Born in London, England, in 1853, prolific actor/director (300+
credits) Tom Ricketts is mostly forgotten today, but his chief claim to
fame is that he directed the first motion picture shot in Hollywood.
Ricketts began his show-business career as an actor on the London
stage, and gained a reputation as one of the best Shakespearean actors
of his day. Ricketts never seemed to rest, working up until a few days
before his death in 1939. He left for work one day with a bad cold,
which quickly developed into pneumonia. His health went downhill
rapidly and he died only a few days later. His wife, the actress
Josephine Ditt (aka Josephine
Ditt), was not notified of his death at the time; she was still
suffering from the effects of a stroke that she had in December of
1938.
Secret Marriage(1919)
The Crime of the Hour(1918)
The Single Code(1917)
Life's Blind Alley(1916)
Lillo of the Sulu Seas(1916)
The Broken Cross(1916)
The Gamble(1916)
Son of Frankenstein(1939)as Burgher
Zaza(1938)as Elderly Gentleman
The Cowboy and the Lady(1938)as Old Man Sitting next to Mary at the Banquet Table
The Young in Heart(1938)as Andrew
Service de Luxe(1938)as Small Towner
The Big Parade of Comedy(1964)as Butler in 'After the Thin Man'
