William Bertram
actor, director, writer
- Birth name:
- Benjamin Switzer
- Born:
- 1880-01-19, Walkerton, Ontario, Canada
- Died:
- 1933-05-01, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Professions:
- actor, director, writer
Biography
A midwinter baby, William Bertram drew his first breath on 19 January 1880 in Walkerton, Ontario, and spent the next five decades sprinting through the silent-film world. In front of the camera he battled villains in the 15-episode serial Neal of the Navy (1915); behind it he coaxed comedy from a cradle in The Old Maid’s Baby (1919) and chased ghosts for The Phantom Buster (1927). Off-set he shared his life with a woman named Jean. The sprint ended on 1 May 1933 in Los Angeles, California, but the flicker of those early reels keeps his name alive.
