Wilfred Lytell

Wilfred Lytell was an American actor born in New York City on October 16, 1891, whose career spanned both stage and screen across several decades. A native New Yorker, he built a professional profile that encompassed Broadway appearances between 1922 and 1930 as well as work in approximately 35 films produced between 1915 and 1952.

On Broadway, Lytell appeared in a number of productions during the 1920s, including Spook House, Seven Sisters, Peter Weston, and The Goldfish. His stage career ran concurrently with his film work, reflecting an active presence across both mediums during that period.

Among the notable events of his film career was an incident on November 29, 1923, during production of The Warrens of Virginia in San Antonio, Texas. A tossed match ignited the Civil War-era costume of actress Martha Mansfield, who had finished her scenes and returned to a car when her clothing caught fire. Lytell, serving as the leading actor on the production, threw his heavy overcoat over Mansfield in an attempt to smother the flames. Her chauffeur also sustained severe burns to his hands while trying to remove her burning clothing. Despite these efforts, Mansfield had suffered extensive burns and died from her injuries the following day.

Lytell was the brother of actor Bert Lytell. Wilfred died on September 10, 1954, in Salem, New York, at the age of 62. Bert Lytell died eighteen days later, on September 28, 1954.