Rapley Holmes


Rapley Holmes was a stage and screen actor. He was born in Canada and married actress Gerda Holmes.
Holmes played the part of Joe Horn in the long running Somerset Maugham play Rain starring Jeanne Eagels. On stage he appeared with many greats of the Edwardian era including Maxine Elliott, Elsie Ferguson, Nance O'Neil, Doug Fairbanks and both William and Dustin Farnum.
and Taylor Holmes in Nothing But Lies, 1920
Holmes began appearing in silent films in 1914 while still maintaining an active role in Broadway plays. His last film role was in 1920, two years before the huge hit of Rain. Acting in Rain dominated the rest of Holmes's career up until his death in January 1928. His role in Rain was played by James A. Marcus in the 1928 Gloria Swanson hit re-titled Sadie Thompson and by Guy Kibbee in the 1932 talkie Rain'' with Joan Crawford.

Selected filmography