What's After the Movie
Berton Churchill
Berton Churchill was born on December 9, 1876 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, before his family relocated to New York City where he completed his secondary education. *While still a teenager he pursued legal studies at night*, but his true passion lay on the boards of the William J. Florence Dramatic Society in Jersey City. By 1903 he was already appearing in stock companies, supplementing his acting income by working as a newspaper pressman, eventually rising to foreman and union leader. His early stage experience included a stint with the Berkely Lyceum and two years traveling with a repertory troupe, which honed his versatility. Churchill’s Broadway debut arrived in **The Barber of New Orleans** (1909) and he continued to appear on the Great White Way until his final stage credit in **Five Star Final** (1930). A founding member of Actors Equity, he served on its council and oversaw the New York headquarters during the pivotal 1919 Equity strike.
Transitioning to the screen around 1929, Churchill quickly adapted to the advent of sound and migrated to Hollywood, where he became one of the era’s most reliable character actors. In 1932 he set an unofficial record by appearing in thirty‑four films in a single year, a testament to his demand for portraying stern officials such as bankers, governors, and land barons. Notable performances include the sharp‑tongued banker Gatewood in John Ford’s classic **Stagecoach** (1939) and the dignified Senator Colby in **In Old Chicago** (1938). He collaborated with legendary directors like Otto Preminger, John Ford, and Frank Capra, and shared the screen with stars such as Bette Davis, Jeanette MacDonald, and John Wayne. Beyond acting, Churchill helped found the Masquers Club in 1925, an organization that later contributed to the creation of the Screen Actors Guild in 1933. He died of uremic poisoning on October 10, 1940 in New York City, and was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.
Biography, Career & Filmography
Learn more about Berton Churchill, including a detailed biography, career timeline, personal life insights, and complete filmography. Discover how Berton Churchill rose to fame, their major roles, industry impact, and personal milestones in the world of film.
Given Name: Berton Churchill
Born: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Citizenship: Canadian
Birthday: December 9, 1876
Occupations: Actor
Years Active: 1919-1940
Children: 1
Spouses: Harriet Gardner
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Movies Featuring Berton Churchill
Stagecoach
Going Hollywood: The ’30s
Hard to Handle
Nothing But the Truth
The Crooked Circle
Murder in the Private Car
From Hell to Heaven
Her First Mate
Two Seconds
Secrets of a Secretary
College Coach
Employees’ Entrance
Turnabout
The Cabin in the Cotton
Kid Millions
Menace
Strictly Dynamite
Friends of Mr. Sweeney
Babbitt
A Fool’s Advice
The Way of All Flesh
Hi, Nellie!
A Night at the Ritz
Doctor Bull
Cross-Country Romance
So This Is Africa
The Rich Are Always with Us
The Big Stampede
Bachelor Bait
Heroes for Sale
Judge Priest
The Cowboy and the Lady
20 Mule Team
Taxi!
Vagabond Lady
Only Yesterday
Kentucky Moonshine
Washington Merry-Go-Round
Tarnished Lady
He Couldn’t Say No
If I Had a Million
The Little Giant
Angels Wash Their Faces
Danger on the Air
The Dark Hour
The Rainmakers
Frisco Jenny
Sweethearts
Three of a Kind
Colleen
Public Wedding
Bunker Bean
Dimples
American Madness
Saturday’s Children
Afraid to Talk
The Wet Parade
In Old Chicago
Five Minutes from the Station
False Faces
The Mouthpiece
Racing Lady
The Washington Masquerade
Elmer, the Great
Dames
Parnell
I Live for Love
Steamboat Round the Bend
Madame Butterfly
The Singing Marine
Laughter in Hell
Okay, America!
Career Timeline
Track the complete movie timeline of Berton Churchill, including all film releases, career breakthroughs, and notable roles. Follow their journey from early performances to recent blockbusters and upcoming projects.
1940
Turnabout
Julian Marlowe
The Way of All Flesh
Reginald L. Morten
Cross-Country Romance
Colonel Conway
20 Mule Team
'Jackass' Brown
Saturday’s Children
Mr. 'B.N.' Norman, Office Manager
1938
The Cowboy and the Lady
Oliver Wendell Henderson
Kentucky Moonshine
J.B.
He Couldn’t Say No
Senator Mabby
Danger on the Air
Caesar Kluck
Sweethearts
Sheridan
In Old Chicago
Senator Colby
1937
Public Wedding
H. Theodore "Pop" Lane III
Racing Lady
Judge
Parnell
The O'Gorman Mahon
The Singing Marine
J. Montgomery Madison
1936
The Dark Hour
Paul Bernard
Three of a Kind
'Con' Cornelius
Colleen
Logan
Bunker Bean
Professor Ed Balthazer
Dimples
Colonel Loring
1935
A Night at the Ritz
Mr. Vincent
Vagabond Lady
R.D. Spear
The Rainmakers
Simon Parker
I Live for Love
Fabian
Steamboat Round the Bend
New Moses
1934
Murder in the Private Car
Luke Carson
Kid Millions
Harrison Larrabee
Menace
Norman Bellamy
Strictly Dynamite
Mr. Rivers
Friends of Mr. Sweeney
Franklyn P. Brumbaugh
Babbitt
Judge Virgil 'Verge' Thompson
Hi, Nellie!
Graham
Bachelor Bait
"Big" Barney Nolan
Judge Priest
Senator Horace Maydew
Dames
Harold Ellsworthy Todd
1933
Hard to Handle
Col. H.D.X. Wells (uncredited)
From Hell to Heaven
Toledo Jones
Her First Mate
Davis
College Coach
Otis
Employees’ Entrance
Bradford (uncredited)
Doctor Bull
Herbert Banning
So This Is Africa
President
Heroes for Sale
Mr. Winston
Only Yesterday
Goodheart (Uncredited)
The Little Giant
Donald Hadley Cass
Elmer, the Great
Colonel Moffitt
Laughter in Hell
Mike Slaney
1932
The Crooked Circle
Col. Walters
Two Seconds
The Warden
The Cabin in the Cotton
Lane Norwood
A Fool’s Advice
Mayor Martin Sloan
The Rich Are Always with Us
Judge Bradshaw
The Big Stampede
Governor Lew Wallace
Washington Merry-Go-Round
Speaker of the House
If I Had a Million
Warden (uncredited)
Frisco Jenny
Judge Thomas B. Reynolds (uncredited)
American Madness
O'Brien (uncredited)
Afraid to Talk
Mayor William 'Billy' Manning
The Wet Parade
Roger's Uncle Dick (uncredited)
False Faces
Dr. J.B. Parker
The Mouthpiece
Rocco Trial Judge (Uncredited)
The Washington Masquerade
Senator Bitler (as Burton Churchill)
Madame Butterfly
Mr. Sharpless
Okay, America!
Jacob Baron
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