Raymond Griffith

Raymond Griffith was one of the great silent movie comedians Later in his career he worked behind the camera as writer and producer Griffith was born in Boston Massachusetts He lost his voice at an early age causing him to speak for the rest of his life in a hoarse whisper Griffith claimed that it was the result of his having to scream at the top of his lungs every night in a stage melodrama as a child actor others have stated that a childhood disease was more likely the cause Although a few comedy films of his are considered classics Griffith is almost totally forgotten today Many of his starring feature films have long since been lost but probably the best known of his films today is Hands Up 1926 a Civil War comedy feature directed by Clarence G Badger and costarring Mack Swain which was entered into the National Film Registry in 2005 Also considered a classic is Badgers Paths to Paradise a caper film that is in all circulating prints missing its final reel Like many silent comedians he had a traditional costume his was a top hat white tie and tails often augmented by a cape andor walking stick The coming of sound ended Griffiths acting career but he did have one memorable role in a motion picture before retiring from the screen playing a French soldier killed by Lew Ayres in the 1930 Lewis Milestone film All Quiet on the Western Front He then segued into a writingproducing career at Twentieth Century Fox Griffith choked to death at the Masquers Club in Los Angeles California aged 62 on November 25 1957