} After appearing in several [Broadway](/source/Broadway_theatre) plays during the early and mid-1920s, Thomson would make his film debut with a starring role in 1926's ''[Risky Business](/source/Risky_Business_(1926_film))''.{{cite web | url=http://ibdb.com/person.php?id=62256 | publisher=Internet Broadway Database | title=Kenneth Thomson | access-date=December 21, 2014}} Over the next four years, he appeared in more than a dozen films, in either starring or featured roles. In 1930 alone he would appear in 10 films, half of which were in starring roles, such as ''[Lawful Larceny](/source/Lawful_Larceny_(1930_film))'',{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=10207 | publisher=American Film Institute | title=Lawful Larceny | access-date=December 21, 2014}} which also starred [Bebe Daniels](/source/Bebe_Daniels) and [Lowell Sherman](/source/Lowell_Sherman) (who also directed), and ''[Reno](/source/Reno_(1930_film))'', whose other stars were [Ruth Roland](/source/Ruth_Roland) and [Montagu Love](/source/Montagu_Love);{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/AbbrView.aspx?s=&Movie=11634 | publisher=American Film Institute | title=Reno | access-date=December 21, 2014}} the other half had him in featured roles as in ''[A Notorious Affair](/source/A_Notorious_Affair)'', starring [Billie Dove](/source/Billie_Dove), [Basil Rathbone](/source/Basil_Rathbone), and [Kay Francis](/source/Kay_Francis).{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=11036 | publisher=American Film Institute | title=A Notorious Affair | access-date=December 21, 2014}} During the rest of the 1930s, he appeared in numerous films, mostly in either supporting or featured roles, such as ''[The Little Giant](/source/The_Little_Giant_(1933_film))'' (1933), starring [Edward G. Robinson](/source/Edward_G._Robinson) and [Mary Astor](/source/Mary_Astor), and ''[Hop-Along Cassidy](/source/Hop-Along_Cassidy)'' (1935), starring [William Boyd](/source/William_Boyd_(actor)); although he occasionally had a starring role, as in opposite [Harold Lloyd](/source/Harold_Lloyd) in 1932's ''[Movie Crazy](/source/Movie_Crazy)''. In 1933 he worked in a theatre founded by Harold Lloyd and others, acting in [The Good Fairy](/source/The_Good_Fairy_(play)) by [Ferenc Molnár](/source/Ferenc_Moln%C3%A1r) at Lloyd's [Beverly Hills Little Theatre for Professionals](/source/Beverly_Hills_Little_Theatre_for_Professionals).{{Cite news |date=28 March 1933 |title=Molnar's 'Good Fairy' for Beverly Hills Group |url=https://archive.org/details/variety109-1933-03/page/n211/mode/2up?q=%22Beverly+Hills+Little++Theatre%22 |work=Variety |pages=45}} On Broadway, Thomson appeared in ''The Great Broxopp'' (1921), ''The Czarina'' (1922), and ''Hush Money'' (1926).{{cite web |title=Kenneth Thomson |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/kenneth-thomson-62256 |website=Internet Broadway Database |publisher=The Broadway League |access-date=November 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201126154943/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/kenneth-thomson-62256 |archive-date=November 26, 2020}} ==Personal life and death== Thomson married actress Alden Gay in 1928. On January 26, 1967, Thomson died in [Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital](/source/Hollywood_Presbyterian_Medical_Center) at age 67.{{cite news |title=Kenneth Thomson |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/118185016 |access-date=November 26, 2020 |work=The New York Times |agency=United Press International |date=January 27, 1967 |page=45|id={{ProQuest|118185016}} }} ==Filmography== (Per [AFI](/source/American_Film_Institute) database) {{div col|colwidth=22em}} *''[Corporal Kate](/source/Corporal_Kate)'' (1926) as Jack Clarke *''[Risky Business](/source/Risky_Business_(1926_film))'' (1926) as Ted Pyncheon M.D. *''[Man Bait](/source/Man_Bait_(1927_film))'' (1927) as Gerald Sanford *''[Turkish Delight](/source/Turkish_Delight_(1927_film))'' (1927) as Donald Sims *''[White Gold](/source/White_Gold_(1927_film))'' (1927) as Alec Carson *''[Almost Human](/source/Almost_Human_(1927_film))'' (1927) as John Livingston *''[The King of Kings](/source/The_King_of_Kings_(1927_film))'' (1927) as Lazarus *''[The Secret Hour](/source/The_Secret_Hour_(film))'' (1928) as Joe *''[The Street of Illusion](/source/The_Street_of_Illusion)'' (1928) as Curtis Drake *''[The Bellamy Trial](/source/The_Bellamy_Trial)'' (1929) as Stephen Bellamy *''[The Broadway Melody](/source/The_Broadway_Melody)'' (1929) as Jacques Warriner (uncredited) *''[The Careless Age](/source/The_Careless_Age)'' (1929) as Owen *''[The Girl from Havana](/source/The_Girl_from_Havana)'' (1929) as William Dane *''[The Letter](/source/The_Letter_(1929_film))'' (1929) *''[Say