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{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| image = Ralph Ince - 1919 MPW.jpg
| image = Ralph Ince, film actor (SAYRE 4477).jpg
| caption = ''Moving Picture World'', 1919
| caption = Ince in 1923
| name = Ralph Ince
| name = Ralph Ince
| birth_name = Ralph Waldo Ince
| birth_name = Ralph Waldo Ince
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| occupation = [[Film director]], actor, [[screenwriter]]
| occupation = [[Film director]], actor, [[screenwriter]]
| yearsactive = 1907–1937
| yearsactive = 1907–1937
| spouse = {{plainlist|
⚫
| spouse = {{marriage|[[Lucille Lee Stewart]]|1910|1925|end=divorced}}<br>{{marriage|[[Rosa Castro]] ([[:es:Rosa Castro|es]])|1926|1932|end=divorced}}<br>{{marriage|Helen Tigges<br>|1932}}
* {{marriage|[[Lucille Lee Stewart]]|1910|1925|end=divorced}}
⚫
* {{marriage|[[Rosa Castro]] ([[:es:Rosa Castro|es]])|1926|1932|end=divorced}}
* {{marriage|Helen Tigges<br>|1932}}
}}
| children = 1
| children = 1
| relatives = [[John Ince (actor)|John Ince]] (brother)<br>[[Thomas H. Ince]] (brother)
| relatives = [[John Ince (actor)|John Ince]] (brother)<br>[[Thomas H. Ince]] (brother)
}}
}}


'''Ralph Waldo Ince''' (January 16, 1887 &ndash; April 10, 1937) was an American pioneer film actor, director and screenwriter whose career began near the dawn of the [[silent film|silent film era]]. Ralph Ince was the brother of [[John Ince (actor)|John Ince]] and [[Thomas H. Ince]].
'''Ralph Waldo Ince''' (January 16, 1887 – April 10, 1937) was an American pioneer film actor, director and screenwriter whose career began near the dawn of the [[silent film|silent film era]]. Ralph Ince was the brother of [[John Ince (actor)|John E. Ince]] and [[Thomas H. Ince]].


==Biography==
==Biography==
[[File:Ralph Ince 02.JPG|left|thumb|''Theatre of Science'', 1914]]
[[File:Ralph Ince 02.JPG|left|thumb|''Theatre of Science'', 1914]]
Ralph Ince was born in [[Boston, Massachusetts]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=WW1draft&so=2&rank=0&gsfn=ralph&gsln=ince&sx=&gs1co=1%2cAll+Countries&gs1pl=1%2c+&year=&yearend=&sbo=0&sbor=&ufr=0&wp=4%3b_80000002%3b_80000003&srchb=r&prox=1&db=&ti=0&ti.si=0&gss=angs-b|title=Ralph Ince - U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 - Ancestry.com|work=ancestry.com}}</ref> the younger of three sons and a daughter raised by English immigrants, John and Emma Ince. Sometime after his birth Ince moved to Manhattan where his entire family was engaged in theater work; his father as a musical agent and mother, sister Bertha and brothers, John and Thomas as actors.<ref>1900 US Census Records, Ancestry.com</ref> Ralph Ince studied art with cartoonist Dan McCarthy and for a while worked as a newspaper cartoonist for the New York World and later magazine illustrator for the New York Mirror and The Evening Telegram. At times over his acting and directing career Ince would continue to contribute cartoons to popular magazines of the day. Early on in his career Ince, who had done some stage acting as a child, was a member of [[Richard Mansfield|Richard Mansfield's]] stock company playing parts in ''[[The College Widow (play)|The College Widow]]'' and ''[[Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ|Ben Hur]]''.<ref name="search.ancestry.com">[http://search.ancestry.com/iexec?htx=View&r=an&dbid=2160&iid=32189_1220702381_0015-00270&fn=Ralph+W&ln=Ince&st=r&ssrc=&pid=5705 Motion Picture Studio Directory and Trade Annual, 1921, p. 267 – Ancestry.com]</ref><ref name="Encyclopedia of Early Cinema">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9cc71Uekc_EC&pg=PA455|title=Encyclopedia of Early Cinema|publisher=}}</ref>
Ralph Ince was born in [[Boston, Massachusetts]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=WW1draft&so=2&rank=0&gsfn=ralph&gsln=ince&sx=&gs1co=1%2cAll+Countries&gs1pl=1%2c+&year=&yearend=&sbo=0&sbor=&ufr=0&wp=4%3b_80000002%3b_80000003&srchb=r&prox=1&db=&ti=0&ti.si=0&gss=angs-b|title=Ralph Ince - U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 - Ancestry.com|work=ancestry.com}}</ref> the younger of three sons and a daughter raised by English immigrants, John and Emma Ince. Sometime after his birth Ince moved to Manhattan where his entire family was engaged in theater work; his father as a musical agent and mother, sister Bertha and brothers, John and Thomas as actors.<ref>1900 US Census Records, Ancestry.com</ref> Ralph Ince studied art with cartoonist Dan McCarthy and for a while worked as a newspaper cartoonist for the New York World and later magazine illustrator for the New York Mirror and The Evening Telegram. At times over his acting and directing career Ince would continue to contribute cartoons to popular magazines of the day. Early on in his career Ince, who had done some stage acting as a child, was a member of [[Richard Mansfield|Richard Mansfield's]] stock company playing parts in ''[[The College Widow (play)|The College Widow]]'' and ''[[Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ|Ben Hur]]''.<ref name="search.ancestry.com">[http://search.ancestry.com/iexec?htx=View&r=an&dbid=2160&iid=32189_1220702381_0015-00270&fn=Ralph+W&ln=Ince&st=r&ssrc=&pid=5705 Motion Picture Studio Directory and Trade Annual, 1921, p. 267 – Ancestry.com]</ref><ref name="Encyclopedia of Early Cinema">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9cc71Uekc_EC&pg=PA455|title=Encyclopedia of Early Cinema|isbn=9780203482049 |last1=Abel |first1=Richard |date=August 2004 |publisher=Taylor & Francis }}</ref>


