Wallace Reid was an American actor in silent film referred to as "the screen's most perfect lover". Wallace Reid appeared in several films with his father, and as his career in film flourished, he was soon acting and directing with and for early film mogul Allan Dwan. In 1913, while at Universal Pictures, Reid met and married actress Dorothy Davenport. He was featured as Jeff, the blacksmith, in The Birth of a Nation (1915) and had an uncredited role in Intolerance (1916), both directed by D. W. Griffith; he worked with leading ladies such as Florence Turner, Gloria Swanson, Lillian Gish, Elsie Ferguson, and Geraldine Farrar en route to becoming one of Hollywood's major heartthrobs. Already involved with the creation of more than 100 motion picture shorts, Reid was signed by producer Jesse L. Lasky and starred in over 60 films for Lasky's Famous Players film company, which later became Paramount Pictures. Frequently paired with actress Ann Little, his action-hero role as the dashing race-car driver drew young girls and older women alike to theaters to see his daredevil auto thrillers such as The Roaring Road (1919), Double Speed (1920), Excuse My Dust (1920), and Too Much Speed (1921). While en route to a location in Oregon during filming of The Valley of the Giants (1919), Reid was injured in a train wreck near Arcata, California and needed six stitches to close a 3-inch (8 cm) scalp wound. To keep on filming, he was prescribed morphine for relief of his pain and Reid soon became addicted, but kept on working at a frantic pace in films that were growing more physically demanding, and changing from 15–20 minutes in duration to as much as an hour. Reid's morphine addiction worsened at a time when drug rehabilitation programs were non-existent. He died in a sanatorium while attempting to recover.
Known For
| Birth Location | Saint Louis, Missouri, USA |
|---|---|
| Born | 1891-04-14 |
| Died | 1923-01-18 |
Movies
The Legend of Rudolph Valentino
as Self (archive footage)
1961
Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10)
as Self (archive footage)
1942
The House That Shadows Built
as (archive footage)
1931
Thirty Days
as John Floyd
1922
Night Life in Hollywood
as Self
1922
Clarence
as Clarence Smith
1922
The Ghost Breaker
as Walter Jarvis, a Ghost Breaker
1922
Nice People
as Captain Billy Wade
1922
A Trip to Paramountown
as Self
1922
The Dictator
as Brooke Travers
1922
Across the Continent
as Jimmy Dent
1922
The World's Champion
as William Burroughs
1922
Rent Free
as Buell Arnister Jr
1922
Don't Tell Everything
as Cullen Dale
1921
Forever
as Peter Ibbetson
1921
The Affairs of Anatol
as Anatol Spencer
1921
The Hell Diggers
as Teddy Darman
1921
Too Much Speed
as 'Dusty' Rhoades
1921
The Love Special
as Jim Glover
1921
The Charm School
as Austin Bevans
1921
Always Audacious
as Perry Dayton / 'Slim' Attucks
1920
What's Your Hurry?
as Dusty Rhoades
1920
Sick Abed
as Reginald Jay
1920
The Dancin' Fool
as Sylvester Tibble
1920
Excuse My Dust
as 'Toodles' Walden
1920
Double Speed
as 'Speed' Carr
1920
Hawthorne of the U.S.A.
