Watson family

The Watsons, are an American family of nine sibling actors, who are known as "the first family of Hollywood". They were all first active as child actors in silent motion picture films. As of 2018, only Billy Watson (born 1923) and Garry Watson (born 1928) are still living.[1]

Beginnings

When Mack Sennett's Keystone Studios, located just 600 feet from the Watson family home, needed child actors for films, the father Canadian American J. C "Coy" Watson Sr. provided the kids. The Watson children worked with many big stars in the early Hollywood era, notably James Stewart, Lionel Barrymore, Fred Astaire, Shirley Temple, Katharine Hepburn and Henry Fonda. Several members of the Watson family also worked as press, newsreel and television photographers during their adult careers.

Legacy

The family were collectively honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located at 6674 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood , California on April 22, 1999. Billy, Garry, and Louise were interviewed in July 2017 about their experiences in Hollywood.[2]

Family members

The Watson Family's Grandfather, James Watson, was a photographer who took photos of Buffalo Bill on Broadway, his son, J.C. (James Caughey) "Coy" Watson Sr. (1890-1968), a horse breaker, married Golda Gladdis Wimer (1893-1979) in September 1910.[3] Their nine children went on to act in over 1,000 films, starting out as toddlers and child stars. The eldest of the nine siblings Coy Watson Jr. authored a book, "The Keystone Kid".

  • Coy Watson Jr. (James Caughey) (1912–2009) (His first acting role in Keystone Cops comedies was at age nine months in the 1913 film "The Price of Silence")[4]
  • Vivian Watson, (February 19, 1915 – December 18, 1994)
  • Gloria Watson, (July 4, 1917 – June 1, 1997)
  • Louise Roberts Watson, (born Mamie Louis Watson, November 22, 1919 – June 5, 2018, Burbank, California); debuted at age eight in Taxi 13; her last performance was in 1997.[5]
  • Harry Watson (1921 – 2001)
  • Billy Watson, (born December 25, 1923)
  • Delmar Watson (1926 – 2008)
  • Garry Watson, (born Gary Armand Watson, September 27, 1928) (made his debut as a one year old in the 1929 film "Drag in 1929)
  • Bobs Watson (1930 – 1999)

References

  1. ↑ Pool, Bob. "Star Shines Brightly for Hollywood's First Family", The Los Angeles Times, April 23, 1999. Metro Part B Metro Desk, pg. 1.
  2. ↑ Hollywood's first family: The children stars of the silent movies
  3. ↑ J.C. Watson on IMDb
  4. ↑ Valerie J. Nelson, "Coy Watson Jr. dies at 96; one of nine silent-era sibling actors", Los Angeles Times, March 17, 2009
  5. ↑ Louise Watson on IMDb
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