In the 1916 Chaplin short, "The Pawnshop" there is the character of an old man who pantomimes a story of loss as he tries to pawn a ring to Charlie. I don't recognize this actor from any of Chaplin's other films. While he is on camera, he actually upstages Charlie. Who is he? Was he in any other films that I might not have seen? He obviously has a background in the stage....
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Boston
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Re: Pawnshop
Sun, August 1, 2004 - 2:20 AMIt was Wesley Ruggles who played the client with ring,
1889 -1972
Brother of the Charles Ruggles, one the great Ernst Lubitsch favorite actors.
He was in several of Charlie Chaplin's earlier shorts, including Triple Trouble (1918).
He had a long Hollywood career as also a producer and director. Man worked his talented ass off.
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Re: Pawnshop
Sun, August 1, 2004 - 6:59 AMEdwin,
Thanks for telling me about Wesley Ruggles. I am surprised to find that he was about the same age as Charlie when that scene was filmed as he was so convincing as an elderly man. I am definitely going to seek out more of his work with and without Charlie.
Of course, what really drew my attention was how he completely stole the scene from Charlie-- something I've rarely seen.
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