Edward LeSaint (January 1, 1871 – September 10, 1940)[1] was an American stage and film actor and director whose career began in the silent era. He acted in over 300 films and directed more than 90. He was sometimes credited as Edward J. Le Saint.[2] LeSaint typically portrayed characters in roles of authority, including over 30 roles, both credited and uncredited, as a judge.

Edward LeSaint
LeSaint in short film Disorder in the Court (1936)
Born(1871-01-01)January 1, 1871
DiedSeptember 10, 1940(1940-09-10) (aged 69)
Resting placeHollywood Forever Cemetery
Other namesEdward J. Le Saint
Occupations
  • Actor
  • director
Spouse
(m. 1913)

Early years

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LeSaint was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, of French ancestry. His schooling also was in Cincinnati. Before venturing into entertainment, he worked in a railroad's auditing office.[3]

Career

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From a 1920 magazine ad

LeSaint acted with a stock theater company in Cincinnati for a couple of years, then spent 15 years acting "in most of the prominent road shows all over the states."[3] On Broadway, LeSaint appeared (billed as Edward J. Le Saint) in Robert Emmet (1904), The Big Fight (1928), and Houseparty (1929).[4]

He went on to work with the Kinemacolor Company of America and Selig Polyscope Company in film production before he joined Universal Pictures.[3] He had a bit part as a judge in Too Many Women (1934).[5]

LeSaint directed approximately 50 films from 1912 to 1916.[6]

Personal life and death

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He married Stella Razetto[7][6] on December 25, 1913, and remained with her until his death.[citation needed] He died on September 10, 1940, in Hollywood, aged 69. He was buried in Hollywood Forever Cemetery.[8]

Selected filmography

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As actor

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As director

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References

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  1. ^ Erickson, Hal. "Edward Le Saint". AllMovie. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  2. ^ Edward J. Le Saint at IBDB
  3. ^ a b c "Keenan, LeSaint And Kyne". Muskogee Times-Democrat. Oklahoma, Muskogee. November 13, 1915. p. 7. Retrieved June 14, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ "Edward J. Le Saint". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on October 4, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  5. ^ "Now in Minor Roles". The New York Times. April 1, 1934. p. X 4. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  6. ^ a b Soister, John T.; Nicolella, Henry; Joyce, Steve (January 10, 2014). American Silent Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy Feature Films, 1913-1929. McFarland. p. 727. ISBN 978-0-7864-8790-5. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  7. ^ "A Canine Mansfield". Los Angeles Times. September 9, 1917. p. Part III, page 18. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  8. ^ "Edward Le Saint, movie character actor, dead". The Indianapolis News. Associated Press. September 11, 1940. p. 21. Retrieved October 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
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