Watson family
The Watsons are an American family of nine sibling actors who are known as "the first family of Hollywood". They were all first active as child actors in silent motion picture films. As of 2021, Billy Watson (born 1923) and Garry Watson (born 1928), are still alive, but unlike other siblings, both actors roles were mainly uncredited[1]
Beginnings
When Mack Sennett's Keystone Studios, located just 600 feet from the Watson family home, needed child actors for films, the father Canadian American J. C "Coy" Watson Sr. provided the kids. The Watson children worked with many big stars in the early Hollywood era, notably James Stewart, Lionel Barrymore, Fred Astaire, Shirley Temple, Katharine Hepburn and Henry Fonda. Several members of the Watson family also worked as press, newsreel and television photographers during their adult careers.
Legacy
The family members were collectively honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located at 6674 Hollywood Blvd. in Hollywood, California on April 22, 1999. Billy, Garry, and Louise were interviewed in July, 2017 about their experiences in Hollywood.[2]
The Watson Family
The Watson family's grandfather, James Watson, was a photographer who took photos of Buffalo Bill on Broadway. His son, J.C. (James Caughey) "Coy" Watson Sr. (born Ontario, Canada, April 14, 1890 – May 23, 1968), a horse breaker, married Golda Gladdis Wimer (1893–1979) on September 23, 1910.[3] Their nine children went on to act in over 1,000 films, starting out as toddlers and child stars. The eldest of the siblings, Coy Watson Jr., authored the book "The Keystone Kid"
| Name | Birth name | Date of birth | Date of death | Actor's details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coy Watson Jr. | James Caughey Watson Jr. | November 16, 1912 | March 14, 2009 (aged 96)[4] | His acting career started at 9 months old in Keystone Cops comedies in the 1913 silent film "The Prince of Silence". |
| Vivian Watson | Vivian Evangeline Watson | February 19, 1915 | December 18, 1994 (aged 79) | |
| Gloria Watson | Gloria Amy Watson | July 4, 1917 | June 1, 1997 (aged 79) | |
| Louise Roberts Watson | Mamie Louise Watson | November 22, 1919 | June 5, 2018 (aged 98) | Debuted at age 8 in Taxi 13. Her last role was in 1997. |
| Harry Watson | Harry Ruilton Watson | August 31, 1921 | June 8, 2001 (aged 79) | |
| Billy Watson | William Richard Watson | December 25, 1923 | living as of 2021 | |
| Delmar Watson | David Delmar Watson | July 1, 1926 | October 26, 2008 (aged 82) | |
| Garry Watson | Gary Armand Watson | September 27, 1928 | living as of 2021 | Debuted at age 1 in the 1929 film Drag |
| Bobs Watson | Robert Hall Watson | November 11, 1930 | July 27, 1999 (aged 68) | Probably best known for his role as "Pee Wee" in the 1938 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film Boys Town |
References
- Pool, Bob. "Star Shines Brightly for Hollywood's First Family", The Los Angeles Times, April 23, 1999. Metro Part B Metro Desk, pg. 1.
- Hollywood's first family: The children stars of the silent movies
- J.C. Watson at IMDb
- "Coy Watson Jr. dies at 96; one of nine silent-era sibling actors", Los Angeles Times, March 17, 2009
External links
- Watson Family Photographic Archive; accessed September 9, 2014.
- List of surviving silent film actors