Elmo Lincoln
Elmo Lincoln, actually Otto Elmo Linkenhelt ( born February 6, 1889 in Rochester, Indiana, † June 27, 1952 in Los Angeles, California ) was an American actor.
Life
The former policeman applied as an extra in shooting films and this was discovered by David Wark Griffith. During the filming of a fight scene Lincoln was torn shirt and come on its huge, muscular upper body to the fore. This was noticed the director, who was impressed by the hulking figure of the young man so that he made him to be. He advised Lincoln, with his chest to definitely stay in the film, but told him to be sure to change its name, so that from Otto Elmo Elmo Lincoln was Linkenhelt future. In the next few years he appeared in several films Griffith.
However, his real breakthrough he owed a coincidence. 1916, the insurance salesman William " Bill" Parson had with Edgar Rice Burroughs, the film rights to his novel Tarzan of the Apes completed, the filming of which should start in 1917. For the main part, the Tarzan, they had won the actor Winslow Wilson. With entry of the United States in the First World War, Wilson, however, was seized by patriotic feelings and volunteered as a soldier. When it came time to find a replacement, Parsons was election to the athletic Lincoln. On January 27, 1918 Tarzan of the Apes was launched in New York "Broadway Theatre " and was a huge success. Tarzan of the Apes was one of the few silent films, which grossed more than a million U.S. dollars. Encouraged by the success, should still be in the same year, the continuation Romance of Tarzan, be turned back with Lincoln in the title role. Compared to the first film, the sequel was unmotivated with little success.
After that, Lincoln turned to other projects, but slipped in 1921 in Adventure of Tarzan once again in the role of the jungle hero. The film was again a great success, but had the effect that Lincoln was henceforth occupied by the image of the " ape-man " and hardly had opportunities to other leading roles. He played almost only supporting roles and even appeared in the role of Tarzan, as a circus sensation on. 1942 and 1949 Lincoln played again in small supporting roles in the Tarzan films, Tarzan Adventure in New York with Johnny Weissmuller and Tarzan's Magic Fountain with Lex Barker.