Around 1906 Ince became an animator in the fledgling film industry working for [[Winsor McCay]], but soon turned to acting and joined [[Vitagraph Studios]] where he became known for his portrayals of [[Abraham Lincoln]] in a series of one reel films.<ref name="search.ancestry.com"/><ref name="Encyclopedia of Early Cinema"/> Ince began directing at Vitagraph around 1910 and was officially advanced to the director's chair in 1912, though he still continued to act in many of his films and throughout his career.<ref>''The Motion Picture Story Magazine''; August 1912, p. 132</ref> Ince would go on to direct some 171 films between 1910 and 1937 and appear in approximately 110 films over nearly the same time period.<ref>{{IMDb name|0408433}}</ref>
Around 1906 Ince became an animator in the fledgling film industry working for [[Winsor McCay]], but soon turned to acting and joined [[Vitagraph Studios]] where he became known for his portrayals of [[Abraham Lincoln]] in a series of one reel films.<ref name="search.ancestry.com"/><ref name="Encyclopedia of Early Cinema"/> Ince began directing at Vitagraph around 1910 and was officially advanced to the director's chair in 1912, though he still continued to act in many of his films and throughout his career.<ref>''The Motion Picture Story Magazine''; August 1912, p. 132</ref> Ince would go on to direct some 171 films between 1910 and 1937 and appear in approximately 110 films over nearly the same time period.<ref>{{IMDb name|0408433}}</ref>

Ince became a member of [[The Lambs|The Lambs Club]] in 1916, and his brother John joined in 1919.<ref name="TheLambsWebsite">{{cite web |title= The Lambs |url= https://the-lambs.org/history/roster/ |at= (Member Roster 'I') |publisher= [[The Lambs|The Lambs, Inc.]] |website= the-lambs.org |access-date= December 4, 2021}}</ref>