It with Songs](/source/Say_It_with_Songs)'' (1929) as Arthur Phillips *''[The Veiled Woman](/source/The_Veiled_Woman_(1929_film))'' (1929) as Dr. Donald Ross *''[Children of Pleasure](/source/Children_of_Pleasure)'' (1930) as Rod Peck *''[The Doorway to Hell](/source/The_Doorway_to_Hell)'' (1930) as Captain of academy *''[Just Imagine](/source/Just_Imagine_(film))'' (1930) as MT-3 *''[Lawful Larceny](/source/Lawful_Larceny_(1930_film))'' (1930) as Andrew Dorsey *''[A Notorious Affair](/source/A_Notorious_Affair)'' (1930) as Dr. Alan Pomeroy *''[The Other Tomorrow](/source/The_Other_Tomorrow)'' (1930) as Nort Larrison *''[Reno](/source/Reno_(1930_film))'' (1930) as Richard Belden *''[Sweet Mama](/source/Sweet_Mama_(film))'' (1930) as Joe Palmer *''[Sweethearts on Parade](/source/Sweethearts_on_Parade_(1930_film))'' (1930) as Hendricks *''[Wild Company](/source/Wild_Company)'' (1930) as Joe Hardy *''[Bad Company](/source/Bad_Company_(1931_film))'' (1931) as Barnes - Henchman *''[Murder at Midnight](/source/Murder_at_Midnight_(1931_film))'' (1931) as Jim Kennedy *''[Woman Hungry](/source/Woman_Hungry_(film))'' (1931) as Leonard Temple *''[Up for Murder](/source/Up_for_Murder)'' (1931) as William's Daughter's Boyfriend (uncredited) *''[Thirteen Women](/source/Thirteen_Women)'' (1932) as Mr. Cousins (uncredited) *''[Movie Crazy](/source/Movie_Crazy)'' (1932) as Vance *''[Man Wanted](/source/Man_Wanted_(1932_film))'' (1932) as Fred 'Freddie' Ames *''[The Famous Ferguson Case](/source/The_Famous_Ferguson_Case)'' (1932) as Bob Parks *''[Her Mad Night](/source/Her_Mad_Night)'' (1932) as Schuyler Durkin *''[70,000 Witnesses](/source/70%2C000_Witnesses)'' (1932) as Dr. Collins *''[Fast Life](/source/Fast_Life_(1932_film))'' (1932) as Mr. Williams *''[By Whose Hand?](/source/By_Whose_Hand%3F_(1932_film))'' (1932) as Chambers *''[Lawyer Man](/source/Lawyer_Man)'' (1932) as Dr. Frank Gresham (uncredited) *''[The Little Giant](/source/The_Little_Giant_(1933_film))'' (1933) as John Stanley *''[Female](/source/Female_(1933_film))'' (1933) as Red *''[Daring Daughters](/source/Daring_Daughters)'' (1933) as Alan Preston *''[Son of a Sailor](/source/Son_of_a_Sailor)'' (1933) as Williams *''[From Headquarters](/source/From_Headquarters_(1933_film))'' (1933) as Gordon Bates *''[Jungle Bride](/source/Jungle_Bride)'' (1933) as John Franklin *''[Sitting Pretty](/source/Sitting_Pretty_(1933_film))'' (1933) as Norman Lubin (uncredited) *''[Hold Me Tight](/source/Hold_Me_Tight_(1933_film))'' (1933) as Dolan (uncredited) *''[Gallant Lady](/source/Gallant_Lady_(1934_film))'' (1933) as Minor Role (scenes deleted) *''[Behold My Wife!](/source/Behold_My_Wife!_(1934_film))'' (1934) as Jim Curson *''[In Old Santa Fe](/source/In_Old_Santa_Fe)'' (1934) as Matt Korber - alias Mr. Chandler *''[Cross Streets](/source/Cross_Streets)'' (1934) as Mort Talbot *''[Many Happy Returns](/source/Many_Happy_Returns_(1934_film))'' (1934) as Motion Picture Director *''[Change of Heart](/source/Change_of_Heart_(1934_film))'' (1934) as Howard Jackson *''[Behind the Green Lights](/source/Behind_the_Green_Lights)'' (1935) as Charles T. 'Ritzy' Conrad *''[Manhattan Butterfly](/source/Manhattan_Butterfly)'' (1935) as A Gangster *''[Whispering Smith Speaks](/source/Whispering_Smith_Speaks)'' (1935) as J. Wesley Hunt *''[Hop-Along Cassidy](/source/Hop-Along_Cassidy)'' (1935) as Jack Anthony *''[Blackmailer](/source/Blackmailer_(1936_film))'' (1936) as Mr. Porter *''[With Love and Kisses](/source/With_Love_and_Kisses)'' (1936) as Gangster *''[Jim Hanvey, Detective](/source/Jim_Hanvey%2C_Detective)'' (1937) as W.B. Elwood *''[Criminal Lawyer](/source/Criminal_Lawyer_(1937_film))'' (1937) as First Trial Witness (uncredited) {{div col end}} ==References== {{Reflist|30em}} ==External links== {{commons category|Kenneth Thomson (actor)}} {{Portal|Biography}} *{{IMDb name|0861034}} *[http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/SearchResult.aspx?s=&Type=PN&Tbl=&CatID=DATABIN_CAST&ID=93774&searchedFor=Kenneth_Thomson_&SortType=ASC&SortCol=RELEASE_YEAR Kenneth Thomson] at the [AFI Catalog of Feature Films](/source/AFI_Catalog_of_Feature_Films) *{{Tcmdb name}} *{{IBDB name}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Thomson, Kenneth}} Category:Screen Actors Guild Category:1899 births Category:1967 deaths Category:Male actors from Pittsburgh Category:American male silent film actors Category:20th-century American male actors Category:American male stage actors --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kenneth Thomson (actor)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Thomson_(actor)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Thomson_(actor)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.