Ernest Torrence

Biography

Ernest Torrence ( June 26, 1878 - May 13, 1933) was a Scottish born film character actor who appeared in many Hollywood films, including Mantrap (1926) with Clara Bow, and Fighting Caravans (1931) with Gary Cooper and Lili Damita. A towering (6' 4") figure, Torrence frequently played cold-eyed and imposing villains. Torrence played the despicable adversary Luke Hatburn in Tol'able David (1921) opposite Richard Barthelmess, and immediately settled into films for the rest of his career and life. He played an old codger in the acclaimed classic western The Covered Wagon (1923) and gained attention from his roles in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) as Clopin, king of the beggars, and Betty Bronson in Peter Pan (1924) as the dastardly Captain Hook. In an offbeat bit of casting he paired up with Clara Bow in Mantrap (1926), unusually as a gentle, giant type backwoodsman in search of a wife. He appeared in other silent film classics such as The King of Kings (1927) (as Peter) and Steamboat Bill Jr. (1928) as Buster Keaton's steamboat captain father. During the course of his twelve year film career, Ernest made 49 films, both silent and "talkies".