==Marriage==
==Marriage==
Ince married three times, first to Vitagraph player Lucille Lee Stewart, sister of actress [[Anita Stewart]]. Their fifteen-year marriage ended in 1925, two years after she had left him.<ref>"Ralph Ince Seeks Divorce," ''Portsmouth Daily Times'' (Portsmouth, Ohio), April 10, 1925, p. 22</ref> The following year he married [[Rosa Castro]] ([[:es:Rosa Castro|es]]) (stage name Lucille Mendez), an 18-year-old [[Venezuelans|Venezuelan]] stage and screen actress, daughter of Venezuelan President [[Cipriano Castro]]. This union ended in 1932 after she claimed Ince damaged her career by not allowing her to accept certain job offers.<ref>"Lucille Mendes Divorces Ince," ''Syracuse Herald'', April 3, 1932, p. 14</ref> Ince's last wife was Helen Ruth Tigges, a native of [[Frazee, Minnesota]]. She was the mother of his only child, born just months before his death at age fifty.<ref name=NYT>{{cite news|title=Ralph Ince Killed In Crash In London|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=April 12, 1937|page=1}}</ref>
Ince married three times, first to Vitagraph player Lucille Lee Stewart, sister of actress [[Anita Stewart]]. Their fifteen-year marriage ended in 1925, two years after she had left him.<ref>"Ralph Ince Seeks Divorce," ''Portsmouth Daily Times'' (Portsmouth, Ohio), April 10, 1925, p. 22</ref> The following year he married Rosa Castro Martinez (stage name Lucille Mendez), an 18-year-old [[Venezuelans|Venezuelan]] stage and screen actress, daughter of Venezuelan President [[Cipriano Castro]]. This union ended in 1932 after she claimed Ince damaged her career by not allowing her to accept certain job offers.<ref>"Lucille Mendes Divorces Ince," ''Syracuse Herald'', April 3, 1932, p. 14</ref> Ince's last wife was Helen Ruth Tigges, a native of [[Frazee, Minnesota]]. She was the mother of his only child, born just months before Ince's death at age fifty.<ref name=NYT>{{cite news|title=Ralph Ince Killed In Crash In London|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=April 12, 1937|page=1}}</ref>


==Death==
==Death==
Ralph Ince died on April 10, 1937, when a car his wife was driving struck an iron standard near their residence in the [[Kensington]] district of London, England. The force of the impact, though not great, proved fatal to Ince when his head struck the dashboard. Helen Ince suffered cuts and bruises that required hospitalization. Ince and his wife had moved to Britain shortly after they had married in 1932 to continue his film work there.<ref name=NYT/>
Ralph Ince died on April 10, 1937, when a car his wife was driving struck an iron standard near their residence in the [[Kensington]] district of London, England. The force of the impact, though not great, proved fatal to Ince when his head struck the dashboard. Helen Ince suffered cuts and bruises that required hospitalization. Ince and his wife had moved to Britain shortly after they had married in 1932 to continue his film work there.<ref name=NYT/> Ince was cremated at [[Golders Green Crematorium|Golders Green]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Wilson |first1=Scott |title=Resting Places |date=2016 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=9781476625997 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FOHgDAAAQBAJ&q=Ralph%20Ince%20resting%20place}}</ref>


