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George O'Brien

Acting

Born April 18, 1899 · San Francisco, California, USA

Died September 4, 1985

Biography

George O'Brien (April 19, 1899 – September 4, 1985) was an American actor, popular during the silent film era and into the talkie era of the 1930s, best known today as the lead actor in F. W. Murnau's 1927 film Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans. He also starred in East Side, West Side (1927), The Johnstown Floor (1926), and John Ford's The Iron Horse (1924). The day before his seventh birthday the Great Earthquake of 1906 hit San Francisco. He and his family nearly died and were homeless for months. He served in World War I and World War II.

Awards & recognition

  • star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Filmography24 titles

Thunder Mountain

1935as Kal Emerson

Park Avenue Logger

1937as Grant Curran

Sunrise

1927as The Man (Anses)

The Border Patrolman

1936as Bob Wallace

Fort Apache

1948as Capt. Sam Collingwood

The Cowboy Millionaire

1935as Bob Walker

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon

1949as Maj. Mac Allshard

3 Bad Men

1926as Dan O'Malley

The Sea Hawk

1924as Galley Slave (uncredited)

Cheyenne Autumn

1964as Major Braden

The Iron Horse

1924as Davy Brandon

The Only Girl in the Orchestra

2023as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

Gold Raiders

1951as George O'Brien

Noah's Ark

1928as Travis / Japheth

The Renegade Ranger

1938as Captain Jack Steele

The Dude Ranger

1934as Ernest 'Dude' Selby

Salute

1929as Cadet John Randall

December 7th

1943as Single Voice of the Dead Servicemen (voice)

Rough Romance

1930as Billy West

Windjammer

1937as Bruce Lane

Hollywood Cowboy

1937as Jeffery Carson

When a Man's a Man

1935as Larry Knight

Seas Beneath

1931as Cmdr. Robert 'Bob' Kingsley

Daniel Boone

1936as Daniel Boone