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Biography
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He was born Edwin August Butz in St. Louis, MO on November 20, 1883. His parents were Sarah Mykins and
August Butz. His father worked as a tin smith/roofer. Edwin was the youngest of seven children. His sister Elizabeth Butz
Keisker is my Great Grandmother on my Father’s side of the family.
Iva Shepard and Dick Rosson in background.
Unknown movie title and year.
At
the age of seven he made his stage debut in "Little Lord Fauntleroy" in 1890. His father took him from the
stage, however and put him in the Christian Brothers College in St. Louis. After graduating Edwin resumed his stage career.
He played in support of Otis Skinner for two years. He has also shared the stage with Mrs. Leslie Carter and Digby
Bell. He was an important member of the cast in the revival of "Shore Acres," and in the original cast of “Going
Some.” He followed William Lewers, in "The Climax" at Weber's in New York.
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Edwin in his prime was 5'-10 3/4" tall, 175 lbs and deep blue
eyes shading to green or hazel. He had valuable experiences in stock companies working with the Brady "Way Down East"
Company, in New York, Belasco in Los Angeles, Studebaker in Chicago and with Melbourne MacDowell and Imperial Theatre in
St. Louis.
Edwin was also featured in the Hathaway Stock Company in New Bedford,
Fall River and Holyoke Mass.
The three frames below are from the Biograph film "The
Old Actor". A short clip of the movie was included in a PBS documentary on Mary Pickford. Edwin is to the left
of Pickford.
Watch "The Old Actor" NOW!
This movie poster is from a 1911 Biograph film starring Edwin, written
by Mary Pickford and directed by D. W. Griffth.
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A Man's World (Universal) 1912
Excerpt from 1944 LA Times article:
Movie making in the early days, however was not the slow tedious
process which it has become with its myriad of technical improvements, he (Edwin) related.
"I remember one morning reading in the paper of a pool room holdup.
I was at breakfast, about 8 o'clock and had no idea of what the cameras would shoot that day.
"But that news item gave me an idea...A poolroom...a hold up...
a fight...the loot thrust into the hands of an innocent bystander...conviction for him and disgrace for his family...and finally
a happy ending. By 10 o'clock the cameras were clicking. That's how it was 1909 style." -Edwin August
My Mother's Irish Flowers (1912)
Universal
^ Iva Shepard,
window. Mother Benson kneeling with Edwin.
This photo above, is from the 1927 film,
"Above the Border." The only talking picture in which Edwin starred.
Over his career Edwin worked as a writer, director or actor in over 400
silent films.
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Edwin's page on IMDB.com.
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