People active in the silent era and people who keep the silent era alive. Copyright © 1999-2024 by Carl Bennett and the Silent Era Company. All Rights Reserved.

Photograph: Silent Era image collection.

Chester Conklin

Born 11 January 1886 in Oskaloosa, Iowa, USA, as Chester Cooper Conklin.
Died 11 October 1971 in Van Nuys, California, USA.

Married Minnie V. Goodwin, 1913; divorced 1933.
Married Margherita Rouse, 5 May 1934; until Margherita’s death, 14 May 1937.
Married Valda C. Genessee, 1949.
Married Catherine June Ayres Gunther, 23 June 1965; until Chester’s death, 11 October 1971.

Chester Conklin began his career as a vaudeville comedian, and while he began film work in 1913 for Majestic, he soon found his long-term home at The Keystone Film Company. Chiefly remembered for his short comedy work there — where he elaborated on his screen persona, Walrus — Conklin also appeared in a number of well-known feature films, including Anna Christie (1923), Greed (1924), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1927), The Virginian (1929), Modern Times (1936), The Great Dictator (1940) and The Palm Beach Story (1942).

Chester Conklin appeared in his last film in 1966.

References: Website-IMDb.