Actor. Born Warren William Krech in Aitkin, Minnesota. After serving in World War I (WWI), he remained in France to join a touring theatrical troupe. In 1920, he returned to America, worked on Broadway and made his big screen debut in "Plunder" (1923). Moving from New York City to Hollywood, California in 1931, he signed with Warner Bros. Pictures and became a contract player. Nicknamed "The King of Pre-Code," he was a veteran of over 70 films. His credits include: "Honor of the Family" (1931), "Three on a Match" (1932), "Gold Diggers of 1933" (1933), "Lady for a Day" (1933), "Imitation of Life" (1934), "Cleopatra" (1934), "The Secret Bride" (1934), "Go West, Young Man" (1936), "Madame X" (1937), "The Man in the Iron Mask" (1939), "The Lone Wolf" (1939) and "Lillian Russell" (1940). He was the first actor to play Perry Mason in "The Case of the Howling Dog" (1934). He died of multiple myeloma in Hollywood, California. For his contributions to motion pictures, he has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located at 1559 Vine St. He was cremated and his ashes scattered in Long Island Sound, New York. A cenotaph was placed for him at his wife's crypt in Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale).
Actor. Born Warren William Krech in Aitkin, Minnesota. After serving in World War I (WWI), he remained in France to join a touring theatrical troupe. In 1920, he returned to America, worked on Broadway and made his big screen debut in "Plunder" (1923). Moving from New York City to Hollywood, California in 1931, he signed with Warner Bros. Pictures and became a contract player. Nicknamed "The King of Pre-Code," he was a veteran of over 70 films. His credits include: "Honor of the Family" (1931), "Three on a Match" (1932), "Gold Diggers of 1933" (1933), "Lady for a Day" (1933), "Imitation of Life" (1934), "Cleopatra" (1934), "The Secret Bride" (1934), "Go West, Young Man" (1936), "Madame X" (1937), "The Man in the Iron Mask" (1939), "The Lone Wolf" (1939) and "Lillian Russell" (1940). He was the first actor to play Perry Mason in "The Case of the Howling Dog" (1934). He died of multiple myeloma in Hollywood, California. For his contributions to motion pictures, he has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located at 1559 Vine St. He was cremated and his ashes scattered in Long Island Sound, New York. A cenotaph was placed for him at his wife's crypt in Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale).
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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