==Selected filmography==
==Selected filmography==
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* ''[[Mills of the Gods (film)|The Mills of the Gods]]'' (1912)
* ''[[Mills of the Gods (film)|The Mills of the Gods]]'' (1912)
* ''[[My Lady's Slipper]]'' (1916)
* ''[[My Lady's Slipper]]'' (1916)
* ''[[The Conflict]]'' (1916)
* ''[[The Co-Respondent]]'' (1917)
* ''[[Our Mrs. McChesney]]'' (1918)
* ''[[Our Mrs. McChesney]]'' (1918)
* ''[[The Panther Woman]]'' (1918)
* ''[[The Panther Woman]]'' (1918)
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* ''[[The Perfect Lover (1919 film)|The Perfect Lover]]'' (1919)
* ''[[The Perfect Lover (1919 film)|The Perfect Lover]]'' (1919)
* ''[[Red Foam]]'' (1920)
* ''[[Red Foam]]'' (1920)
* ''[[Out of the Snows]]'' (1920)
* ''[[His Wife's Money]]'' (1920)
* ''[[Tropical Love]]'' (1921)
* ''[[The Highest Law (film)|The Highest Law]]'' (1921)
* ''[[After Midnight (1921 film)|After Midnight]]'' (1921)
* ''[[Remorseless Love]]'' (1921)
* ''[[A Man's Home]]'' (1921)
* ''[[Wet Gold (1921 film)|Wet Gold]]'' (1921)
* ''[[Wet Gold (1921 film)|Wet Gold]]'' (1921)
* ''[[A Wide Open Town]]'' (1922)
* ''[[Reckless Youth (1922 film)|Reckless Youth]]'' (1922)
* ''[[Reckless Youth (1922 film)|Reckless Youth]]'' (1922)
* ''[[The Referee (1922 film)|The Referee]]'' (1922)
* ''[[Counterfeit Love]]'' (1923)
* ''[[The Chorus Lady (1924 film)|The Chorus Lady]]'' (1924)
* ''[[The Chorus Lady (1924 film)|The Chorus Lady]]'' (1924)
* ''[[The House of Youth]]'' (1924)
* ''[[The Uninvited Guest (1924 film)|The Uninvited Guest]]'' (1924)
* ''[[The Uninvited Guest (1924 film)|The Uninvited Guest]]'' (1924)
* ''[[Lady Robinhood]]'' (1925)
* ''[[Lady Robinhood]]'' (1925)
Line 62: Line 81:
* ''[[Enemies of Society]]'' (1927)
* ''[[Enemies of Society]]'' (1927)
* ''[[Not for Publication (1927 film)|Not for Publication]]'' (1927)
* ''[[Not for Publication (1927 film)|Not for Publication]]'' (1927)
* ''[[Coney Island (1928 film)|Coney Island]]'' (1928)
* ''[[Chicago After Midnight]]'' (1928)
* ''[[Chicago After Midnight]]'' (1928)
* ''[[Hit of the Show]]'' (1928)
* ''[[Hit of the Show]]'' (1928)
Line 76: Line 96:
* ''[[Crime Unlimited]]'' (1935)
* ''[[Crime Unlimited]]'' (1935)
* ''[[Rolling Home (1935 film)|Rolling Home]]'' (1935)
* ''[[Rolling Home (1935 film)|Rolling Home]]'' (1935)
* ''[[The Black Mask (film)|The Black Mask]]'' (1935)
* ''[[The Black Mask (1935 film)|The Black Mask]]'' (1935)
* ''[[Blue Smoke (1935 film)|Blue Smoke]]'' (1935)
* ''[[Blue Smoke (1935 film)|Blue Smoke]]'' (1935)
* ''[[Gaol Break]]'' (1936)
* ''[[Gaol Break]]'' (1936)
Line 92: Line 112:
{{Div col|colwidth=25em}}
{{Div col|colwidth=25em}}
* ''[[Jean the Match-Maker]]'' (1910, Short)
* ''[[Jean the Match-Maker]]'' (1910, Short)
* ''[[A Tale of Two Cities (1911 film)|A Tale of Two Cities]]'' (1911, Short) - (uncredited)
* ''[[A Tale of Two Cities (1911 film)|A Tale of Two Cities]]'' (1911, Short) – (uncredited)
* ''[[The Child Crusoes]]'' (1911, Short)
* ''[[The Child Crusoes]]'' (1911, Short)
* ''The Sins of the Mothers'' (1914) - Mr. Raymond
* ''The Sins of the Mothers'' (1914) – Mr. Raymond
* ''The Land of Opportunity'' (1920) - Abraham Lincoln
* ''The Land of Opportunity'' (1920) – Abraham Lincoln
* ''Out of the Snows'' (1920) - Robert Holliday
* ''[[Out of the Snows]]'' (1920) – Robert Holliday
* ''The Bringers'' (1920)
* ''The Bringers'' (1920)
* ''The Highest Law'' (1921) - Abraham Lincoln
* ''[[The Highest Law (film)|The Highest Law]]'' (1921) – Abraham Lincoln
* ''The Last Door'' (1921)
* ''The Last Door'' (1921)
* ''[[Wet Gold (1921 film)|Wet Gold]]'' (1921) - John Cromwell
* ''[[Wet Gold (1921 film)|Wet Gold]]'' (1921) – John Cromwell
* ''Channing of the Northwest'' (1922)
* ''[[Channing of the Northwest]]'' (1922)
* ''[[Yellow Fingers]]'' (1926) - Brute Shane
* ''[[Yellow Fingers]]'' (1926) – Brute Shane
* ''[[Bigger Than Barnum's]]'' (1926) - Carl Ravelle
* ''[[Bigger Than Barnum's]]'' (1926) – Carl Ravelle
* ''[[The Sea Wolf (1926 film)|The Sea Wolf]]'' (1926) - 'Wolf' Larsen
* ''[[The Sea Wolf (1926 film)|The Sea Wolf]]'' (1926) – 'Wolf' Larsen
* ''[[Breed of the Sea]]'' (1926) - Tod Pembroke, aka Captain Blaze Devine
* ''[[Breed of the Sea]]'' (1926) – Tod Pembroke, aka Captain Blaze Devine
* ''[[The Better Way]]'' (1926) - Billy
