Actor. He appeared in scores of Hollywood films during the 1930s, typically playing a pompous windbag or humorless authority figure. His definitive role was probably as the banker Gatewood in "Stagecoach" (1939), whose straight-laced demeanor hides the fact that he's fleeing with the bank's funds. Among his many other films are "Tarnished Lady" (1931), "I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang" (1932), "If I Had a Million" (1932), "Heroes for Sale" (1933), "Dames" (1934), "Judge Priest" (1934), "Babbitt" (1934), "Dimples" (1936), "In Old Chicago" (1937), and "The Way of All Flesh" (1940). Churchill was born in Toronto, and performed with touring theatrical companies throughout North America before making his Broadway debut in 1909. He was a founding member of the Actors Equity union and a leading organizer of the landmark 1919 Equity Strike, which virtually shut down Broadway for a month. In 1931 he settled in Hollywood and worked in as many as 25 films a year until his death. Radio star Harold Peary based his famous character "The Great Gildersleeve" on Churchill's blustery screen persona.
Actor. He appeared in scores of Hollywood films during the 1930s, typically playing a pompous windbag or humorless authority figure. His definitive role was probably as the banker Gatewood in "Stagecoach" (1939), whose straight-laced demeanor hides the fact that he's fleeing with the bank's funds. Among his many other films are "Tarnished Lady" (1931), "I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang" (1932), "If I Had a Million" (1932), "Heroes for Sale" (1933), "Dames" (1934), "Judge Priest" (1934), "Babbitt" (1934), "Dimples" (1936), "In Old Chicago" (1937), and "The Way of All Flesh" (1940). Churchill was born in Toronto, and performed with touring theatrical companies throughout North America before making his Broadway debut in 1909. He was a founding member of the Actors Equity union and a leading organizer of the landmark 1919 Equity Strike, which virtually shut down Broadway for a month. In 1931 he settled in Hollywood and worked in as many as 25 films a year until his death. Radio star Harold Peary based his famous character "The Great Gildersleeve" on Churchill's blustery screen persona.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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