as Anthony Hamilton Hawthorne
1919
The Lottery Man
as Jack Wright
1919
The Valley of the Giants
as Bryce Cardigan
1919
The Love Burglar
as David Strong
1919
You're Fired
as Billy Deering
1919
The Roaring Road
as Walter Thomas 'Toodles' Walden
1919
Alias Mike Moran
as Larry Young
1919
The Dub
as John Craig (The 'Dub')
1919
Too Many Millions
as Walsingham Van Doren
1918
The Man from Funeral Range
as Harry Webb
1918
His Extra Bit
as The Husband
1918
The Source
as Van Twiller Yard
1918
Less Than Kin
as Hobart Lee / Lewis Vickers
1918
The Firefly of France
as Devereux Bayne
1918
Believe Me, Xantippe
as George MacFarland
1918
The House of Silence
as Marcel Levington
1918
The Thing We Love
as Rodney Sheridan
1918
Rimrock Jones
as Rimrock Jones
1918
The Devil Stone
as Guy Sterling
1917
Nan of Music Mountain
as Henry de Spain
1917
The Woman God Forgot
as Alvarado
1917
The Hostage
as Lieutenant Kemper
1917
The Squaw Man's Son
as Lord Effington, aka Hal
1917
Big Timber
as Jack Fife
1917
The World Apart
as Bob Fulton
1917
1917
The Prison Without Walls
as Huntington Babbs
1917
The Man Who Saved the Day
as John King
1917
The Golden Fetter
as James Roger Ralston
1917
Joan the Woman
as Eric Trent 1431 / Eric Trent 1917
1916
1916
The Wall of Flame
as Wallace - the Fire Inspector
1916
The Yellow Pawn
as James Weldon
1916
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
as Boy Killed in Battle (uncredited)
1916
The House with the Golden Windows
as Tom Wells
1916
The Selfish Woman
as Tom Morley
1916
Maria Rosa
as Andreas
1916
The Love Mask
as Dan Derring
1916
To Have and to Hold
as Captain Ralph Percy
1916
The Golden Chance
as Roger Manning
1915
Old Heidelberg
as Prince Karl Heinrich
1915
Carmen
as Don Jose
1915
The Chorus Lady
as Danny Mallory
1915
A Yankee from the West
as Billy Milford aka Hell-in-the Mud
1915
Station Content
as Jim Manning
1915
Enoch Arden
as Walter Fenn
1915
The Lost House
as Ford
1915
The Birth of a Nation
as Jeff, the Blacksmith
1915
The Craven
as Bud Walton
1915
The Three Brothers
as Jean Gaudet / Will
1915
Baby's Ride
as Father
1914
The Exposure
as The Reporter
1914
At Dawn
as The Lieutenant
1914
Over the Ledge
as Bob
1914
Another Chance
as Detective Flynn
1914
The Little Country Mouse
as Lieutenant Hawkhurst
1914
The Odalisque
as Curtiss
1914
The Niggard
as Elmer Kent
1914
A Mother's Influence
as Wallace Burton - the Son
1914
For Her Father's Sins
as Frank Bell
1914
Her Doggy
as The Doctor (unconfirmed)
1914
Her Awakening
as Bob Turner
1914
Down the Hill to Creditville
as Marcus Down
1914
The High Grader
as Dick Raleigh
1914
Sierra Jim's Reformation
as Tim - the Pony Express Rider
1914
The Second Mrs. Roebuck
as Samuel Roebuck
1914
Moonshine Molly
as Lawson Keene
1914
The Avenging Conscience
as The Doctor (uncredited)
1914
Down by the Sounding Sea
as John Ward - the Man from the Sea
1914
The City Beautiful
as The Country Boy
1914
Arms and the Gringo
as Sullivan
1914
The Den of Thieves
as Wallace
1914