* ''[[The Better Way]]'' (1926) – Billy
* ''[[Not for Publication (1927 film)|Not for Publication]]'' (1927) - 'Big Dick' Wellman
* ''[[Not for Publication (1927 film)|Not for Publication]]'' (1927) – 'Big Dick' Wellman
* ''[[Shanghaied (1927 film)|Shanghaied]]'' (1927) - Hurricane Haley
* ''[[Shanghaied (1927 film)|Shanghaied]]'' (1927) – Hurricane Haley
* ''[[Chicago After Midnight]]'' (1928) - Jim Boyd
* ''[[Chicago After Midnight]]'' (1928) – Jim Boyd
* ''The Singapore Mutiny'' (1928) - Kelsey
* ''[[The Wreck of the Singapore]]'' (1928) – Kelsey
* ''[[Wall Street (1929 film)|Wall Street]]'' (1929) - Roller McCray
* ''[[Wall Street (1929 film)|Wall Street]]'' (1929) – Roller McCray
* ''[[The Big Fight (1930 film)|The Big Fight]]'' (1930) - Chuck
* ''[[The Big Fight (1930 film)|The Big Fight]]'' (1930) – Chuck
* ''[[Numbered Men]]'' (1930) - 33410
* ''[[Numbered Men]]'' (1930) – 33410
* ''[[Little Caesar (film)|Little Caesar]]'' (1931) - Pete Montana
* ''[[Little Caesar (film)|Little Caesar]]'' (1931) – Pete Montana
* ''[[Gentleman's Fate]]'' (1931) - Dante
* ''[[Gentleman's Fate]]'' (1931) – Dante
* ''[[Hell Bound (1931 film)|Hell Bound]]'' (1931) - Dorgan
* ''[[Hell Bound (1931 film)|Hell Bound]]'' (1931) – Dorgan
* ''[[The Star Witness]]'' (1931) - 'Maxey' Campo
* ''[[The Star Witness]]'' (1931) – 'Maxey' Campo
* ''[[The Big Gamble (1931 film)|The Big Gamble]]'' (1931) - Webb
* ''[[The Big Gamble (1931 film)|The Big Gamble]]'' (1931) – Webb
* ''[[The Law of the Sea]]'' (1931) - Marty Drake
* ''[[The Law of the Sea]]'' (1931) – Marty Drake
* ''[[Men of Chance]]'' (1931) - Farley
* ''[[Men of Chance]]'' (1931) – Farley
* ''[[The Big Shot (1931 film)|The Big Shot]]'' (1931) - Butch (uncredited)
* ''[[The Big Shot (1931 film)|The Big Shot]]'' (1931) – Butch (uncredited)
* ''[[Girl of the Rio]]'' (1932) - O'Grady
* ''[[Girl of the Rio]]'' (1932) – O'Grady
* ''[[The Hatchet Man]]'' (1932) - 'Big Jim' Malone (uncredited)
* ''[[The Hatchet Man]]'' (1932) – 'Big Jim' Malone (uncredited)
* ''[[Law and Order (1932 film)|Law and Order]]'' (1932) - Poe Northrup
* ''[[Law and Order (1932 film)|Law and Order]]'' (1932) – Poe Northrup
* ''[[The Lost Squadron]]'' (1932) - Jettick
* ''[[The Lost Squadron]]'' (1932) – Jettick
* ''[[The County Fair (1932 film)|The County Fair]]'' (1932) - Diamond Barnett
* ''[[The County Fair (1932 film)|The County Fair]]'' (1932) – Diamond Barnett
* ''[[State's Attorney (film)|State's Attorney]]'' (1932) - Defense Attorney
* ''[[State's Attorney (film)|State's Attorney]]'' (1932) – Defense Attorney
* ''[[The Mouthpiece]]'' (1932) - J.B. Roscoe
* ''[[The Mouthpiece]]'' (1932) – J.B. Roscoe
* ''[[The Tenderfoot (film)|The Tenderfoot]]'' (1932) - Dolan
* ''[[The Tenderfoot (film)|The Tenderfoot]]'' (1932) – Dolan
* ''[[Gorilla Ship]]'' (1932) - Capt. 'Gorilla' Larsen
* ''[[Gorilla Ship]]'' (1932) – Capt. 'Gorilla' Larsen
* ''[[Guilty as Hell]]'' (1932) - Jack Reed
* ''[[Guilty as Hell]]'' (1932) – Jack Reed
* ''The Pride of the Legion'' (1932) - Klafki
* ''[[The Pride of the Legion]]'' (1932) – Klafki
* ''Malay Nights'' (1932) - Jack Sheldon
* ''[[Malay Nights]]'' (1932) – Jack Sheldon
* ''[[Men of America]]'' (1932) - Cicero
* ''[[Men of America]]'' (1932) – Cicero
* ''[[Havana Widows]]'' (1933) - G.W. 'Butch' O'Neill
* ''[[Havana Widows]]'' (1933) – G.W. 'Butch' O'Neill
* ''[[Love at Second Sight (1934 film)|Love at Second Sight]]'' (1934) - Mackintosh
* ''[[Love at Second Sight (1934 film)|Love at Second Sight]]'' (1934) – Mackintosh
* ''[[No Escape (1934 film)|No Escape]]'' (1934) - Lucky
* ''[[No Escape (1934 film)|No Escape]]'' (1934) – Lucky
* ''[[So You Won't Talk (1935 film)|So You Won't Talk]]'' (1935) - Ralph Younger
* ''[[So You Won't Talk (1935 film)|So You Won't Talk]]'' (1935) – Ralph Younger
* ''[[Rolling Home (1935 film)|Rolling Home]]'' (1935) - Wally
* ''[[Rolling Home (1935 film)|Rolling Home]]'' (1935) – Wally
* ''[[Blue Smoke (1935 film)|Blue Smoke]]'' (1935) - Al Dempson
* ''[[Blue Smoke (1935 film)|Blue Smoke]]'' (1935) – Al Dempson
* ''[[Gaol Break]]'' (1936) - Jim Oakley
* ''[[Gaol Break]]'' (1936) – Jim Oakley
* ''[[The Perfect Crime (1937 film)|The Perfect Crime]]'' (1937) - Jim Lanahan
* ''[[The Perfect Crime (1937 film)|The Perfect Crime]]'' (1937) – Jim Lanahan
{{div col end}}
{{div col end}}


