Charles Villiers (actor) explained

Charles Villiers was an Australian actor and occasional director who appeared in many silent films. According to a contemporary report, "there is probably no actor in Australia that has done more consistent picture work than Mr. Villiers, both as heavy lead, and director." He was particularly well known for playing villains.^[1]

Biography

In 1912 Villiers managed Lytton's Picture Stadium in Orange.^{[2] [3]}

Villiers started working in films for the Australian Photoplay Company for whom he was one of their main actors. He then made a series of films for the Fraser Film Release and Photographic Company.

In 1914 he toured for 12 months with the Oliver Dramatic Company.^[4]

Beaumont Smith later estimated Villiers appeared in more than 60 silent films.^[5]

His wife was also an actor.^[6]

Select filmography

• Moora Neya, or The Message of the Spear (1911)
• The Lady Outlaw (1911)
• Way Outback (1911)
• What Women Suffer (1911)
• The Cup Winner (1911)
• Caloola, or The Adventures of a Jackeroo (1911)
• King of the Coiners (1912)
• Do Men Love Women? (1912)
• The Sin of a Woman (1912)
• The Crime and the Criminal (1912)
• Cooee and the Echo (1912)
• The Love Tyrant (1912)
• The Cheat (1912)
• Whose Was the Hand? (1912)
• The Moira, or Mystery of the Bush (1912)
• 'Neath Austral Skies (1913)
• Sea Dogs of Australia (1913)
• The Silence of Dean Maitland (1914)
• The Sunny South or The Whirlwind of Fate (1915)
• The Loyal Rebel (1915)
• For Australia (1915)
• Hypocrites (1915)
• The Martyrdom of Nurse Cavell (1916)
• In the Last Stride (1916)
• The Mutiny of the Bounty (1916)
• The Murder of Captain Fryatt (1917)
• Australia's Peril (1917)
• His Convict Bride (1918)
• A Coo-ee from Home (1918)
• Satan in Sydney (1918)
• The Face at the Window (1919) – also directed
• The Man from Kangaroo (1920)
• While the Billy Boils (1921)
• Possum Paddock (1921) – co-directed
• The Lust for Gold (1922)
• A Daughter of Australia (1922)
• When the Kellys Were Out (1923)
• Daughter of the East (1924)
• Sunrise (1926)^[7]

Select theatre credits

• The Scarlet Pimpernel (1909)^[8]
• The Sign of the Cross (1909)^[9]
• The Corsican Brothers (1909)^[10]

External links

• • Charles Villiers at the National Film and Sound Archive

Notes and References

1. News: MOVIE "HEAVY" CHATS LIGHTLY. . Winner (Melbourne, Vic. : 1914–1917) . Melbourne . 22 December 1915 . 15 November 2014 . 12 . National Library of Australia.
2. News: Personal. . . Orange, NSW . 28 April 1919 . 15 November 2014 . 1 . National Library of Australia.
3. News: Orange Town Band. . . Bathurst, NSW . 22 November 1912 . 15 November 2014 . 1 . National Library of Australia.
4. News: OFF TO SOUTH AUSTRALIA. . . Orange, NSW . 16 June 1914 . 15 November 2014 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
5. News: Who's Who in the Movies. . . Melbourne . 18 October 1928 . 15 November 2014 . 24 . National Library of Australia.
6. News: Personal. . . Orange, NSW . 12 January 1917 . 15 November 2014 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
7. News: PERSONALITIES OF TORONTO MURDER TRIAL. . The Evening News. Sydney . 30 June 1925 . 15 November 2014 . 16 . National Library of Australia.
8. News: Advertising. . . 26 July 1909 . 15 November 2014 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
9. News: AMUSEMENTS. . . Adelaide . 19 April 1909 . 15 November 2014 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
10. News: "THE CORSICAN BROTHERS.". . . Sydney . 12 December 1909 . 15 November 2014 . 2 . National Library of Australia.