Bertram Marburgh

Bertram Marburgh

Actor

Active: 1922-1922

About Bertram Marburgh

Bertram Marburgh was an American actor who appeared during the silent film era of the early 1920s. His known filmography consists of a single appearance in the 1922 silent drama 'Timothy's Quest,' directed by Sidney Olcott for Famous Players-Lasky Corporation. The film was an adaptation of Kate Douglas Wiggin's novel and featured child actors in prominent roles. Marburgh's career appears to have been extremely brief, with no other documented film credits beyond this 1922 production. Like many actors of the silent era, particularly those with limited film appearances, detailed records of his life and career are scarce. His single film credit suggests he may have been primarily a stage actor who ventured briefly into cinema, or perhaps a background actor who received minimal documentation. The lack of additional records about his career is not unusual for actors of this period who appeared in only one or two films before disappearing from the historical record.

The Craft

Milestones

  • Appeared in the silent film Timothy's Quest (1922)

Best Known For

Must-See Films

  • Timothy's Quest (1922)

Working Relationships

Worked Often With

  • Sidney Olcott

Studios

  • Famous Players-Lasky Corporation

Why They Matter

Impact on Culture

Bertram Marburgh's impact on cinema history is minimal due to his extremely brief film career, consisting of only one known appearance in a silent film from 1922. Like many actors from the early silent era who appeared in only one or two productions, he represents the vast number of performers who contributed to early cinema but whose names have been largely lost to history. His single appearance in 'Timothy's Quest' places him as part of the foundation of American cinema during its formative years, when the film industry was still establishing itself and many actors worked anonymously or with minimal documentation.

Lasting Legacy

Bertram Marburgh's legacy is that of a typical early cinema performer whose brief appearance represents the thousands of actors who populated silent films but left little trace in historical records. His single film credit in 'Timothy's Quest' (1922) serves as a reminder of the transient nature of early Hollywood careers and the difficulty of documenting all participants in cinema's pioneering years. While he may not have achieved lasting fame, his contribution, however small, was part of the broader tapestry of American silent cinema that laid the groundwork for the film industry that would follow.

Who They Inspired

Given his extremely limited filmography consisting of only one known appearance, Bertram Marburgh had no documented influence on other actors or directors. His brief career predates the era when actors could significantly influence the industry through multiple performances or public personas. Like many one-film actors of the silent era, his influence extends only to his participation in a single production that has itself become somewhat obscure over time.

Off Screen

Very little information is available about Bertram Marburgh's personal life, which is not uncommon for actors who had such brief careers in the silent era. The lack of documented personal details suggests he may have been a minor character actor or someone who only briefly dabbled in film before pursuing other career paths.

Did You Know?

  • Bertram Marburgh's entire known film career consists of just one film from 1922
  • His only film appearance was in 'Timothy's Quest,' directed by Sidney Olcott
  • The film was produced by Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, which later became Paramount Pictures
  • 'Timothy's Quest' was based on a novel by Kate Douglas Wiggin, who also wrote 'Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm'
  • Like many silent era actors with brief careers, no photographs of Marburgh are widely available
  • His single film credit makes him part of the large group of early cinema performers who are now largely forgotten
  • The lack of additional records about him is typical of character actors and minor performers from this period
  • His career spanned only during the transition period when films were evolving from shorts to feature-length productions

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Bertram Marburgh?

Bertram Marburgh was an American actor from the silent film era who appeared in only one known film, 'Timothy's Quest' in 1922. His career was extremely brief, lasting just that single year, and he represents one of the many obscure performers from early cinema whose lives and careers remain largely undocumented.

What films is Bertram Marburgh best known for?

Bertram Marburgh is known for only one film: 'Timothy's Quest' (1922), a silent drama directed by Sidney Olcott and produced by Famous Players-Lasky Corporation. This appears to be his sole film credit, making him a one-film actor from the silent era.

When was Bertram Marburgh born and when did he die?

Unfortunately, Bertram Marburgh's birth and death dates are not documented in available historical records. This lack of biographical information is common for actors from the silent era who had very brief careers and minimal public recognition.

What awards did Bertram Marburgh win?

Bertram Marburgh did not receive any known awards or recognition during his brief film career. The Academy Awards were not established until 1929, several years after his single film appearance, and there are no records of him receiving other industry honors during his time.

What was Bertram Marburgh's acting style?

Due to the lack of surviving films or detailed reviews of his performance in 'Timothy's Quest,' Bertram Marburgh's acting style cannot be determined from available sources. Like many minor actors from the silent era, his performance characteristics and techniques remain undocumented.

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Films

1 film