Tod Browning

Charles Albert Browning, Jr. (July 12, 1880 - October 5, 1962), better known as Tod Browning, was an American film actor and director whose career spanned the silent and talkie eras. Best known as the director of Dracula (1931) with Bela Lugosi and the cult classic Freaks (1932), he directed many movies in a wide range of genres.

Beginnings of a film career

Later, while Browning was working as director of a variety theater in New York, he met D. W. Griffith. He began acting along with Murray on single-reel nickelodeon comedies for Griffith and the Biograph company.

Related Topics:
New York - D. W. Griffith - Nickelodeon

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In 1913 Griffith split from Biograph and moved to California. Browning followed and continued to act in Griffith's films, now for Reliance-Majestic Studios, including a stint as an extra in the epic Intolerance. Around that time he began directing, eventually directing 11 short films for Reliance-Majestic.

Related Topics:
1913 - California - Intolerance

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In June of 1915, he crashed his car at full speed into a moving train. His passengers were actor Elmer Booth and George A. Seigmann. Booth was killed instantly, while Seigmann and Browning suffered serious injuries, including in Browning's case a shattered right leg. During his convalescence, Browning wrote scripts, and did not return to active film work until 1917.

Related Topics:
June - 1915 - Elmer Booth - George A. Seigmann - 1917

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