Edward Fielding (March 19, 1875 – January 10, 1945) was an American stage and film actor.
Career
Edward Fielding appeared in nearly 40 Broadway productions between 1905 and 1939, often in leading roles. He played as a leading man with famous stage actresses like Olga Nethersole, Grace George, Ethel Barrymore and Laura Hope Crews. The tall and dignified-looking actor was especially known for his roles in the works of playwright Henrik Ibsen. Fielding also worked for some time as an actor in London. He appeared occasionally in silent films, most notably as Dr. Watson in Sherlock Holmes (1916) with William Gillette in the leading role.
Fielding came to Hollywood in 1939 and appeared in over 80 films during the last years of his life. He usually played bit parts or supporting roles. Fielding was a favorite of Alfred Hitchcock and played in four Hitchcock movies between 1940 and 1945. His best-known role for Hitchcock was perhaps Frith, the old butler, in Rebecca (1940). He also played supporting roles in films like Kitty Foyle (1940) with Ginger Rogers, Billy Wilder’s American film debut The Major and the Minor (1942, as Rita Johnson’s and Diana Lynn’s father) and In This Our Life (1942) starring Bette Davis and Olivia de Havilland. Fielding was usually typecasted in dignified or respectable roles as a Doctor, Official, Judge, Priest or Butler.
Death and personal life
Edward Fielding collapsed and died of a heart attack while he mowed his lawn. He was two months shy of his 70th birthday. His wife, Elizabeth Sherman Clark (1883–1959), was a Metropolitan Opera star. They had one child.
Partial filmography
Sherlock Holmes (1916) – Dr. Watson
The Runaway (1917) – Foster
Magda (1917) – Kellner
The Beautiful Adventure (1917) – Count Michael D’Eguzon
The Eternal Temptress (1917) – Prince Estezary
Seeing Things (1917)
The Invisible Man Returns (1940) – Prison Governor (uncredited)
Abe Lincoln in Illinois (1940) – Minor Role (uncredited)
Vigil in the Night (1940) – Forest – Epidemic Doctor (uncredited)
The House Across the Bay (1940) – Judge
Rebecca (1940) – Frith
All This, and Heaven Too (1940) – Dr. Louis
Maryland (1940) – Chairrnan (uncredited)
Junior G-Men (1940, Serial) – Professor Farraday [Chs. 9-10] (uncredited)
Down Argentine Way (1940) – Willis Crawford
East of the River (1940) – University President (uncredited)
South of Suez (1940) – Judge
Victory (1940) – Fetherston (uncredited)
Kitty Foyle (1940) – Uncle Edgar
So Ends Our Night (1941) – Durant
Rage in Heaven (1941) – Governor (uncredited)
I Wanted Wings (1941) – President of the Court
Scotland Yard (1941) – Pickering
In the Navy (1941) – Commander Giving Speech (uncredited)
Blondie in Society (1941) – Blondie’s Lawyer (uncredited)
Blossoms in the Dust (1941) – Judge (uncredited)
Our Wife (1941) – Dr. Mandel (uncredited)
Parachute Battalion (1941) – Chief of Infantry
Belle Starr (1941) – (uncredited)
Badlands of Dakota (1941) – Councilman (uncredited)
Hold Back the Dawn (1941) – American Consul (uncredited)
Suspicion (1941) – Antique Shop Proprietor (uncredited)
Skylark (1941) – Scholarly Man in Subway Car
Star Spangled Rhythm (1942) – Y. Frank Freemont (uncredited)
In This Our Life (1942) – Dr. Buchanan
Pacific Rendezvous (1942) – Secretary of the Navy
Ten Gentlemen from West Point (1942) – William Eustis
Beyond the Blue Horizon (1942) – Judge Chase
The Pride of the Yankees (1942) – Clinic Doctor
The Major and the Minor (1942) – Colonel Hill
Random Harvest (1942) – Prime Minister (uncredited)
Shadow of a Doubt (1943) – Doctor on Train (uncredited)
Flight for Freedom (1943) – Rear Admiral Sturges (uncredited)
Submarine Alert (1943) – Shipping Merchant (uncredited)
Flesh and Fantasy (1943) – Sir Thomas (uncredited)
It’s a Great Life (1943) – Attorney Schuster #1 (uncredited)
Mr. Lucky (1943) – Foster – Dorothy’s Butler (uncredited)
Crime Doctor (1943) – Governor (uncredited)
Pilot No. 5 (1943) – Dean Barrett (uncredited)
Good Luck, Mr. Yates (1943) – Colonel Fredericks (uncredited)
Salute to the Marines (1943) – Preacher (uncredited)
Three Smart Guys (1943, Short) – Fisherman
Government Girl (1943) – Mr. Benson (uncredited)
Higher and Higher (1943) – Minister (uncredited)
Madame Curie (1943) – Board Member (uncredited)
The Song of Bernadette (1943) – Doctor with Empress’ Baby (uncredited)
What a Woman! (1943) – Sen. Howard Ainsley
Tender Comrade (1943) – Doctor (uncredited)
Lady in the Dark (1944) – Dr. Carlton
See Here, Private Hargrove (1944) – Gen. Dillon
The Story of Dr. Wassell (1944) – Adm. Hart (uncredited)
Mr. Skeffington (1944) – Justice of the Peace (uncredited)
Marine Raiders (1944) – Commander of Camp Elliott (uncredited)
Wilson (1944) – Minor Role (uncredited)
My Pal Wolf (1944) – Secretary of War
Mrs. Parkington (1944) – Rev. Pilbridge (uncredited)
The Very Thought of You (1944) – Prof. Cathcart (uncredited)
Dead Man’s Eyes (1944) – Stanley Hayden
Belle of the Yukon (1944) – C.V. Atterbury
Ministry of Fear (1944) – Ministry Executive (uncredited)
The Man in Half Moon Street (1945) – Col. Ashley (uncredited)
Having Wonderful Crime (1945) – Dr. Newcomb (uncredited)
A Medal for Benny (1945) – Governor (uncredited)
The Beautiful Cheat (1945) – Dr. Pennypacker
Guest Wife (1945) – Arnold
Spellbound (1945) – Dr. Anthony Edwardes (uncredited)
Hold That Blonde (1945) – J.W. Kellogg (uncredited)
Saratoga Trunk (1945) – Mr. Bowers (uncredited)
Colonel Effingham’s Raid (1946) – Mr. Clyde Manadue (uncredited)
Cinderella Jones (1946) – Dean Barker (uncredited) (final film role)
External Links
Actor Edward Fielding – Wikipedia
