Edward Arnold 1890 – 1956

Guenther Edward Arnold Schneider decided to be an actor when he was only 12 years old. But this son of German-born immigrants would surpass even his wildest dreams to become one of America’s foremost character actors. He was born on February 18 th, 1890 in a tenement flat on New York City ’s East Side . His parents, Carl and Elizabeth Ohse Schneider had come from Hanover , Germany to start a new life in America but they were finding it hard work. Carl was a fur cutter until he became partially blind and Elizabeth , with 5 children to feed, took a job of janitress in the building where they lived. Guenther quit school at 11 to work at odd jobs to help stock the larder. But he had already decided to become an actor.

He joined the drama club at the East Side Settlement House and also got a job at Columbia University as an engine room oiler and hung out at the library reading everything he could on Shakespeare and poetry. The headmaster at the Settlement House, John D, Barry, helped him get drama and elocution lessons, shortened his name and even arranged an audition with the Greet Players of Trenton, New Jersey. The new “Edward Arnold” debuted on stage as Lorenzo in “The Merchant of Venice”. He was 15 years old. Arnold later titled his autobiography “Lorenzo Goes To Hollywood”.

Arnold as "Diamond Jim"

Arnold spent the next few years touring with one stock company after another. In 1915, while co-starring with Mary Miles Minter in a road show of “The Littlest Rebel”, he met and married Harriet Marshall (that marriage would last 10 years and give Arnold 3 children). The next year he was offered the opportunity to succeed Francis X. Bushman at Essanay Studios. He appeared in more than 40 films there before Essanay folded in 1918.

By the 1920s Edward was busy again with vaudeville tours and Broadway productions. With sound on the rise in Tinseltown, he was suddenly getting offers to do the new talkies, not just for his acting talents, but because of his superb speaking voice. Two years after his divorce from Harriet, he married singer Olive Emerson.

as Anthony P. Kirby in "You Can't Take It With You"

Often cast as gangsters and villains, the role of inebriated millionaire and romantic interest Jack Brennan in “Sadie McKee” (1933) was refreshing and seemed to turn things around. But his most memorable role was probably the title role of Jim Brady in 1935’s “Diamond Jim’ a character he reprised for “Lillian Russell” in 1940. Parker Morell, the author of “The life and Times of Diamond Jim” would only option the screen rights when he was assured Arnold would play the part.

as Jim Knox in "Let Freedom Ring"

as Jim Taylor in "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington"

Arnold became one of Frank Capra’s favorite supporting actors in the 1930s and early 1940s. He was Capra’s quintessential flawed character….the banker in “You Can’t Take it With You” (1938), the political boss in “Mr. Smith Goes To Washington” (1939) and the overly ambitious publisher in “Meet John Doe”. He was so good at these roles, MGM put him in “Let Freedom Ring” as the unscrupulous railroad developer with Nelson Eddy. It proved to be a red white and blue classic. Arnold also became president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1940 to 1942.

While remaining at MGM as a contract player for the rest of his career, Arnold also branched out into radio and television. On a popular 30-minute weekly radio series “Mr. President” he played every American president as Edward Arnold and asked the audience to identify the chief executive he represented. The occupant of the White House at that time, Harry S, Truman, became a huge fan and even though Arnold was an active and ardent Republican, Truman invited him to the White House.

In 1951 Arnold divorced his second wife after 19 years of marriage (they had no children) and married Cleo MacClain. He slowed down in the 50s but still continued in bigger-than-life roles. He jumped with both feet into the comedic role of Pawnee Bill in the 1950 musical “Annie get Your Gun” with Betty Hutton. His last film was “Miami Expose” released in 1956.

Edward Arnold's grave

Edward Arnold died suddenly on April 16, 1956 in his home in Encino , California of a cerebral hemorrhage. His career had lasted over 50 years and left us with over 133 pieces of his excellent work (although many of his Essanay films have been lost). He was buried in the San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills , California