A man so disagreeable on celluloid, Claude Gillingwater's characters seemed to subsist on a steady diet of persimmons. Fondly recalled as the cranky old skinflint whose seemingly cold heart could only be warmed by the actions of a cute little tyke, the tall and rangy Gillingwater invariably played much older than he was. He, with the omnipresent bushy brows, crop of silver hair and perpetually sour puss, had a much more versatile career than perhaps realized -- on both stage and in film. Most assuredly, this caustic screen image he perfected belied a softer, gentler off-screen demeanor for he was a kind and sympathetic gent and devoted husband to wife Carlyn Stiletz damaged his health and threatened his career, and the death of his long-time wife Carlyn left him irrevocably depressed. Fearing the possibility of becoming an invalid and wishing not to become a serious burden to anyone, the 69-year-old actor committed suicide at his Beverly Hills home with a self-inflicted gunshot to the head on November 1, 1939. Gillingwater left a fine Hollywood legacy and the fun of some of his old films is watching his vinegar turn to sugar.
Perhaps remembered as Jarvis Lorry in A Tale of Two Cities (1935).
Was injured in an accident at Paramount Studios in February 1936 and never fully recovered. His suicide note stated that he was worried about his failing health, and possibly becoming an invalid. He did not want to become a burden to anyone, so he chose to take his own life.
Performed on Broadway from 1899-1919.
Father of Claude Gillingwater Jr..
Was a vinegar salesman.
I am quite sure, from observation, that people are getting tired of sex,stuff, the triangle and all the rest of the cut-and-dried screen,formulas, and the development of the character role into a bigger and,bigger feature seems to me logical. .
