Nepotism certainly has had its advantages in Hollywood, none more so than in the film career of Jack Pickford, whose famous older sis, "America's Sweetheart" 'Mary Pickford' and minor actress Mary Mulhern--would also end disastrously. All three wives were Ziegfeld girls at one time. By the late 1920s Jack was completely undependable and, with the advent of sound, his career ground to a screeching halt, despite ever-faithful Mary's continued attempts to rescue it. Jack's health deteriorated considerably after this letdown, with frequent bouts of syphilis adding to the complications of his long term substance abuse. He died young at 36. The cause was listed as "progressive multiple neuritis", but it was almost certainly precipitated by his chronic alcoholism-- a tragic and seemingly unnecessary end for a boy who chose to tarnish the silver platter readily handed to him.
Brother of actresses Mary Pickford and Lottie Pickford.
While in the U.S. Navy Reserve in 1918, he was involved in a scandal that almost got him court-martialed. Along with other officers and enlisted men, he was accused of soliciting and accepting bribes from wealthy enlisted draftees who wanted light shore duty. The servicemen originally assigned to do the light shore duty were then assigned to shipboard duty and sent into combat. Jacks mother, Charlotte Smith , had a secret meeting with President Woodrow Wilson s personal secretary, Joseph Tumulty. Tumulty wrote a letter to Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels requesting that Jack be discharged so he could make a movie designed to increase interest in the Army Air Corps. Daniels granted Jack a general discharge before the court-martial began (Charlotte had sought an honorable discharge). The others involved in the scandal were court-martialed, sentenced to up to three years in the brig and dishonorably discharged. Tumulty later claimed no knowledge of the graft charges or Jacks impending court-martial.
Brother-in-law of Owen Moore.
Brother-in-law of Douglas Fairbanks.
Last of 3 children.
Brother-in-law of Allan Forrest.
Named after his father.
Son of actress Charlotte Smith.
Given co-director credit for a couple of sister Mary Pickford s films: Little Lord Fauntleroy (1921) and Through the Back Door (1921) .
All 3 of his wives, Olive Thomas, Marilyn Miller, and Mary Mulhern, were Ziegfeld Follies girls.
In 2000 a documentary was made on Jacks life by Elaina Archer, then the librarian for the Mary Pickford Institute. Titled "In Marys Shadow: The Jack Pickford Story" it has yet to be released on DVD, but was released on VHS.
Was favored and spoiled by his sister Mary Pickford, though he was very close with his sister Lottie Pickford.
The actor/director team of Jack Pickford and William Desmond Taylor were considered one of Paramounts best and they collaborated on seven films.
When thirteen-year old Jack arrived on the same train to California acting as his sisters chaperon, he threw such a tantrum about going back that D.W. Griffith agreed to accept him also and pay him $15 a week.
