Charles Eldridge

Charles Eldridge (September 25, 1854 – October 29, 1922) was an American actor whose career spanned both stage and screen during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. He began performing on the stage in the 1870s and went on to accumulate credits across more than 150 films, the majority of which were short subjects.

Eldridge's Broadway career included Charles Frohman's 1899 production of Because She Loved Him So, marking his verified appearance on the New York stage. His transition to film came in 1910, when he made his screen debut in the short The Legacy, in which he starred. His first feature film appearance followed in The Strange Story of Sylvia Gray, and between 1914 and 1922 he appeared in 27 feature-length productions. While supporting roles were his most common assignment in features, he received lead parts on several occasions, including 1917's Polly of the Circus, 1920's Broken Hearts, and 1922's Ashamed of Parents.

Polly of the Circus carried particular historical significance as the first film released by Goldwyn Pictures. The production was shot primarily in Fort Lee, New Jersey, using rented space at studios owned by Universal. Eldridge's final screen appearance came in a supporting capacity in No Trespassing, released on June 11, 1922, which starred Irene Castle of the celebrated dancing duo Vernon and Irene Castle.

Eldridge died on October 29, 1922, in New York City, shortly after No Trespassing's release. He had been married to actress Addie Dunant for 32 years prior to her death in 1914.