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George A. Billings

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

George A. Billings
Billings in The Dramatic Life of Abraham Lincoln (1924)
Born(1870-11-22)November 22, 1870
DiedApril 15, 1934(1934-04-15) (aged 63)
Occupation(s)Film, stage actor
Years active1924–1929

George A. Billings (November 22, 1870 – April 15, 1934) was an American actor noted for his portrayals of Abraham Lincoln in films of the 1920s.

Biography

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Born in Preston, Minnesota in 1870, he the son of Henry Orville Billings and Amanda Melvina Warr. Billings was a carpenter for most of his life. While working for the Los Angeles City Department, he heard Al and Ray Rockett were looking for a man that resembled Lincoln for the 1924 film The Dramatic Life of Abraham Lincoln. He was hired for the film, despite a lack of prior acting experience, due to his striking resemblance to Lincoln, even down to the mole on his face.[1] Billings went on to portray Lincoln in several more films.

In 1927, he also toured the mid-western United States playing Lincoln in a two-man play with Henry Fonda. Things started out well, but Fonda finally quit due to Billings prodigious drinking.[2] It was Fonda's first professional job as an actor.

Filmography (all roles playing Abraham Lincoln)

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References

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  1. ^ (10 February 1924). The Man Who Plays Lincoln, The New York Times
  2. ^ Reinhart, Mark S. (January 1, 2009). Abraham Lincoln on Screen: Fictional and Documentary Portrayals on Film and Television. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-5261-3.
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