Murdock MacQuarrie (August 25, 1878[citation needed] – August 20, 1942) was an American silent film actor and director. His name was also seen as Murdock McQuarrie.[1]

Murdock MacQuarrie
Who's Who in the Film World, 1914
Born(1878-08-25)August 25, 1878
DiedAugust 20, 1942(1942-08-20) (aged 63)
OccupationActor
Years active1912–1942
RelativesAlbert MacQuarrie (brother)
Frank MacQuarrie (brother)
George MacQuarrie (brother)

MacQuarrie was born in San Francisco, California, and attended school there.[2] He was the brother of actors Albert MacQuarrie, Frank MacQuarrie, and George MacQuarrie.[citation needed]

After acting on stage, MacQuarrie began acting in films in 1902 with Biograph.[2] Around 1912-1913, he was acting for the Kinemacolor Company of America.[3] His film work included The Count of Monte Cristo (1913), before becoming a director at Universal. He is perhaps best-remembered by modern audiences as J. Widdecombe Billows, the eccentric inventor of the eating machine, in Charlie Chaplin's Modern Times (1936).

In the 1910s, MacQuarrie directed at Universal, and in the early 1920s he returned to acting.[4]

He diversified his activities in 1919, joining his wife in her real-estate business in Hollywood.[1]

On August 20, 1942, MacQuarrie died in Los Angeles, California, aged 63.[2]

