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Francis Pierlot

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Francis Pierlot
Pierlot in Cyrano de Bergerac (1950)
Born(1875-07-15)July 15, 1875
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedMay 11, 1955(1955-05-11) (aged 79)
Hollywood, California, U.S.
Resting place
Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California
OccupationActor
Years active1914–1953

Francis Pierlot (July 15, 1875[citation needed] – May 11, 1955 ) was a stage and film actor with over 90 film credits between 1914 and 1953.

Early years

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Pierlot was born in Boston.[1] His ancestor, also named Francis Pierlot, was a comedian who was popular at the Opera Comique, and his grandmother sang light opera on the French stage. Pierlot himself was first associated with the theater when, at age 8, he became an usher in the Boston Grand Opera House. From that job he progressed to being a messenger for the manager of the Old Globe Theater in Boston, after which he became a ticket seller. When he was 17, he organized some amatuers into an entertainment troupe that performed in Boston and the surrounding area.[2]

Career

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Much of Pierlot's early career was spent in stock theater and vaudeville.[2]

His first film credit was in 1914, but he did not begin appearing in films full-time until 1940, when he was 63 years old. He specialized in playing grey-haired well dressed characters in small parts including judges, priests and lawyers. One of Pierlot's larger roles was as Jean Simmons' manservant in his final film, the biblical epic The Robe (1953).

Pierlot's Broadway debut occurred in Please Get Married (1919).[3]

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In August 1909 Pierlot was accused of having crossed state lines with a 16-year-old girl. The police chief in Minneapolis asked Boston authorities to be on the lookout for Pierlot, who was thought to be accompanied by the girl, who was from Minneapolis and was said to have "become enamored of the actor".[4] Pierlot had left a troupe in Minneapolis to join a company in Boston. While the alert was active, a rumor circulated that the girl had returned to her family.[4]

Death

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Pierlot died on May 11, 1955, in Hollywood, California, at age 79.[5] He was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California.[citation needed]

Partial filmography

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References

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  1. ↑ "Quiet little man is top film actor". The State Journal. Michigan, Lansing. United Press. December 31, 1942. p. 3. Retrieved April 29, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 "Player begins fortieth year in the theater". Washington Herald. October 18, 1933. p. 14. Retrieved April 29, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Francis Pierlot". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on October 6, 2019. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Girl Elopes With Actor". The Minneapolis Tribune. August 11, 1909. p. 8. Retrieved April 29, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Actor Francis Pierlot Dies at Age of 79". Racine Journal-Times. May 13, 1955. p. 13. Retrieved April 29, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
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