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[[Category:1937 deaths]]
[[Category:1937 deaths]]
[[Category:Road incident deaths in London]]
[[Category:Road incident deaths in London]]
[[Category:American film directors]]
[[Category:Film directors from Massachusetts]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American people of English descent]]
[[Category:American people of English descent]]
Line 167: Line 187:
[[Category:American male screenwriters]]
[[Category:American male screenwriters]]
[[Category:Male actors from Boston]]
[[Category:Male actors from Boston]]
⚫
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from Massachusetts]]
⚫
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century American male writers]]
[[Category:20th-century American male writers]]
[[Category:20th-century American screenwriters]]
[[Category:20th-century American screenwriters]]
[[Category:Members of The Lambs Club]]

Latest revision as of 13:53, 25 April 2024

Ralph Ince
Ince in 1923
Born
Ralph Waldo Ince

(1887-01-16)January 16, 1887
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
DiedApril 10, 1937(1937-04-10) (aged 50)
London, England
Occupation(s)Film director, actor, screenwriter
Years active1907–1937
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1910; div. 1925)​
​
​
(m. 1926; div. 1932)​
Helen Tigges
​
​
(m. 1932)​
Children1
RelativesJohn Ince (brother)
Thomas H. Ince (brother)

Ralph Waldo Ince (January 16, 1887 – April 10, 1937) was an American pioneer film actor, director and screenwriter whose career began near the dawn of the silent film era. Ralph Ince was the brother of John E. Ince and Thomas H. Ince.

