Biography
Gene Lockhart was a Canadian-American character actor, singer and playwright. Born Edwin Eugene Lockhart in London, Ontario, on 18 July 1891, he made his professional debut at the age of six with the Kilties Band of Canada and later appeared in sketches with Beatrice Lillie. He worked in vaudeville and on Broadway before entering films.
Lockhart appeared in more than 300 motion pictures, often in supporting roles. He played Sheriff Peter B. Hartwell in His Girl Friday (1940), Bob Cratchit in A Christmas Carol (1938), Judge Harper in Miracle on 34th Street (1947) and the title role's treacherous informant in Algiers (1938), for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He became a United States citizen in 1939.
On stage he originated the role of Uncle Sid in Eugene O'Neill's Ah, Wilderness! (1933) and later played Willy Loman in the Broadway production of Death of a Salesman. He was married to actress Kathleen Lockhart from 1924 until his death; their daughter June Lockhart also became an actress. Lockhart died in Santa Monica, California, on 31 March 1957.
