William Collier, Jr. Movies
The son of famed theatrical personality William Collier, William H. Collier Jr. made his acting debut at age four in his dad's vehicle Caught in the Rain. The younger Collier appeared in his first movie in 1914. Nicknamed "Buster," Collier was a lifelong pal of another celebrated Buster whose last name was Keaton. Gaining a bon vivant reputation in the 1920s, Collier made headlines for his New Year's Eve marriage to Ziegfeld girl Marie Stevens (the best man was none other than William Randolph Hearst). A successful screen leading man of the silent era, Collier made a smooth talkie transition in the Frank Capra-directed The Donovan Affair (1929). His best-remembered talkie role was as the stool pigeon who is gunned down on steps of a church in 1930's Little Caesar. After his film career petered out in the early 1930s, Buster Collier went to work as an actor's agent for the William Morris Agency; throughout the 1940s, Collier was a principal conduit between Hollywood and radio, coaxing several mike-shy movie stars to appear on such airwaves anthologies as Lux Radio Theatre. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1920
After directing him as the title character in Huckleberry Finn, William Desmond Taylor again used boy actor Lewis Sargent in this picture. His character, known merely as "the boy," has been raised in an orphanage where he has caused as much trouble as possible. He finally can't stand living there anymore and runs away. On the streets he finds a friend in Mike (Ernest Butterworth), a newsboy. Mike teaches him how to survive but inevitably the boy gets hauled into court. However, the judge sees potential in him and hands him over to be adopted by a young politician. The judge, incidentally, is played by Judge Ben Lindsey, who was famous in his day for his efforts to give delinquent boys a decent chance in life. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- 1916
Even though his mother has been dead for three years, young Billy Andrews (a very young William Collier, Jr.) still worships her memory. So when his father (Wyndham Standing) -- the captain of a post in the untamed West -- remarries, Billy is naturally reluctant to accept the interloper, Mary (Anna Lehr). The Indians go on the warpath and trick Captain Andrews and his troops into leaving the fort while they plan an attack. But Billy rises to the occasion by first saving his stepmother, then jumping on a horse and dashing from hill to hill, bugling all the while, so that the Indians will think that the troops are returning. This keeps them at bay until his father shows up with the cavalry and saves the fort. This was Collier's very first starring role; up until then, he was just the young son of famed stage actor William Collier, Sr. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
