Lionel Belmore

Lionel Belmore (12 May 1867 – 30 January 1953) was an English character actor and director born in London, England, whose career on stage spanned more than a quarter of a century. He appeared on Broadway between 1899 and 1916, with credits including the musical The Midnight Girl, The World and His Wife, Herod, The Great Adventure, and The Merchant of Venice. During his stage career, Belmore performed alongside prominent figures of the era including Wilson Barrett, Sir Henry Irving, William Faversham, and Lily Langtry.

Belmore's career followed an unusual trajectory in that he worked as a director before establishing himself as a prolific actor. His directing work ran from 1914 to 1920, during which time his acting output remained limited. From 1920 onward he concentrated exclusively on acting. He entered films in 1911 and ultimately accumulated approximately 200 screen credits. Among his most recognized film appearances was his portrayal of the blustering Burgomaster Herr Vogel in Frankenstein (1931), and he appeared in bit parts across several other film productions during the 1930s.

Belmore came from a family with deep roots in the acting profession. His siblings included actress Daisy Belmore, known also as Mrs. Samuel Waxman, and actors Herbert Belmore and Paul Belmore. His sister-in-law was actress Bertha Belmore. He was married to stage actress Emmeline Florence Carder, and the couple had two daughters, one of whom, Violet, pursued an acting career. Belmore is interred at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in North Hollywood.