William Pitt Striker Earle | |
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 Earle in 1921 | |
| Born | December 28, 1882 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | November 30, 1972 (aged 89) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Burial place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale |
| Occupation | Film director |
| Years active | 1915–1926 |
| Spouse(s) | Valerie Damon De Blois (m. 1905;div. 1915) Blanche Earle (m. 1952; her death) Evangeline Russell (m. 1966; her death) |
| Parent |
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William Pitt Striker Earle (December 28, 1882 – November 30, 1972) was an American director of the silent film era. He attended Columbia University and worked for a time as a photographer before breaking into the movie business by sneaking onto the lot of Vitagraph Company of America to observe how directors worked. After a few days of this, Earle approached the studio president and was given his first movie to direct, For the Honor of the Crew, a short about a crew race at Columbia University.[1] He subsequently directed a number of features and shorts for Vitagraph. Later he worked with producer David O. Selznick. Earle founded his own, short-lived production company called Amex Production Corporation with J. S. Joffe, and shot the final two films of his career in Mexico.[2]
Earle was born in New York City. He was the son of Ferdinand P. Earle, a hotelier and military officer.[3]
He married Valerie Damon De Blois in 1905. They divorced in 1915.[4] He next married English actress Blanche Taylor, who later went by the name "Bonnie Earle", and was with him until her death in 1952.[5] Earle's last wife was former actress Evangeline Russell Blackton, the widow of Vitagraph executive J. Stuart Blackton. She died in 1966.[6]