Filmography

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Actor

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1910s

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  • The Hand of Mystery (1912, Short)
  • The Ways of Fate (1913, Short)
  • The Scarlet Letter (1913, Short) .... Roger Chillingworth
  • Mission Bells (1913, Short)
  • Mother (1913, Short)
  • The Trap (1913, Short) .... Chance
  • The Echo of a Song (1913, Short) .... A modern fagin
  • Criminals (1913, Short) .... Richard Wainwright / John Dick
  • The Thumb Print (1913, Short) .... The Cook (credited as Malcolm J. MacQuarrie)
  • When Death United (1913, Short) .... (credited as Malcolm MacQuarrie)
  • The Count of Monte Cristo (1913) .... Danglars
  • The Boob's Dream Girl (1913, Short) .... Count Alberti (credited as Malcolm MacQuarrie)
  • Red Margaret, Moonshiner (1913, Short) .... Government Agent
  • Bloodhounds of the North (1913, Short) .... Mountie
  • The Lie (1914, Short) .... Auld MacGregor
  • The Honor of the Mounted (1914, Short) .... Mountie
  • Remember Mary Magdalen (1914, Short) .... The Minister
  • Discord and Harmony (1914, Short) .... The Composer
  • The Menace to Carlotta (1914, Short) .... Tony's Father
  • The Embezzler (1914, Short) .... John Spencer
  • The Lamb, the Woman, the Wolf (1914, Short) .... The Lamb
  • The End of the Feud (1914, Short) .... Hen Dawson
  • The Tragedy of Whispering Creek (1914, Short) .... The Stranger
  • The Unlawful Trade (1914, Short) .... The Revenue Man
  • Heart Strings (1914, Short)
  • The Forbidden Room (1914, Short) .... Dr. Gibson
  • The Old Cobbler (1914, Short) .... The Cobbler
  • The Hopes of Blind Alley (1914, Short) .... Jean Basse
  • A Ranch Romance (1914, Short) .... Jack Deering
  • Her Grave Mistake (1914, Short) .... Roger Grant
  • By the Sun's Rays (1914, Short) .... John Murdock
  • The Oubliette (1914, Short) .... François Villon
  • A Miner's Romance (1914, Short) .... Bob Jenkins
  • The Higher Law (1914, Short) .... François Villon
  • Be Neutral (1914, Short)
  • Richelieu (1914) .... Cardinal Richelieu
  • The Old Bell-Ringer (1914, Short) .... Thomas Drake - the Old Organist
  • Monsieur Bluebeard (1914, Short) .... François Villon
  • The Nihilists (1914, Short) .... Thomas Madison - Prosecuting Attorney
  • The Wall of Flame (1914, Short) .... Old Fenton - the Father
  • The Star Gazer (1914, Short) .... The Old Astronomer
  • Two Thieves (1914, Short) .... The Burglar
  • Ninety Black Boxes (1914, Short) .... François Villon
  • As We Journey Through Life (1914, Short) .... Old Uncle Eli
  • The Foundlings of Father Time (1914, Short) .... Daddy Ross - the Aged Husband
  • The Widow's Last (1914, Short) .... The Old Shoemaker
  • The Christmas Spirit (1914, Short) .... Harry the Hobo
  • For I Have Toiled (1914, Short) .... Hiram Marshall
  • When It's One of Your Own (1914, Short) .... Heinrich Gerhardt
  • His Last Performance (1915, Short) .... Old Doc Jackson
  • The Clutch of the Emperor (1915, Short)
  • The Useless One (1915, Short)
  • A Small Town Girl (1915, Short) .... The Snob's Father
  • The Dear Old Hypocrite (1915, Short) .... Wealthy Uncle George
  • Alias Mr. Smith (1915, Short) .... Frank Wilson alias Mr. Smith
  • Seven and Seventy (1915, Short) .... Captain John Brent
  • Dad (1915, Short) .... Dad
  • An Example (1915, Short) .... Ex-Sheriff Joseph Bohn
  • The Prayer of a Horse or: His Life Story Told by Himself (1915, Short) .... Tom Collins
  • Wheels Within Wheels (1915, Short) .... Von Ludwig
  • The Truth About Dan Deering (1915, Short) .... Dan Deering
  • At His Own Terms (1915, Short) .... John Marsh - Backwoodsman
  • Number 239 (1915, Short) .... John Anders
  • The Cameo Ring (1915, Short) .... John Brown
  • Putting One Over (1915, Short) .... Bad Louis
  • The Old Tutor (1915, Short) .... The Old Tutor
  • The Troubadour (1915, Short) .... Joe Trinidad - the Troubadour
  • The Fear Within (1915, Short) .... Brother Gregoire
  • The Faith of Her Fathers (1915, Short) .... Rabbi Tamor
  • The Stronger Mind (1915, Short) .... A Crook
  • Where Brains Are Needed (1915, Short) .... Old Tom Sharpleigh - the Detective
  • The Old Doctor (1915, Short) .... Old Doctor Jones
  • The Swinging Doors (1915, Short) .... Jean Dumont
  • In His Mind's Eye (1915, Short) .... Peter von Helm - Blind Beggar
  • The Tinker of Stubbenville (1915, Short) .... Will Harvey - the Tinkerof Stubbinville
  • The Old Grouch (1915, Short) .... John Agnew
  • The Closing Chapter (1915, Short) .... Hamilton Walker - the Grandfather
  • Mein Friendt Schneider (1915, Short) .... David Hoffman - the Pawnbroker (as Murdock McQuarrie)
  • His Beloved Violin (1915, Short) .... Von Wagner
  • Ethel's Burglar (1915, Short) .... Norton - the Burglar
  • The Mystery of the Tapestry Room (1915, Short) .... Tom Sharpleigh - Detective
  • The Tam o' Shanter (1915, Short) .... Tam O' Shanter
  • The Finest Gold (1915, Short) .... Scrooge McQuoil
  • The Sheriff of Red Rock Gulch (1915, Short) .... Bill Borden
  • The $50,000 Jewel Theft (1915, Short) .... Detective Tom Sparks (as M.J. MacQuarrie)
  • The Flag of Fortune (1915, Short) .... Grandpa
  • The Trap That Failed (1915, Short) .... Frank Harwood
  • The Sacrifice of Jonathan Gray (1915, Short) .... Jonathan Gray
  • Colonel Steel, Master Gambler (1915, Short) .... Colonel Steele
  • Babbling Tongues (1915, Short) .... Martin Lowe
  • X-3 (1916, Short) .... Henshaw
  • The Fatal Introduction (1916, Short) .... Jim Claverling
  • On Dangerous Ground (1916, Short) .... Louis Goldenberg
  • The Stain in the Blood (1916) .... Bill Jenkins (as Murdock J. MacQuarrie)
  • Nancy's Birthright (1916) .... John Martingale
  • The Narrow Creed (1916, Short) .... Dr. Hendricks
  • Life's Maelstrom (1916, Short) .... John Barclay
  • Accusing Evidence (1916, Short)
  • Panthea (1917) .... Police Agent
  • John Bates' Secret (1917, Short) .... John Bates, a.k.a. Edward Stevenson
  • John Osborne's Triumph (1917, Short) .... John Osborne
  • Fear Not (1917) .... Allen Mornington
  • The Kingdom of Love (1917) .... Buck, Dance Hall Owner
  • Loyalty (1917) .... Randell
  • Humility (1918) .... Stuart Hamilton
  • Her Moment (1918) .... Mr. Johnson (credited as Murdock McQuarrie)
  • Riders of the Purple Sage (1918) .... Tull
  • Gambling in Souls (1919) .... Thomas Philborn
  • When a Woman Strikes (1919)
  • Jacques of the Silver North (1919) .... Jim Blake
  • The Little Diplomat (1919) .... Raymond Brownleigh

