Erville Alderson was an American actor who is best known for his roles in Sergeant York, The Grapes of Wrath, and Santa Fe Trail.
Personal and Family Life
Born on September 11, 1882, in Kansas City, Missouri, Erville was a prominent character actor in Hollywood. He married Lillian Worth on January 14, 1918, and the couple remained together until her passing in 1952. Throughout his life, he was dedicated to his craft and involved actively in the film industry.
Career Highlights
Erville began his film career in 1918, appearing in Her Man. He worked with notable film director D.W. Griffith on several films during the silent era, including America and Isn’t Life Wonderful. As the film industry transitioned to sound, he frequently played older roles, often uncredited, but made notable performances as Nate Tomkins in Sergeant York and as various characters across many genres.
Death and Legacy
Erville Alderson passed away on August 4, 1957, in Glendale, California, at the age of 74. He is buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, where his contributions to film continue to be remembered. His work from the silent film era through the 1950s reflects a long and varied career in entertainment.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe Trail | 1940-12-20 | Jefferson Davis |
| The Scarlet Empress | 1934-05-09 | Chancelor Alexei Bestuchef |
| Objective, Burma! | 1945-02-17 | Gen. Joseph W. Stilwell |
| Abe Lincoln in Illinois | 1940-02-22 | Stonewall Jackson (uncredited) |
| Sergeant York | 1941-09-27 | Nate Tomkins |
| The Bishop’s Wife | 1947-12-25 | Stevens |
| Haunted Gold | 1932-12-17 | Tom Benedict |
| The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn | 1939-02-10 | Sheriff at Jail (uncredited) |
| The Actress | 1953-09-25 | Mike McGrath (uncredited) |
| America | 1924-02-21 | Justice Montague |
| The Monroe Doctrine | 1939-10-14 | William Seward |
| Incendiary Blonde | 1945-07-25 | Ranch Owner (uncredited) |
| When the Daltons Rode | 1940-08-23 | District Attorney Wade |
| An American Romance | 1944-04-16 | Olson – Detroit Auto Works Technician (uncredited) |
| Pursuit | 1935-08-09 | Cop |
| Isn’t Life Wonderful | 1924-12-05 | The Professor |
| Seven Keys to Baldpate | 1935-12-13 | Police Chief Roberts |