Born: 1868 in Sweden (some sources say San Francisco)
Died: Oct 22, 1946 in Hollywood, California
Occupation: Actor, Writer
Active: teens-'20s
Major Genres: Comedy
Career Highlights: Modern Times, City Lights, The Gold Rush
First Major Screen Credit: The Immigrant (1917)
Biography
Bulky Swedish actor Henry Bergman came to the U.S. in the early 'teens. He worked as a utility player at Pathe, L-K0 and Mutual Studios until 1916, when he was cast in the Charlie Chaplin 2-reeler The Floorwalker (1916). Thereafter, Bergman worked almost exclusively for Chaplin as both supporting player (frequently in female drag) and assistant director. So devoted was Bergman to "the Little Tramp" that, as Chaplin later put it, "he'd have kissed me if I'd let him." Henry Bergman retired after the 1936 Chaplin feature Modern Times, but remained on Charlie's payroll until his death ten years later. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Born in San Francisco, California, he acted in live theatre, making his Broadway debut in 1899. He made his first film appearance was with The L-KO Kompany in 1914 at the age of forty-six. In 1916, Bergman started working with Charlie Chaplin, beginning with The Pawnshop. For the rest of his career, Bergman remained as a character actor for Chaplin and worked as a studio assistant, including Assistant Director. He played in many Chaplin shorts and later features, including The Immigrant, The Gold Rush and The Circus. Bergman's last on-screen appearance was in Modern Times as a restaurant manager, and his final offscreen contribution was for The Great Dictator in 1940. Chaplin helped Bergman finance a restaurant in Hollywood named 'Henry's', which became a popular spot for celebrities as a precursor to the later Brown Derby restaurant.