1. Life
Maurice Black's personal background and key life events are marked by his New York roots and his untimely death in Hollywood.
1.1. Early life and family
Maurice Black was born on January 14, 1891, in Queens, a borough of New York City. Details about his upbringing are limited, but his personal life included his marriage to Edythe Raynore.
1.2. Death and burial
Black's career ended abruptly when he died on January 18, 1938, in Hollywood, California. His death was caused by pneumonia, occurring shortly after his 47th birthday. He was subsequently interred at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, a historic burial ground in Hollywood often associated with figures from the entertainment industry.
2. Acting career
Maurice Black's acting career was characterized by his prolific output and his memorable performances in specific character types.
2.1. Career overview
Black's acting career spanned a decade, from 1928 until his death in 1938. During this relatively short period, he became a highly active performer, appearing in more than 100 films. He was particularly recognized for his distinctive ability to portray mobsters and other underworld figures, a typecasting that became a hallmark of his screen presence.
2.2. Filmography
Maurice Black appeared in a substantial number of films. A selection of his notable film roles includes:
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1928 | Captain Swagger | Manager, Viennese Club | Uncredited |
| 1928 | Show Folks | Vaudeville Performer | |
| 1928 | Marked Money | Donovan | |
| 1928 | Romance of the Underworld | Maitre D' | Uncredited |
| 1929 | The Carnation Kid | Tony | |
| 1929 | Square Shoulders | Hook | |
| 1929 | Broadway Babies | Nick Stepanos | |
| 1929 | Dark Streets | Beefy Barker | |
| 1929 | Song of Love | Tony Giuseppe | Uncredited |
| 1930 | Playing Around | Joe | |
| 1930 | Street of Chance | Nick | |
| 1930 | Framed | Bing Murdock | |
| 1930 | Show Girl in Hollywood | Actor in Scene | Uncredited |
| 1930 | The Runaway Bride | 'Red' Dugan | Uncredited |
| 1930 | True to the Navy | Sharpie | Uncredited |
| 1930 | Numbered Men | Lou Rinaldo | |
| 1930 | Common Clay | Speakeasy Proprietor | Uncredited |
| 1930 | Abraham Lincoln | Conspirator | Uncredited |
| 1930 | The Sea God | Rudy | |
| 1930 | Brothers | Giuseppe Michaelo Lorenzo | |
| 1930 | Renegades | Cafe Manager | Uncredited |
| 1930 | Big Money | Lewis Wilder | |
| 1931 | Little Caesar | Little Arnie Lorch | |
| 1931 | No Limit | Happy | |
| 1931 | Lonely Wives | Taxi Driver | |
| 1931 | Sit Tight | Mr. White | Uncredited |
| 1931 | The Front Page | Diamond Louie | |
| 1931 | The Spy | Commissar | |
| 1931 | Smart Money | Greek Barber | |
| 1931 | Women Go on Forever | Pete | |
| 1931 | Sob Sister | Gimp Peters | Uncredited |
| 1931 | Stung | The Accused | Short film |
| 1932 | Stowaway | Minor Role | |
| 1932 | Dancers in the Dark | Max | |
| 1932 | Steady Company | Blix | |
| 1932 | Scarface | Jim - Headwaiter | Uncredited |
| 1932 | Symphony of Six Million | Felix's Patient | Uncredited |
| 1932 | While Paris Sleeps | Roca | |
| 1932 | The Famous Ferguson Case | Kaplan | Scenes deleted |
| 1932 | The Strange Love of Molly Louvain | Nicky's Pal | Uncredited |
| 1932 | The King Murder | Philip Scott | |
| 1932 | Tiger Shark | Jean Fernandez - a Shipwrecked Crewman | Uncredited |
| 1932 | The All American | Blackie Doyle | |
| 1932 | The Face on the Barroom Floor | Cesar Vanzetti | |
| 1932 | Rasputin and the Empress | Revolutionary Soldier | Uncredited |
| 1933 | Grand Slam | Paul | Uncredited |
| 1933 | Blondie Johnson | Tony | Uncredited |
| 1933 | The Keyhole | Cuban Jewelry Salesman | Uncredited |
