Art Acord


Arthemus Ward "Art" Acord was an American silent film actor and rodeo champion. After his film career ended in 1929, Acord worked in rodeo road shows and as a miner in Mexico.

Early life and career

Acord was born to parents who were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Valentine Louis and Mary Amelia Accord in Glenwood, Utah. His mother died when he was just 19 months old. As a young man, Acord worked as a cowboy and ranch hand. He won the World Steer Wrestling Championship at the Pendleton Round-up in 1912 and repeated as champion in 1916, defeating challenger and friend Hoot Gibson.
Acord was one of the few cowboys to have ridden the acclaimed bucking horse Steamboat for the full eight seconds. His rodeo skills had been sharpened when he worked for a time for the Miller Brothers' traveling 101 Ranch Wild West Show. It was with the 101 that he became friends with Tom Mix, Yakima Canutt, Bee Ho Gray, "Broncho Billy" Anderson and Hoot Gibson. He was sometimes called the "Mormon cowboy". He went on to become a noted actor in silent Western films. Accord also performed as a stunt man. He made over 100 film shorts, most of which are now considered lost.
Acord enlisted in the United States Army in World War I and served overseas. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre for bravery. At war's end, he returned to the motion picture business, appearing in a series of popular film shorts and as "Buck Parvin", the title character for a Universal Pictures serial. Because of a heavy drinking problem and his inability to adapt to the advent of talkies, Acord's film career declined and he ended up performing in road shows and mining in Mexico. In March 1928 Acord was seriously burned in an explosion at his home; the loss of his sight was feared.

Personal life

Acord was married three times. His first marriage was to actress Edythe Sterling in 1913. They divorced in 1916. In 1920, he married former actress Edna May Nores. Nores filed for divorce in April 1924 citing physical abuse and infidelity. The divorce was finalized the following year. His third marriage was to actress Louise Lorraine on April 14, 1926. The couple divorced in June 1928.

Death

On January 4, 1931, Acord died in a Chihuahua, Mexico hospital shortly after consuming poison. He was depressed and told the doctor who treated him shortly before he died that he had intentionally taken poison because he wanted to die. His body was sent back to California by train. He was given a military funeral with full honors and was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.
For his contribution to the motion picture industry, Acord has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1709 Vine Street.

Partial filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1912The InvadersTelegrapherStunt double
1914The Squaw ManArt - Townsman
1917Heart and SoulUndetermined RoleUncredited
1917The Show Down
1917CleopatraKephrenLost film
1918Headin' SouthLost film
1920The Moon RidersBuck Ravelle, a RangerLost film
1921The White HorsemanWayne Allen/The White HorsemanLost film
1921Winners of the WestArthur Standish/The Mysterious SpaniardSerial
Lost film
1922In the Days of Buffalo BillArt TaylorLost film
1923The Oregon TrailJean BruletLost film
1924Fighting for JusticeBullets Bernard
1924Looped for LifeBuck Dawn
1925Three in ExileArt Flanders
1925The Circus CycloneJack Manning
1925The Call of CourageSteve Caldwell
1926The Set-UpDeputy Art Stratton
1926The TerrorArt Downs
1926Lazy LightningLance Lighton
1927Loco LuckBud Harris
1927The Western RoverArt Seaton/Art Hayes
1927Spurs and SaddlesJack Marley
1928Two-Gun O'BrienTwo-Gun O'Brien
1928His Last Battle
1929The White OutlawJohnny "The White Outlaw" Douglas
1929The Arizona KidBill "The Arizona Kid" StrongAlternative title: Pursued
1929Fighters of the SaddleDick Weatherby