Richard Dix was an American actor who is best known for Cimarron, The Whistler, and The Great Jasper. He was a major leading man at RKO Radio Pictures during his career from 1929 to 1943.
Personal and Family Life
Born Ernest Carlton Brimmer on July 18, 1893, in St. Paul, Minnesota, Richard Dix originally pursued a career in surgery before discovering his passion for acting. He married Winifred Coe in 1931 and they had one daughter, but they divorced in 1933. Dix later married Virginia Webster in 1934, and they had twin sons, Richard Jr. and Robert, as well as an adopted daughter named Sara Sue.
Career Highlights
Dix started in a local stock company before moving to New York for similar opportunities. He eventually found success in Los Angeles, becoming the leading man for the Morosco Stock Company, which led to a contract with Paramount Pictures. Known for his rugged good looks and deep voice, he starred in many genres, including westerns and mysteries, earning an Academy Award nomination for his role in Cimarron (1931).
Death and Legacy
Richard Dix passed away from a heart attack on September 20, 1949, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 56. His legacy lives on through his influential roles in early Hollywood, and he is remembered as one of the first male actors to receive an Oscar nomination for a Best Picture-winning film. He is buried in the Whispering Pines section of Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| American Empire | 1942-12-11 | Dan Taylor |
| The Ten Commandments | 1923-11-23 | John McTavish |
| The Thirteenth Hour | 1947-02-06 | Steve Reynolds |
| The Whistler | 1944-03-30 | Earl C. Conrad |
| The Ghost Ship | 1943-12-16 | Capt. Will Stone |
| The Power of the Whistler | 1945-04-19 | William Everest |
| Cimarron | 1931-01-26 | Yancey Cravat |
| Men Against the Sky | 1940-09-06 | Phil Mercedes |
| Let’s Get Married | 1926-03-01 | Billy Dexter |
| The Vanishing American | 1925-10-15 | Nophaie |
| The Lucky Devil | 1925-07-13 | Randy Farnum |
| Tombstone: The Town Too Tough to Die | 1942-06-13 | Wyatt Earp |