Coy Watson Jr.
Coy Watson Jr. | |
---|---|
Born | |
Died | March 14, 2009 | (aged 96)
Cause of death | stomach cancer |
Occupation(s) | Child actor, news photographer, television cameraman |
James Caughey Watson Jr. (November 16, 1912 – March 14, 2009) professionally Coy Watson, was an American child actor of the silent era, who was from an extended family of fellow performers known as The Watson Family, he appeared in more than 60 films.[1]
Biography
Coy Watson Jr. was the son of actor, stuntman, and pioneer special effects artist Coy Watson Sr. They lived by the Echo Park area of the city and Coy attended nearby Belmont High School.[2] The younger Watson made his film debut in 1921 and appeared in approximately 24 films over a period of eight years. He had five brothers and three sisters who also acted in films, including Billy, Delmar, Garry, Harry, Vivian, Gloria, Louise Watson Roberts, and Bobs Watson. Because he was featured in several of Mack Sennett's popular "The Keystone Cops" comedies, he earned the nickname "The Keystone Kid".[3]
Coy Watson Jr. was a Los Angeles-based news photographer for CBS Television in the 1950s. He was the head news photographer at KCRA-TV in Sacramento, California, in the late 1950s. He was credited for teaching brother Harry R. Watson photography.[4]
Autobiography
Watson's autobiography, The Keystone Kid: Tales of Early Hollywood, was published in 2001.[5]
The Watson Family honours
The Watsons were collectively honoured by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce by placing The Watson Family Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located at 6674 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, California.[3]
Death
Watson died of stomach cancer at 96 in Alpine, California[6] He was survived by three siblings, Louise, Billy and Garry, his wife, a daughter, a son, three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Partial filmography
- The Show (1922)
- The Golden Strain (1925)
- Rich But Honest (1927)
- Buttons (1927)
- Love Makes 'Em Wild (1927)
- The Smart Set (1928)
- Show People (1928)
- Taxi 13 (1928)
- Blue Skies (1929)
See also
References
- ^ "LastingTribute.co.uk".[dead link]
- ^ Coy Watson Jr. at IMDb
- ^ a b Pool, Bob. "Star Shines Brightly for Hollywood's First Family; Movies: The Watson clan of former child actors finally receives recognition for its pioneering contribution to films." The Los Angeles Times. April 23, 1999. Metro Part B Metro Desk Page 1.
- ^ Campanile, Belmont High School, 1938
- ^ Review of The Keystone Kid
- ^ Los Angeles Times obituary: "Coy Watson Jr. dies at 96; one of nine silent-era sibling actors"
Bibliography
- John Holmstrom, The Moving Picture Boy: An International Encyclopaedia from 1895 to 1995, Norwich, Michael Russell, 1996, p. 56.