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 2020, Billy Watson (born 1923) and Garry Watson (born 1928), are still alive, but unlike other siblings, both actors roles where mainly uncredited[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]

The Watson Family

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. (born Ontario, Canada, April 14 1890 – May 23 1968), a horse breaker, married Golda Gladdis Wimer (1893–1979) on September 23, 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 siblings Coy Watson, Jr. authored a book, The Keystone Kid

Name Birth name Date of birth Date of Death (where applicable) Actors details
Coy Watson Jr.James Caughey Watson Jr.November 1912March 14 2009[4]His acting career started at 9 months old, in Keystone Cops comedies in the 1913 silent film The Prince of Silence
Vivian Watson?February 19 1915December 18 1994 (aged 79)
Gloria Watson?July 4 1917June 1 1997 (aged 79)
Louise Roberts WatsonMamie Louise WatsonNovember 22 1919June 5 2018 (aged 98), Burbank, California, United StatesDebuted aged 8 in Taxi 13, her last role was in 1997
Billy Watson? (1923-12-25) December 25, 1923living as of 2020
Harry WatsonHarry R. WatsonAugust 31 1921June 8 2001
Delmar WatsonDavid Delmar WatsonJuly 1926October 26 2008
Garry WatsonGary Armand Watson (1928-09-27) September 27, 1928living as of 2020Debuted aged 1 in the 1929 film Drag
Bobs WatsonRobert Hall WatsonNovember 11 1930July 27th 1999 (aged 68)

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. "Coy Watson Jr. dies at 96; one of nine silent-era sibling actors", Los Angeles Times, March 17, 2009
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