Volume III: Biographies

SHERWOOD, William ("Billy") *

Actor (1914)

Thanhouser Career Synopsis: William Sherwood appeared in Thanhouser films in 1914.

Biographical Notes: William ("Billy") Sherwood was born in New Orleans and educated at Tulane University. He followed a stage career and was seen in stock productions in his native city. Later, he went into films and by 1918 had worked in mainly juvenile roles with George Kleine, Kalem, Edison, Pathé (Who's Guilty?), Thanhouser, Famous Players, Metro (The Spell of the Yukon, The Ventures of Marguerite, The Lost Bridegroom, The New South, Broken Chains, and other pictures), World (The Beloved Adventuress, The Jury of Fate), Master Dramatic (Who's Your Neighbor?), and Victory Film (The Triumph of Venus). William Sherwood worked for Thanhouser in 1914 and was listed in film credits as W. Sherwood.

The 1916 edition of the Motion Picture News Studio Directory noted that at the time he worked with Peerless-World, was 5'11" tall, weighed 165 pounds, and had wavy light brown hair and dark eyes. William Sherwood lived at 318 West 57th Street, New York City and was one of the very few players whose home telephone number, in this instance Columbus-7920, appeared in the 1916 directory. The actor's pastimes included wrestling and general athletics. The 1918 edition of the same directory dropped the nickname "Billy" from his description, noted that he was still with Peerless-World, and that in addition to being an actor he was also an assistant director.

Billy Sherwood died of injuries in a fall in Washington, D.C., on May 24, 1918. The Billboard, June 1, 1918, reported that Sherwood, who had enlisted in the army, was frolicking with several companions and fell to his death from a railing three stories above the ground. Further: "The young man's body was shipped to his mother at New Orleans on last Sunday. Billy, as he was affectionately known, was about 22 years old. He was connected with the World and later with the Vitagraph. Just before entering the army he was engaged in making pictures for the government, to be shown in army camps."

Thanhouser Filmography:

1914: When the Wheels of Justice Clogged (5-31-1914), The Chasm (11-13-1914)

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