'Cross the Mexican Line
as Lt. Wallace
1914
A Wife on a Wager
as Wally Bristow
1914
Love's Western Flight
as Wally - the Ranch Owner
1914
Passing of the Beast
as Jacques - the Woodsman
1914
The Man Within
as The Outlaw
1914
The Siren
as Dane Northrop
1914
The Quack
as Wallace Rosslyn
1914
Women and Roses
as Wallace
1914
The Daughter of a Crook
as Neal
1914
1914
The Skeleton
as Jack - the Young Husband
1914
The Test
as The Poor Man
1914
A Gypsy Romance
as Jose - King of the Gypsies
1914
Cupid Incognito
as Jack Falkner
1914
The Way of a Woman
as Pierre
1914
The Mountaineer
as Jim - the Mountaineer
1914
The Heart of the Hills
as Dave - the Woodsman
1914
The Voice of the Viola
as Wallace
1914
Regeneration
as The Artist
1914
Breed o' the Mountains
as Joe Mayfield
1914
A Flash in the Dark
as A Miner
1914
The Greater Devotion
as 'Devotion'
1914
Fires of Conscience
as Ray - the Prospector
1914
The Wheel of Life
as The Prospector
1914
The Countess Betty's Mine
as Wallace
1914
The Intruder
as The Woodsman
1914
Whoso Diggeth a Pit
as Wally
1914
1913
The Lightning Bolt
as Reid
1913
A Cracksman Santa Claus
as Gentleman Crook
1913
Retribution
as Reid
1913
Cross Purposes
as Wally
1913
The Fires of Fate
as Wally - the Doctor
1913
The Cracksman's Reformation
as Gentleman Crook
1913
The Heart of a Cracksman
as Gentleman Crook
1913
The Wall of Money
as Wallace - McQuarrie's Son
1913
The Gratitude of Wanda
as Wally
1913
The Mystery of Yellow Aster Mine
as Reid - Rosson's Brother
1913
1913
The Harvest of Flame
as The Inspector
1913
The Animal
as The Animal
1913
An Even Exchange
as Joe
1913
Man's Duty
as Bill, the Selfish One
1913
Mental Suicide
as Reid - a Contractor
1913
The Picket Guard
as Sentry
1913
1913
The Powder Flash of Death
as Captain Bruce Douglas
1913
Pride of Lonesome
as Edward Daton
1913
Song Bird of the North
as Fowle - a Mission Worker
1913
Calamity Anne Takes a Trip
as Policeman
1913
The Guerilla Menace
as Captain Bruce Douglas
1913
Women and War
as The Boy
1913
In Love and War
as David - the Journalist
1913
Hearts and Horses
as Bill Walters
1913
Via Cabaret
as Harry Reeder
1913
The Spirit of the Flag
as Dr. Reid
1913
When Luck Changes
as Cal Jim
1913
1913
On the Border
as Bill Reeves - the Cowboy
1913
Her Innocent Marriage
as Will Wayne
1913
A Modern Snare
as Ralph - the New Sheriff
1913
The Kiss
as Ralph Walters
1913
Youth and Jealousy
as Ben
1913
The Deerslayer
as Chingachgook
1913
The Brothers
as Robert Gregory
1913
The Tattooed Arm
as Ben Hart
1913
When Jim Returned
as Jim
1913
The Ways of Fate
as Jim Conway
1913
The Eye of a God
as Frank Hammond
1913
1913
A Rose of Old Mexico
as Paul Hapgood
1913
1913
Their Masterpiece
as Jack Sanders
1913
Love and the Law
as Sheriff John Allen
1913
The Picture of Dorian Gray
as Dorian Gray
1913
The Hidden Treasure
as Bill Binks
1912
An Indian Outcast
as Wally, a Cowboy
1912
The Tribal Law
as Tall Pine aka Jose Seville - Apache Brave
1912
1912
A Daughter of the Redskins
as Captain Stark, U.S.A.
