Fred C. Newmeyer

Fred C. Newmeyer ( born August 9, 1888 in Central City, Colorado, † April 24, 1967 in Woodland Hills, California ) was an American actor and film director, a veteran of silent slapstick comedy.

Life and work

Newmeyer had in Denver visited the Sacred Heart College and there shown as a sports fan. After his graduation, he worked for three years as a professional baseball before 1913 he joined the film. Initially employed by the production company Universal as an extra and bit player, Newmeyer eventually rose to assistant director. He was allowed to the end of 1920, for the first time, in collaboration with my colleague Sam Taylor, Director.

Over the next five years, he and Taylor were in a number of comedy classics of silent film stars Harold Lloyd, had already played at the side Newmeyer as an actor in numerous Lonesome Luke Short grotesque, a solid team. Especially Lloyds Ironically skyscraper! is a masterpiece of early slapstick comedy. While Taylor is primarily cared for the comedic portions of the Lloyd films, Newmeyer was responsible for the stunts and action sequences.

After the separation of Lloyd and Taylor mid-1920s Newmeyers began declining. By the end of the silent film era he directed only sporadically successful films (including with slapstick star Larry Semon, the comedian WC Fields and character performer George Bancroft ) for different production companies. However, most of Newmeyers late works were B- and C- productions since the advent of the sound film era. Late in his career Fred Newmeyer directed some short film comedies with the Little Rascals.

Filmography (selection)

Director