Alec B. Francis

Alec B. Francis (born Alec Francis Budd; 2 December 1867 – 6 July 1934) was an English actor, largely of the silent era.^[1] He appeared in more than 240 films between 1911 and 1934.

Alec B. Francis
Francis in 1916
Born	Alec Francis Budd (1867-12-02)2 December 1867 Suffolk, England
Died	6 July 1934(1934-07-06) (aged 66) Hollywood, California, United States
Years active	1911–1934
Known for	Actor
Spouse	Lucy Smith Bower (m. 1923)

Biography

Francis was born in Suffolk, England.^[2] He studied law at Uppingham College in England and practiced with a legal firm in London.^[3]

Disliking legal work, Francis joined a stock theater company for which he played bit parts, and was baggage master and property man. He eventually came under contract with a touring company headed by Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Kendall, acting in leading roles in England, India, South Africa, and the United States.^[3] He also performed in vaudeville.^[4]

Francis served twice in the military, once for Britain and once for the United States. He was in India for a four-year tour of duty with the British Royal Horse Artillery, and He was a nurse with American forces during the Spanish-American War.^[3]

Although Francis tried farming after his service as a nurse, he returned to acting and appeared in some plays, including musical productions in which he sang as a baritone. He began acting in films in 1913 and worked for Vitagraph, World, and other film studios.^[3]

Francis died in Hollywood Hospital in Hollywood, California, on 6 July 1934,^[3] three days after emergency abdominal surgery.^[5] His funeral was held at St. Athanasius Episcopal Church in Los Angeles, and his remains cremated.^[6]

Theodora Fitzgerald and her father Captain Fitzgerald (played by Gloria Swanson and Alec B. Francis) talk to Lord Hector Bracondale (Rudolf Valentino) in a scene still for the 1922 silent drama Beyond the Rocks.

Selected filmography

• Waiting at the Church (1906, Short) – Con Artist Suitor (uncredited)
• The Military Air-Scout (1911, Short) – Commander Arthur – Marie's Father
• A Reformed Santa Claus (1911, Short)
• Saved from the Titanic (1912, Short) – Father
• Robin Hood (1912, Short) – Sheriff of Nottingham
• The Man of the Hour (1914) – George Garrison
• When Broadway Was a Trail (1914) – Standish Hope
• The Wishing Ring: An Idyll of Old England (1914) – The Earl of Bateson
• Lola (1914) – Dr. Barnhelun
• The Pit (1914) – Cressler
• Alias Jimmy Valentine (1915) – Bill Avery
• The Arrival of Perpetua (1915) – Hastings Curzon
• The Model (1915) – Hugh Seymour
• After Dark (1915) – Capt. Frank Dalton, Old Tom
• The Impostor (1915) – Noel Ferrers
• The Ballet Girl (1916) – Jerry Vergoe
• Fruits of Desire (1916) – Jeremiah Quimby
• The Yellow Passport (1916) – Myron Abram
• The Pawn of Fate (1916) – Abbé Paul
• Human Driftwood (1916) – Father Harrigan
• Tangled Fates (1916) – Mr. Rogers
• The Perils of Divorce (1916) – Craig
• Miss Petticoats (1916) – Worth Courtleigh
• A Woman's Way (1916) – General John Stanton
• Husband and Wife (1916) – James Watson
• The Gilded Cage (1916) – King Comus
• The Heart of a Hero (1916) – Col. Knowlton
• All Man (1916) – John Maynard
• A Hungry Heart (1917)
• The Cinderella Man (1917)
• The Family Honor (1917)
• The Page Mystery (1917)
• Forget Me Not (1917)
• The Auction Block (1917)
• The Venus Model (1918)
• The Marionettes (1918)
• The Glorious Adventure (1918)
• Thirty a Week (1918)
• The Face in the Dark (1918)
• Day Dreams (1919)
• Her Code of Honor (1919)
• Spotlight Sadie (1919)
• The Probation Wife (1919)
• Lord and Lady Algy (1919)
• When Doctors Disagree (1919)
• The World and Its Woman (1919)
• The City of Comrades (1919)
• Heartsease (1919)
• Flame of the Desert (1919)
• The Pest (1919)
• The Butterfly Man (1920)
• The Paliser Case (1920)
• Earthbound (1920)
• Godless Men (1920)
• The Great Moment (1921)
• A Voice in the Dark (1921)
• Courage (1921)
• North of the Rio Grande (1922)
• Beyond the Rocks (1922)
• The Forgotten Law (1922)
• Is Divorce a Failure? (1923)
• The Spider and the Rose (1923)
• The Drivin' Fool (1923)
• The Last Hour (1923)
• A Gentleman of Leisure (1923)
• Mary of the Movies (1923) – cameo
• Three Wise Fools (1923)
• The Gold Diggers (1923)
• The Eternal Three (1923)
• Beau Brummel (1924)
• Listen Lester (1924)
• The Tenth Woman (1924)
• A Fool's Awakening (1924)
• Do It Now (1924)
• Capital Punishment (1925)
• A Thief in Paradise (1925)
• Waking Up the Town (1925)
• Soiled (1925)
• Champion of Lost Causes (1925)
• The Mad Whirl (1925)
• Charley's Aunt (1925)
• Man and Maid (1925)
• The Coast of Folly (1925)
• Where the Worst Begins (1925)
• The Circle (1925)
• Thank You (1925)
• Rose of the World (1925)
• Wandering Footsteps (1925)
• Outwitted (1925)
• The Reckless Sex (1925)
• The Yankee Señor (1926)
• Transcontinental Limited (1926)
• High Steppers (1926)
• Tramp, Tramp, Tramp (1926)
• Pals First (1926)
• 3 Bad Men (1926)
• Forever After (1926)
• The Return of Peter Grimm (1926)
• Camille (1926)
• The Tender Hour (1927)
• Sally in Our Alley (1927)
• The Little Snob (1928)
• The Lion and the Mouse (1928)
• Life's Mockery (1928)
• The Terror (1928)
• The Shepherd of the Hills (1928)
• Evangeline (1929)
• Evidence (1929)
• The Sacred Flame (1929)
• The Mississippi Gambler (1929)
• The Bishop Murder Case (1930)
• The Case of Sergeant Grischa (1930)
• Murder Will Out (1930)
• Outward Bound (1930)
• Feet First (1930)
• Captain Applejack (1931)
• Stout Hearts and Willing Hands (1931)
• Mata Hari (1931) as Major Caron
• Arrowsmith (1931)
• The Last Mile (1932)
• Alias Mary Smith (1932)
• The Last Man (1932)
• Oliver Twist (1933)
• Looking Forward (1933)
• His Private Secretary (1933)
• Alice in Wonderland (1933)
• The Mystery of Mr. X (1934)