Gilbert Emery


Gilbert Emery Bensley Pottle, known professionally as Gilbert Emery, was an American actor who appeared in over 80 movies from 1921 to his death in 1945. He was also a playwright, author of seven Broadway plays from 1921 to 1933.

Early years

Gilbert Emery Bensley Pottle was born June 11, 1875, in Naples, New York, to William L. and Hariette Pottle. He prepared for college at Naples High School and at the Normal School in Oneonta, New York. He graduated from Amherst College in the class of 1899.

Career

Pottle started out as a short story writer, using the name Emery Pottle, and he later wrote plays. From 1899 to 1900 he was an instructor in English and public speaking at Beloit Academy in Wisconsin. In 1900 he was a reporter for the Morning Sun in New York City; from 1900-1901 he worked for the Evening Post; and from 1901-1903 he worked for Criterion Magazine. He was an instructor in English at Columbia University and a writer.
During World War I, Pottle was a member of the American Expeditionary Forces' Liaison Service, serving with French Balloon Companies 39, 49 and 74. He was later a member of the Paris Peace Conference from 1918 to 1919, and a member of the Interallied Food Commission in 1919.
He wrote a number of books in his early years, including Handicapped, The Little Village, and The Little House. He also wrote poems and short stories for magazines and several plays. Much of his writing was under the pen name Gilbert Emery.

Personal life

On November 22, 1904, Emery married Juliet Wilbour Tompkins, a writer, in New York. Tompkins sued for divorce in March 1905.

Death

He died on October 28, 1945, in Los Angeles, California.

Filmography

From 1921 until his death in 1945, Gilbert Emery acted in at least 88 films, including:
YearTitleRoleNotes
1921Cousin KateHeath Desmond
1929Behind That CurtainSir Frederick Bruce
1930A Lady's MoralsBroughm
1931The Lady RefusesSir Gerald Courtney
1931The Yellow TicketSir Hubert, British AmbassadorUncredited
1931The Ruling VoiceAndrew Gregory
1932Okay America!Secretary John Drake
1932A Farewell to ArmsBritish Major
1934All of MeThe Dean
1934Coming Out PartyHerbert Emerson Stanhope
1934The House of RothschildPrime Minister
1934One More RiverThe Judge
1934Now and ForeverJames Higginson
1934The Man Who Reclaimed His HeadHis ExcellencyUncredited
1935Clive of IndiaMr. Sullivan
1935Cardinal RichelieuNoble
1935Goin' to TownWinslow
1935Harmony LaneMr. Foster
1935Peter IbbetsonWilkins
1935Magnificent ObsessionDoctor Ramsay
1936Wife vs. SecretarySimpson
1936Little Lord FauntleroyPurvis
1936Dracula's DaughterSir Basil Humphrey
1936Bullets or BallotsMr. Thorndyke
1937The Great BarrierGeorge Stephen
1937Souls at SeaCaptain Martisel
1937The Life of Emile ZolaMinister of War
1937Double or NothingMr. Mitchell
1938The BuccaneerCaptain Lockyer
1938Lord JeffMagistrate
1938Storm Over BengalColonel Torrance
1939The Saint Strikes BackMartin Eastman
1939The Lady's from KentuckyPinckney Rodell
1939Nurse Edith CavellBrand Whitlock
1939RafflesBingham
1940The House of the Seven GablesGerald Pyncheon
1940Waterloo BridgeColonel at LuncheonUncredited
1940Anne of Windy PoplarsStephen Pringle
1940A Dispatch from ReutersLord PalmerstonUncredited
1940South of SuezManders
1941Adam Had Four SonsDr. Lane
1941Rage in HeavenMr. Black
1941That Hamilton WomanLord Spencer
1941A Woman's FaceAssociate Judge
1941Singapore WomanSir Stanley Moore
1941The Great AwakeningSchool Principal
1941SundownAshburton
1942The Remarkable AndrewThomas Jefferson
1942Escape from Hong KongCol. J.A. Crossley
1942The Loves of Edgar Allan PoeThomas Jefferson
1942King of the MountiesCommissioner Morrison
1943Sherlock Holmes in WashingtonSir Henry MarchmontUncredited
1943Appointment in BerlinGen. MarstonUncredited
1943The Return of the VampireDr. Walter Saunders
1944Between Two WorldsBenjamin Cliveden-Banks
1945The Brighton StranglerDr. ManbyFinal film