Harry Beresford


Harry J. Beresford was an English-born actor on the American stage and in motion pictures. He used the professional name Harry J. Morgan early in his career.

Career

Harry Beresford began his acting career in 1885, as a member of the chorus of Little Jack Sheppard at the Gaiety Theatre, London. After moving to the United States in 1886, he performed throughout the country in repertory theatre and with various touring companies—including his own—for the next 30 years. His first major Broadway theatre success was in 1919, in Boys Will Be Boys, which was soon followed by a starring role in Shavings. In August 1922, he created the role of the alcoholic Clem Hawley in Don Marquis's comedy The Old Soak, a character Beresford made famous and played for two years. He won praise for his character performances in the Broadway productions of Stolen Fruit and The Perfect Alibi.
Between 1926 and 1938, Beresford appeared as a supporting actor in more than 50 Hollywood films, including Doctor X, The Sign of the Cross, Dinner at Eight, I Cover the Waterfront, David Copperfield and Follow the Fleet. He made his final film appearance in 1938, and received original story credit for the 1939 horse racing film, Long Shot.

Personal life

Beresford was born in London November 4, 1863, to Henry George and Sarah Christie. His professional name was Harry J. Morgan at the time of his first marriage, to actress Emma Dunn, on October 4, 1897, in Chicago. They divorced on February 10, 1909, in New York City, and Dunn was awarded sole custody of their young daughter, Dorothy. Beresford married actress Edith D. Wylie, who had appeared opposite him in the play, The Other House. They were married for the remainder of his life.
Dunn, who likewise worked in Hollywood pictures in her later years, recalled testing for the role of a bullied wife in a 1935 film. When the casting director said she was too small for the part, she asked to be seen beside the actor who would play her husband—and discovered it was Harry Beresford. In 1936, columnist Jimmie Fidler reported that Beresford, then aged 72, had collapsed while working on an RKO Pictures soundstage. Unconscious for two hours, he was cared for by Dunn, who happened to be working on a set nearby.
Beresford died October 4, 1944, at his home in Toluca Lake, Los Angeles, of a heart ailment. He was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

Theatre credits

DateTitleRoleNotes
December 1885 –Little Jack SheppardChorus memberGaiety Theatre, London; debut
November 1893 –Walker, LondonAndrew McPhailNational tour including several weeks at the Grand Opera House, Chicago
November 30 – December 6, 1902The Wrong Mr. WrightMr. SitesNational tour beginning at Morosco's Burbank Theatre, Los Angeles
October 13 – November 1919Boys Will Be BoysPeep O'DayBelmont Theatre, New York City
February 16 – June 1920ShavingsJ. Edward WinslowKnickerbocker Theatre, New York City
August 22, 1922 – August 1923The Old SoakClem HawleyPlymouth Theatre, New York City
June 1924She Stoops to ConquerAminadabEmpire Theatre, New York City
1924Out-a-LuckTouring production
February 3 – February 1925The UndercurrentJason MillsCort Theatre, New York City
October 7 – December 1925Stolen FruitBallouEltinge 42nd Street Theatre, New York City
November 27, 1928 – July 1929The Perfect AlibiP. C. BalletCharles Hopkins Theatre, New York City
December 3, 1929 – July 1930Michael and MaryP. C. TuffCharles Hopkins Theatre, New York City

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1926'Elmer StoneFilm debut
1931Charlie Chan Carries OnKent
1931Finn and HattieStreet cleaner
1931Heaven on EarthCaptain Lilly
1931Scandal SheetArnold
1931'Frank Kelly
1931Sob SisterPa Stevens
1931SookyMr. Willoughby
1931Up Pops the DevilMr. Platt
1932Dance TeamHerbert Wilson
1932Doctor XDr. Duke
1932Forgotten CommandmentsPriest
1932High PressureDr. Rudolph
1932'Christian Hobe
1932Scandal for SaleBrownie
1932'Flavius
1932So BigAdam Ooms
1932'Taxi driver
1932Two Seconds
1933Bondage
1933Bureau of Missing PersonsThe Man
1933College CoachProfessor
1933Dinner at EightFosdick
1933Ever in My HeartEli
1933I Cover the WaterfrontOld Chris
1933Little WomenDoctor Bangs
1933'Blaney
1933Murders in the ZooProfessor Evans
1933Night FlightRoblet
1934CleopatraSoothsayer
1934Fashions of 1934Bookseller
1934The Friends of Mr. SweeneyClaude
1934'John Spens
1934'Mr. Brumby
1935Anna KareninaMatve
1935David CopperfieldDr. Chillip
1935'Sacristan
1935I Found Stella ParishJames
1935I'll Love You AlwaysHenry Irving Clegg
1935Page Miss GloryKimball
1935Seven Keys to BaldpateLige Quimby
1936Follow the FleetCaptain Hickey
1936Grand JuryTom Evans
1936In His StepsDavidson
1936Klondike AnnieBrother Bowser
1936Postal InspectorRitter
1937'M. M. Baker
1937The Watch
1937She Asked for ItMr. Switch
1937She's No LadyUncle John
1937They Won't ForgetConfederate Soldier
1938Newsboys' HomeO'DowdFinal film
1939Long Shot—Original story