Career Highlights: All Quiet on the Western Front, Love is News, Charlie Chan in Reno
First Major Screen Credit: Denver Dude (1927)
Biography
Best known as an actor during the '30s, Slim Summerville led a knockabout life before coming to motion pictures -- born in New Mexico, he was raised in Canada and Oklahoma, but ran away from home as a teenager, working at various jobs. Actor Edgar Kennedy gave him an introduction to Mack Sennett, and Summerville quickly became one of the top members of Sennett's resident slapstick company, the Keystone Kops, and was moved into solo appearances as well. His long, lanky body and innocent demeanor made him a natural for silent comedy, and Summerville soon had a respectable career as a screen comedian. He moved to Fox studios at the end of the teens, and became a director of comedy shorts in the '20s. He moved to Universal later in the '20s, and continued to direct. He returned to acting with the arrival of sound, and turned in a notable dramatic performance in Lewis Milestone's All Quiet on the Western Front (1930) -- he also appeared in the groundbreak musical King of Jazz (1930), The Front Page (1931), The Road Back (1937 -- the abortive sequel to All Quiet on the Western Front), and Tobacco Road (1941), among numerous other films, principally in character roles. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide
Eleanor Brown (?-1946) (his death) 1 Child
Gertrude M. Roell (?-?) (divorced)
Slim Summerville (July 10, 1892 – January 6, 1946) was an American film actor, best known as a comedy performer.
Born George Joseph Summerville in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Summerville began his career as a "Keystone Kop" in 1912. His tall, gangly appearance was well utilised in numerous short comedy films during the silent film era, and in addition to his many acting roles, he directed more than 50 short films.
He died of a stroke in Laguna Beach, California; Interment at Inglewood Park Cemetery, Inglewood California; following his death his house became "The Beach House" restaurant.