1920s

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1930s

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1940s

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Director

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  • The Old Cobbler (1914)
  • The Old Bell-Ringer (1914)
  • The Nihilists (1914)
  • The Wall of Flame (1914)
  • The Star Gazer (1914)
  • Two Thieves (1914)
  • As We Journey Through Life (1914)
  • The Christmas Spirit (1914)
  • For I Have Toiled (1914)
  • When It's One of Your Own (1914)
  • His Last Performance (1915)
  • The Clutch of the Emperor (1915)
  • The Useless One (1915)
  • The Dear Old Hypocrite (1915)
  • Alias Mr. Smith (1915)
  • Seven and Seventy (1915)
  • The Prayer of a Horse or: His Life Story Told by Himself (1915)
  • Wheels Within Wheels (1915)
  • The Truth About Dan Deering (1915)
  • The Old Tutor (1915)
  • The Troubadour (1915)
  • Where Brains Are Needed (1915)
  • The Old Doctor (1915)
  • The Swinging Doors (1915)
  • The Tinker of Stubbenville (1915)
  • The Old Grouch (1915)
  • The Closing Chapter (1915)
  • Mein Friendt Schneider (1915) (credited as Murdock McQuarrie)
  • His Beloved Violin (1915)
  • Ethel's Burglar (1915)
  • The Mystery of the Tapestry Room (1915)
  • The Finest Gold (1915)
  • The Tam o' Shanter (1915)
  • The Sheriff of Red Rock Gulch (1915)
  • The $50,000 Jewel Theft (1915)
  • The Flag of Fortune (1915)
  • The Trap That Failed (1915)
  • The Sacrifice of Jonathan Gray (1915)
  • Colonel Steel, Master Gambler (1915)
  • Babbling Tongues (1915)
  • In the Web of the Grafters (1916)
  • The Fatal Introduction (1916)
  • On Dangerous Ground (1916)
  • The Stain in the Blood (1916)
  • Nancy's Birthright (1916)
  • The Sign of the Spade (1916)
  • Sandy, Reformer (1916) (completed film)
  • El Diablo (1916)
  • The Gambler's Lost Love (1916)
  • John Osborne's Triumph (1917)
  • Thunderbolt Jack (1920)
  • The Unfoldment (1922)

Writer

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  • The Hopes of Blind Alley (1914) (story)
  • Ethel's Burglar (1915) (scenario)
  • The $50,000 Jewel Theft (1915)
  • Life's Maelstrom (1916) (scenario)

References

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  1. ^ a b "Murdock McQuarrie Enters Business". Holly Leaves. 12 July 1919. p. 9. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Katchmer, George A. (20 May 2015). A Biographical Dictionary of Silent Film Western Actors and Actresses. McFarland. p. 227. ISBN 978-1-4766-0905-8. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  3. ^ Slide, Anthony (2014). The New Historical Dictionary of the American Film Industry. Taylor & Francis. pp. 109–110. ISBN 9781135925611.
  4. ^ "Murdock MacQuarrie". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 10 July 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
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