Fred Groves (actor)

Fred Groves (actor)
Fred Groves (8 August 1880 – 4 June 1955) was a British actor of the celebrated Groves acting family. On stage from 1896, he appeared in the original West End production of Noël Coward's Cavalcade (1931-2); and was a leading man in silent films, latterly becoming a character player in movies. He appeared in the 1925 play Number 17 in the West End.
He was a son of Charles Groves (1843-1909), a well-known Victorian and Edwardian comedic actor who made appearances on Broadway and in London's West End. He was also a nephew of the Fred Karno comedian Walter Groves (1856-1906), and a half-brother to the film and stage actor Charles Groves (1875-1955).
Among his feature film appearances was the comedy Sally In Our Alley. It marked the screen debut of Gracie Fields, an established music hall star. Gracie's husband, the screenwriter Archie Pitt was set to play the leading role of Alf Cope, but during the first week of filming, as Fields and Pitt were travelling back from shooting, their car crashed. Though Fields escaped injury, Pitt was forced to withdraw from the cast in order to recuperate. Due to his experience and availability, the role was quickly recast with Groves taking Pitt's place.
Selected filmography
Maria Marten (1913, Short) - William Corder
Popsy Wopsy (1913)
The Suicide Club (1914) - The President
The Loss of the Birkenhead (1914) - Seth
Her Luck in London (1914) - Richard Lenowen
The Idol of Paris (1914) - Philippe Castelle
Honeymoon for Three (1915) - Cornelius V. Van Dam
Gilbert Gets Tiger-It is (1915, Short) - Gilbert
Gilbert Dying to Die (1915, Short) - Gilbert
Florence Nightingale (1915) - Doctor
From Shopgirl to Duchess (1915) - Duke of St. Baynum
The World's Desire (1915) - Sir Richard Bennett
Her Nameless Child (1915) - Arthur Ford
Home (1915) - Steven Armitage
Mr. Lyndon at Liberty (1915) - Tom Morrison
Fine Feathers (1915) - Richard Dean
Charity Ann (1915) - Graham Trevor
A Will of Her Own (1915) - Dr. Blake
The Firm of Girdlestone (1915) - Ezra Girdlestone
Meg the Lady (1916) - Giles Curwen
Esther (1916, Short) - Haman
Driven (1916) - John Staffurth
The Two Roads (1916) - Reverend Basil Egerton
The Manxman (1916) - Pete Quillian - A fisherman
Mother Love (1916) - Alfie
Smith (1917) - Tom Freeman
Drink (1917) - Coupeau
The Grit of a Jew (1917) - Russell
The Labour Leader (1917) - John Webster
Castle of Dreams (1919) - John Morton
London Pride (1920) - Cuthbert Tunks
Garryowen (1920) - Michael French
Judge Not (1920) - Burke
Squibs (1921) - PC Charlie Lee
The Mayor of Casterbridge (1921) - Michael Henchard
A Master of Craft (1922) - Captain Flower
The Crimson Circle (1922) - Inspector Parr
Squibs Wins the Calcutta Sweep (1922) - P. C. Lee
Rogues of the Turf (1923) - Bill Higgins
Squibs M.P. (1923) - PC Charlie Lee
Squibs' Honeymoon (1923) - PC Charlie Lee
Memories (1925, Short) - The Husband
Suspense (1930) - Pvt. Lomax
Escape (1930) - Shopkeeper
Sally in Our Alley (1931) - Alf Cope
Out of the Blue (1931) - Bannister Blair
The World, the Flesh, the Devil (1932) - Dick Morgan
The Ghost Camera (1933) - Innkeeper
Puppets of Fate (1933) - Arthur Brandon
A Glimpse of Paradise (1934) - Joshua Ware
The Old Curiosity Shop (1934) - Showman (uncredited)
Dance Band (1935) - Pantomime Act
Beloved Imposter (1936) - Jack Harding
Royal Cavalcade (1936) - Sam Waldock
Second Bureau (1936) - Sgt. Colleret
The Squeaker (1937) - Martin (uncredited)
Vessel of Wrath (1938) - Dutch Sea Captain (uncredited)
The Viper (1938) - Inspector Bradlaw
The Challenge (1938) - Favre
Strange Boarders (1938) - (uncredited)
No Parking (1938) - Walsh
Climbing High (1938) - Doorman (uncredited)
21 Days (1940) - Barnes
An Ideal Husband (1947) - Phipps, Goring's Butler
Night Beat (1947) - PC Kendall
My Brother Jonathan (1948) - Lisha Hodgkiss
My Brother's Keeper (1948) - Landlord
Old Mother Riley's New Venture (1949) - Grigsby
Your Witness (1950) - Dart Player #6 (uncredited)
The Girl Who Couldn't Quite (1950) - Manservant
Up for the Cup (1950) - Hardcastle (final film role)
References
External links
Groves family
1880 births
1955 deaths
English male stage actors
English male film actors
English male silent film actors
Male actors from London
20th-century English male actors