| 1933 | The Cohens and Kellys in Trouble | Nick | Uncredited |
| 1933 | Elmer, the Great | Dice Dealer | |
| 1933 | Picture Snatcher | Speakeasy Proprietor | Uncredited |
| 1933 | I Cover the Waterfront | Ortegus | |
| 1933 | A Shriek in the Night | Josephus Martini | Uncredited |
| 1933 | Her First Mate | Boat Extra on Steps | Uncredited |
| 1933 | Ship of Wanted Men | George Spinoli | |
| 1933 | Night Flight | Nightclub Manager | Uncredited |
| 1933 | Tillie and Gus | Bit Part | Uncredited |
| 1933 | Murder on the Campus | Blackie Atwater | |
| 1933 | Twin Husbands | Feets | |
| 1933 | Flying Down to Rio | One of the Three Greeks #2 | |
| 1934 | Sixteen Fathoms Deep | Nick - Henchman / Crewman | |
| 1934 | Half a Sinner | Mike | |
| 1934 | Friends of Mr. Sweeney | Pierre, the Headwaiter | Uncredited |
| 1934 | The Party's Over | Proprietor of Sweet Shop | Uncredited |
| 1934 | Down to Their Last Yacht | Joe Spilatti | Uncredited |
| 1934 | Gift of Gab | Audition Room Owner | Uncredited |
| 1934 | Wake Up and Dream | Tom Romero | |
| 1934 | The Mighty Barnum | Imposter | Uncredited |
| 1934 | West of the Pecos | Shorty Evans | |
| 1935 | Bride of Frankenstein | Gypsy | Uncredited |
| 1935 | Under the Pampas Moon | Patron | Uncredited |
| 1935 | The Daring Young Man | Florist | Uncredited |
| 1935 | Orchids to You | Flower Seller | Uncredited |
| 1935 | The Crusades | Amir | Uncredited |
| 1935 | Bonnie Scotland | Khan Mir Jutra | |
| 1935 | The Last Days of Pompeii | Attendant in Gladiators' Training Room | Uncredited |
| 1935 | Stars Over Broadway | Jim Flugel | Uncredited |
| 1936 | Exclusive Story | Martinello | Uncredited |
| 1936 | Laughing Irish Eyes | Tony Martin | |
| 1936 | Silly Billies | Bandit with Toothache | Uncredited |
| 1936 | A Son Comes Home | Greek Sailor | Uncredited |
| 1936 | Missing Girls | Miller | |
| 1936 | Ellis Island | Nails | |
| 1937 | Under Strange Flags | General Pancho Villa | |
| 1937 | Three Legionnaires | Gen. Stavinski's aide | |
| 1937 | The Californian | Pancho | |
| 1937 | The Life of Emile Zola | Minor Role | Uncredited |
| 1937 | The Firefly | Pigeon Vendor | Uncredited |
| 1937 | The Game That Kills | Jeff | |
| 1937 | Adventure's End | Blackie | |
| 1938 | Walking Down Broadway | Norton | Uncredited, final film role |
3. Legacy and evaluation
Maurice Black's contributions to cinema, though often in supporting roles, left a distinct mark on the films of his era, primarily through his specific character portrayals.
3.1. Acting style and roles
Maurice Black developed a unique acting style that made him a recognizable figure in the films of the 1920s and 1930s. He became particularly typecast in roles as mobsters, gangsters, and other figures from the criminal underworld. His physical presence and demeanor often lent authenticity to these parts, making him a reliable choice for studios seeking to populate their crime dramas and thrillers with believable characters. While his roles were often uncredited or secondary, his consistent presence in over 100 films underscores his significant contribution to the industry's burgeoning output during the Golden Age of Hollywood. His work, though often in supporting capacities, helped define the visual and narrative landscape of the gangster film genre.
4. External links
- [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Maurice_Black Maurice Black at Wikimedia Commons]
- [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0085427/ Maurice Black at IMDb]
- [https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/maurice-black-66892 Maurice Black at the Internet Broadway Database]
- [https://archive.org/search.php?query=creator%3A%22Maurice+Black%22 Maurice Black at the Internet Archive]