Eric Mayne

Dublin-born Eric Mayne was educated at Westminster and Durham in England and spent almost thirty years on the stage in both London and his native Ireland. He had a penchant for Shakespearean roles and in later years lectured in Shakespeare at the Los Angeles University College. Mayne, with his imposing six-foot frame and beard, was tailor-made for the silent screen and invariably cast as a heavy or comic foil. After arriving in Hollywood, he became an immensely prolific, sought-after character player. He co-starred in Oscar Apfel's adventure film The Oakdale Affair (1919), opposite Evelyn Greeley. In Rudolph Valentino's The Conquering Power (1921), he enjoyed high billing as Victor Grandet and was a memorable Dr. Saulsbourg in Harold Lloyd's knock-about comedy Dr. Jack (1922), the sort of role later played by Sig Ruman. Eric's name was high up in the credits again in the John Ford-directed Cameo Kirby (1923) as Colonel Randall, and there were many more roles to follow. Mayne's career declined with the advent of sound pictures, though he remained in demand as an extra and small-part supporting actor. He played several more 'doctors', notably in East Lynne (1931) and the Victor McLaglen comedy Rackety Rax (1932), but subsequently only bit parts came his way. Mayne, nonetheless, continued in films until his death in Hollywood in February 1947.