William Collier Jr.: Movies & Filmography

William Collier Jr. (born Charles F. Gall Jr. on February 12, 1902 in New York City) was an American stage performer and film actor whose career spanned the silent and early sound eras. The son of actress Paula Marr, he entered the world of theatre after his mother remarried the veteran actor William Collier Sr., who formally adopted him and bestowed the name that would become his professional identity. Collier’s first brush with the spotlight came at the tender age of seven, when he appeared on stage with his parents, and by fourteen he had secured his cinematic debut in the 1916 silent drama The Bugle Call. Despite a severe bout of scarlet fever and typhoid in 1910, the young Collier recovered swiftly and rejoined his family’s touring troupe, performing at venues such as the Elitch Theatre in Denver. Over the next decade he amassed a prolific résumé, appearing in dozens of silent pictures and quickly evolving into a popular leading man of the 1920s, noted for his versatility and charismatic screen presence. Transitioning effortlessly to sound film, Collier continued to work steadily through the early 1930s, delivering memorable performances in titles like Little Caesar (1931) and Cimarron (1931). He retired from acting in 1935, but his passion for the industry led him to England in 1937 where he explored movie production, later returning to the United States to produce dramatic television series during the late 1940s and 1950s. In recognition of his contributions, Collier received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in February 1960, cementing his legacy within the entertainment community. He spent his later years in San Francisco, where he passed away on February 5, 1987, just shy of his 85th birthday, leaving behind his wife Marie Stevens and their son.