1912
Hunted Down
as John Dayton
1912
Early Days in the West
as Dan, a Young Pioneer
1912
Every Inch a Man
as Robert Chapman - the Son
1912
His Only Son
as Bob Madden
1912
The Indian Raiders
as Tom
1912
The Secret Service Man
as The Secret Service Man
1912
Making Good
as Billy Burns
1912
At Cripple Creek
as Joe Mayfield
1912
A Man's Duty
as Dick Wilson - Union Soldier
1912
Before the White Man Came
as Wathuma - the Leopard
1912
The Gamblers
as Arthur Ingraham
1912
Virginius
as Icilius
1912
Kaintuck
as The Artist
1912
Curfew Shall Not Ring Tonight
as Basil Underwood
1912
Diamond Cut Diamond
as Clerk
1912
Fortunes of a Composer
as Opera Attendee (uncredited)
1912
1912
The Victoria Cross
as Lt. Cholmodeley
1912
1912
The Illumination
as Giuseppe's Father
1912
The Seventh Son
as One of the Beecham Brothers
1912
The Telephone Girl
as Jack Watson
1912
Playmates
as Party Guest at Piano (uncredited)
1912
Indian Romeo and Juliet
as Oniatore / Romeo
1912
Jean Intervenes
as Billy Hallock
1912
Chumps
as George - the Denouement
1912
The Path of True Love
as The Country Boy
1912
The Seepore Rebellion
as Extra
1912
War
as Midas
1911
The Mother of the Ranch
as The Mother's Friend Back East
1911
The Reporter
as Cohn, Jones' Assistant
1911
1911
The Phoenix
as Young Reporter
1910
Movies
The Man Who Saved the Day
Director
1917
The Wrong Heart
Scenario Writer
1916
The Wrong Heart
Director
1916
Down by the Sounding Sea
Scenario Writer
1914
The Den of Thieves
Director
1914
'Cross the Mexican Line
Director
1914
A Wife on a Wager
Director
1914
Love's Western Flight
Director
1914
Passing of the Beast
Director
1914
The Man Within
Director
1914
The Siren
Director
1914
The Quack
Director
1914
Women and Roses
Writer
1914
Women and Roses
Director
1914
The Fruit of Evil
Writer
1914
The Fruit of Evil
Director
1914
The Skeleton
Director
1914
The Test
Director
1914
A Gypsy Romance
Director
1914
Cupid Incognito
Writer
1914
Cupid Incognito
Director
1914
The Way of a Woman
Director
1914
The Mountaineer
Writer
1914
The Mountaineer
Director
1914
The Heart of the Hills
Writer
1914
The Heart of the Hills
Director
1914
The Voice of the Viola
Director
1914
Regeneration
Director
1914
Breed o' the Mountains
Director
1914
A Flash in the Dark
Director
1914
The Greater Devotion
Director
1914
Fires of Conscience
Director
1914
The Wheel of Life
Director
1914
The Countess Betty's Mine
Director
1914
The Intruder
Director
1914
A Hopi Legend
Writer
1913
A Hopi Legend
Director
1913
The Lightning Bolt
Writer
1913
The Lightning Bolt
Director
1913
A Cracksman Santa Claus
Writer
1913
Retribution
Director
1913
Cross Purposes
Director
1913
The Fires of Fate
Scenario Writer
1913
The Fires of Fate
Director
1913
The Cracksman's Reformation
Writer
1913
The Heart of a Cracksman
Writer
1913
The Heart of a Cracksman
Director
1913
The Gratitude of Wanda
Director
1913
The Spark of Manhood
Director
1913
The Harvest of Flame
Writer
1913
The Harvest of Flame
Director
1913
Mental Suicide
Writer
1913
A Foreign Spy
Director
1913
Pride of Lonesome
Director
1913
Women and War
Writer
1913
Hearts and Horses
Director
1913
Via Cabaret
Director
1913
The Spirit of the Flag
Writer
1913
When Luck Changes
Director
1913
On the Border
Director
1913
Her Innocent Marriage
Director
1913
A Modern Snare
Director
1913
The Kiss
Director
1913
Youth and Jealousy
Director
1913
The Brothers
Director
1913
The Tattooed Arm
Writer
1913
The Tattooed Arm
Director
1913
When Jim Returned
Writer
1913
When Jim Returned
Director
1913
The Ways of Fate
Director
1913
A Rose of Old Mexico
Director
1913
Love and the Law
Scenario Writer
1913
Love and the Law
Director
1913
The Hidden Treasure
Director
1912
The Tribal Law
Writer
1912
The Tribal Law
Director
1912
Before the White Man Came
Writer
1912
Chumps
Scenario Writer
1912
