Fred Kohler

Actor: Fred Kohler

Born: Apr 20, 1889 in Kansas City, Missouri
Died: Oct 28, 1938 in Hollywood, California
Occupation: Actor
Active: '20s-'30s
Major Genres: Western, Drama
Career Highlights: Underworld, The Dragnet, The Way of All Flesh
First Major Screen Credit: The Son of the Wolf (1922)

Biography

Nominated by film historian William K. Everson as "the best western badman of all," American actor Fred Kohler Sr. began appearing onscreen in 1911. A homely man with a burly physique and huge, bearlike hands, Kohler seemed born to play characters who'd sell liquor to Indians, kidnap the sheriff's daughter, burn out homesteaders and shoot stagecoach guards in the back. In virtually all his films, Kohler wore the same costume: a stained frock coat, ostentatiously flowered vest and sloppily knotted string tie. As the principal heavy in 1924's The Iron Horse, Kohler had a rugged fistfight with leading man George O'Brien; these two actors continued to clash on-screen into the B-westerns of the '30s, including Kohler's final picture Lawless Valley (1938). This last-mentioned film is worth noting because it teamed Kohler with his equally unsavory-looking actor son, Fred Kohler Jr. (Senior's wife was one-time musical comedy actress Maxine Marshall, whom he'd met in vaudeville.) Apparently, if the part was good enough and the character bad enough, Fred Kohler Sr. would appear in any sort of film, from such top-drawer epics as Cecil B. DeMille's The Buccaneer (1938), to such meager-budgeted fare as the Three Stooges short Horses Collars (1935). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

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Fred Kohler

Born	April 20, 1888 Kansas City, Missouri, USA
Died	October 28, 1938

Fred Kohler (April 20, 1888 – October 28, 1938) was an American actor known for his "heavy" style of character.

Fred Kohler was born in Kansas City, Missouri. As a teen, he began to pursue a career in vaudeville, but worked other jobs to support himself. He lost part of his right hand in a mining accident during this time. Eventually he was able to join a touring company, and worked steadinly in show business for several years.

As with many actors of his day, America's budding film industry drew a 20-something Kohler to Hollywood, where he made his start in silent films. His first role was in the 1911 short The Code of Honor, and he had an uncredited role in 1917's Joan the Woman, but a steady stream of parts did not begin until 1919's The Tiger's Trail. Kohler's imposing 6-foot physique and stern features earned him a niche playing villains. His 1924 role as Bauman in The Iron Horse is a notable example. With the advent of the talkies, Kohler reprised many of his silent roles in remakes with sound, particularly in Westerns based on novels by Zane Gray.

In 1929 he appeared in the Allen Dwan film Tide of Empire alongside Joan Crawford and another rugged cowboy Tom Keene.

Kohler's career was ended by his death at age 50. He died of a heart attack on October 28, 1938.

Selected filmography

External links

Fred Kohler at the Internet Movie Database
Fred Kohler at Find a Grave

Persondata
NAME	Kohler, Fred
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION	Actor
DATE OF BIRTH	April 20, 1888
PLACE OF BIRTH	Kansas City, Missouri United States
DATE OF DEATH	October 28, 1938
PLACE OF DEATH

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		Actor. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved. Read more
		Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Fred Kohler". Read more