Fred Kohler

Fred Kohler (April 20, 1888 – October 28, 1938) was an American actor.[1]

For the author/scientist, see Fred Kohler (author). For the wrestling promoter, see Fred Kohler (wrestling promoter).
Fred Kohler
Born(1888-04-20)April 20, 1888
Kansas City, Missouri, United States
DiedOctober 28, 1938(1938-10-28) (aged 50)
Hollywood, California, United States
Spouse(s)Marjorie Prole
ChildrenFred Kohler, Jr.

Career

Fred Kohler was born in Kansas City, Missouri[2] or in Duguque, Iowa.[3] As a teen, he began to pursue a career in vaudeville, but worked other jobs to support himself. He lost part of his right hand in a mining accident during this time. Eventually he was able to join a touring company, and worked steadily in show business for several years. His son Fred_Kohler_Jr. also became an actor.

America's budding film industry drew a 20-something Kohler to Hollywood, where he made his start in silent films. His first role was in the 1911 short The Code of Honor, and he had an uncredited role in Cecil B. DeMille's feature film Joan the Woman (1917), but a steady stream of parts did not begin until The Tiger's Trail (1919).

Kohler's stern features earned him a niche playing villains. His role as Bauman in The Iron Horse (1924) is a notable example. With the advent of the talkies, Kohler reprised many of his silent roles in remakes with sound, particularly in Westerns based on novels by Zane Grey.

At the beginning of the sound era, he appeared in the Allan Dwan film Tide of Empire (1929) alongside Renée Adorée and Tom Keene.

Personal life and death

Kohler married French actress Marjorie Prole in 1928.[4] He died of a heart attack on October 28, 1938, at age 50. He was buried in an unmarked grave at Inglewood Park Cemetery in South Los Angeles community of Inglewood, California.[2] His son Fred Kohler, Jr. (1911–1993) was also an actor in many western films.

Selected filmography

References
  1. "Fred Kohler". The New York Times.
  2. Ellenberger, Allan R. (May 1, 2001). Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory. McFarland. p. 180. ISBN 978-0-7864-5019-0. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  3. Katchmer, George A. (May 20, 2015). A Biographical Dictionary of Silent Film Western Actors and Actresses. McFarland. pp. 193–194. ISBN 978-1-4766-0905-8. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  4. "Film Villain Weds Actress in Secret". Oakland Tribune. Associated Press. February 24, 1928. p. 1. Retrieved February 14, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
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