Biography

[edit]
Theatre of Science, 1914

Ralph Ince was born in Boston, Massachusetts,[1] the younger of three sons and a daughter raised by English immigrants, John and Emma Ince. Sometime after his birth Ince moved to Manhattan where his entire family was engaged in theater work; his father as a musical agent and mother, sister Bertha and brothers, John and Thomas as actors.[2] Ralph Ince studied art with cartoonist Dan McCarthy and for a while worked as a newspaper cartoonist for the New York World and later magazine illustrator for the New York Mirror and The Evening Telegram. At times over his acting and directing career Ince would continue to contribute cartoons to popular magazines of the day. Early on in his career Ince, who had done some stage acting as a child, was a member of Richard Mansfield's stock company playing parts in The College Widow and Ben Hur.[3][4]

Around 1906 Ince became an animator in the fledgling film industry working for Winsor McCay, but soon turned to acting and joined Vitagraph Studios where he became known for his portrayals of Abraham Lincoln in a series of one reel films.[3][4] Ince began directing at Vitagraph around 1910 and was officially advanced to the director's chair in 1912, though he still continued to act in many of his films and throughout his career.[5] Ince would go on to direct some 171 films between 1910 and 1937 and appear in approximately 110 films over nearly the same time period.[6]

Ince became a member of The Lambs Club in 1916, and his brother John joined in 1919.[7]

Marriage

[edit]

Ince married three times, first to Vitagraph player Lucille Lee Stewart, sister of actress Anita Stewart. Their fifteen-year marriage ended in 1925, two years after she had left him.[8] The following year he married Rosa Castro Martinez (stage name Lucille Mendez), an 18-year-old Venezuelan stage and screen actress, daughter of Venezuelan President Cipriano Castro. This union ended in 1932 after she claimed Ince damaged her career by not allowing her to accept certain job offers.[9] Ince's last wife was Helen Ruth Tigges, a native of Frazee, Minnesota. She was the mother of his only child, born just months before Ince's death at age fifty.[10]

Death

[edit]

Ralph Ince died on April 10, 1937, when a car his wife was driving struck an iron standard near their residence in the Kensington district of London, England. The force of the impact, though not great, proved fatal to Ince when his head struck the dashboard. Helen Ince suffered cuts and bruises that required hospitalization. Ince and his wife had moved to Britain shortly after they had married in 1932 to continue his film work there.[10] Ince was cremated at Golders Green.[11]

Selected filmography

[edit]
Ad for the American film Wet Gold with President Warren G. Harding, on back cover of the June 12, 1921 Film Daily

As director

[edit]

As actor

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Ralph Ince - U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 - Ancestry.com". ancestry.com.
  2. ^ 1900 US Census Records, Ancestry.com
  3. ^ a b Motion Picture Studio Directory and Trade Annual, 1921, p. 267 – Ancestry.com
  4. ^ a b Abel, Richard (August 2004). Encyclopedia of Early Cinema. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9780203482049.
  5. ^ The Motion Picture Story Magazine; August 1912, p. 132
  6. ^ Ralph Ince at IMDb
  7. ^ "The Lambs". the-lambs.org. The Lambs, Inc. (Member Roster 'I'). Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  8. ^ "Ralph Ince Seeks Divorce," Portsmouth Daily Times (Portsmouth, Ohio), April 10, 1925, p. 22
  9. ^ "Lucille Mendes Divorces Ince," Syracuse Herald, April 3, 1932, p. 14
  10. ^ a b "Ralph Ince Killed In Crash In London". The New York Times. April 12, 1937. p. 1.
  11. ^ Wilson, Scott (2016). Resting Places. McFarland. ISBN 9781476625997.
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