Harry McCoy

Harry McCoy (December 10, 1893 – September 1, 1937) was an American actor, screenwriter, and Broadway performer born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the eldest child of George Washington McCoy and Alberta Keel. His family relocated to California in 1910, and he had one sibling, a sister named Alberta.

McCoy's earliest work in entertainment came through vaudeville, where he performed as a pianist and singer. He transitioned into film in 1912 when he joined Universal's Joker Comedy brand, and the following year he partnered with Max Asher to create the comedy duo Mike and Jake for the same label. Also in 1913, he worked simultaneously at Universal and Keystone, becoming one of the original Keystone Cops. At Triangle Keystone, he took on a directorial role, helming 15 films. He remained with the post-Sennett Keystone organization until August 1917, at which point he made a brief return to vaudeville through the Pantages circuit.

In 1920, McCoy appeared opposite Sid Smith as one of CBC/Federated's "Hall-room Boys" before being replaced by Jimmie Adams. From 1924 to 1925, he appeared in the Stern Bros. Century Comedies distributed by Universal, after which he shifted toward writing, becoming a screenwriter for Mack Sennett. A legal dispute arose in 1930 when McCoy sued Sennett over music he had composed, though the matter was apparently resolved before reaching court. Over the course of his screen career, he appeared in more than 150 films between 1912 and 1935.

In 1927, McCoy brought his talents to Broadway, appearing in the play The Racket. That same year also marked a significant personal milestone, as he married Mercedes Williams following his divorce from his first wife, Frances Josephine Anton, whom he had wed in 1923.

In the mid-1930s, McCoy performed as a pianist at Frank Kerwin's Merry-Go-Round nightclub. He joined the Disney studio in the final months of his life. McCoy died on September 1, 1937, in Hollywood, California, from a heart attack.