Biography for
Donald Crisp (I) More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

27 July 1882, Bow, London, England, UK

Date of Death

25 May 1974, Van Nuys, California, USA (complications of a series of strokes)

Birth Name

George William Crisp

Height

5' 8½" (1.74 m)

Mini Biography

Donald Crisp was born George William Crisp at the family home in Bow, London. Donald's parents were James Crisp and Elizabeth Crisp, his birth was registered by his mother on 4th September 1882. Donald's sisters were Elizabeth, Ann, Alice (known as Louisa) and Eliza and his brothers were James, John and Mark. Family memories state that Donald's brother-in-law James Needham (Louisa's husband) lent/gave Donald the fare to USA. The family have a photo of Donald which he sent to 'Jimmy' and signed. On 16th February 1937 Donald applied for a US Social Security account number giving his address as N Vista Street Hollywood California, and his employers Warner Brothers Pictures Burbank California. On his application Donald did not know his mother's maiden name.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Ruth Jewell Ruth@thejewells.co.uk

Spouse

Jane Murfin	(15 August 1932 - 1944)
Marie Stark	(? - 1919) (divorced)

Trivia

Fought in the British army during the Boer War in South Africa.

During the Boer War (1899-1902) Crisp crossed paths with a young Winston Churchill in the early days of his of political career. With the First World War (1914-1918), Crisp returned to England to serve in the army intelligence section. By the Second World War (1939-1945), Crisp served with the U.S. Army Reserves, rising to the rank of colonel.

By 1910, Crisp had become interested in pursuing a career in theater and began working as a stage manager for the renowned entertainer, composer, playwright, and director George M. Cohan. During this period he met and became friends with a stage actor D.W. Griffith, His first films were made with Griffith by Biograph Company in New Jersey. When Griffith went to seek his fortune in Hollywood in 1912, Crisp accompanied him.

Crisp worked as an assistant to Griffith for several years in Hollywood which fostered a passion in him to become a director in his own right. He directed over 70 films by his final directorial effort '_The Runaway Bride_'(1930) starring Mary Astor. Reportedly, Crisp gave up directing partly because it had become extremely wearisome as he was so often called upon, sometimes forced, to do favors for studio chiefs by agreeing to employ their relatives in his films.

As a producer, he became an active liaison between the film industry and outside business interests. Crisp served on the Bank of America advisory board for several decades, including a stint as its chairman, becoming influential with its board of directors.

His final screen role was as Grandpa Spencer opposite Henry Fonda and Maureen O'Hara in Spencer's Mountain (1963). This film, adapted from the novel by Earl Hamner was the basis for the popular television series '_The Waltons_'(1972).

He was educated at the University of Oxford.

He is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery, Glendale, Los Angeles County, California, USA.

Browse biographies section by name

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z