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Ernest Truex, known as the ultimate mild-mannered and ineffectual boss in comedic roles, stood at 5'3" with an adenoidal voice and impeccable dress. In later years, he became a beloved avuncular figure, enjoying a career that spanned seven decades. Born on September 19, 1889, in Kansas City, Missouri, to a physician father, Truex was raised in Rich Hill, Missouri. His acting training came from one of his father's actor-patients, who taught him in exchange for medical bill settlements. A child prodigy, Truex performed Shakespeare as a youngster and was once promoted as "The Youngest Hamlet," though at five years old he played Hamlet's ghost. Following his parents' separation when he was nine, Truex and his mother toured the Western U.S. in a show called "The Child Entertainers," where he recited works ranging from "Othello" to "Romeo and Juliet." He appeared in stock theater and vaudeville before making his Broadway debut as a teenager in 1908's "Wildfire" starring Lillian Russell. He continued on Broadway with "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" (1910) and "Very Good Eddie" (1915), the latter featuring his first wife, actress Julia Mills. In 1913, he performed alongside Mary Pickford in the popular play "A Good Little Devil."
That same year, Truex made his film debut with Pickford in "Caprice" (1913), followed by the film adaptation of "A Good Little Devil" (1914). His film career gained momentum as he carved out a niche playing mild-mannered, mischievous heroes in comedies. He starred in "Artie, the Millionaire Kid" (1916), "Come on In" (1918), and "Good-Bye, Bill" (1918), along with numerous comedic shorts. His last silent film was "Six Cylinder Love" (1923), portraying Gilbert Sterling, a role based on a prior Broadway success.
Throughout the late 1920s and early 1930s, Truex continued to build a robust stage career. After the death of his first wife, he married stage actress Mary Jane Barrett. Together, they appeared in New York productions such as "The Third Little Show" (1931), "The Hook-Up" (1935), and "Fredericka" (1937). In 1934, Truex directed, co-produced, and starred in the play "Sing and Whistle," featuring Sylvia Field, who later became his third wife after his divorce from Barrett. Field later gained recognition as the kindly Mrs. Wilson on the "Dennis the Menace" (1959) television series.
With Julia Mills, Truex fathered two sons, Philip and James, and with Mary Jane Barrett, he had one son, Barry Truex. All three sons pursued acting careers during their early adulthood. Philip and James mainly worked in theater, while Barry Truex had significant film roles, including playing the young Benny Goodman in "The Benny Goodman Story" (1956).
Following the advent of sound in film, Truex became a much sought-after character actor and comedic performer. He appeared in notable comedies such as "Get That Venus" (1933), "Whistling in the Dark" (1933), "Everybody Dance" (1936)—a British musical comedy co-starring Cicely Courtneidge—and "Mama Runs Wild" (1937). Often cast as the henpecked husband or frustrated executive, he was a memorable presence in "The Adventures of Marco Polo" (1938), "Bachelor Mother" (1939), the classic "His Girl Friday" (1940), "Lillian Russell" (1940), and "Christmas in July" (1940). His Broadway successes continued with productions like "Best Sellers," "George Washington Slept Here," and "Androcles and the Lion."
After World War II, the quality of Truex's film roles declined, leading him to explore television opportunities. He was a regular on the series "Mister Peepers" (1952), portrayed a grandfather in "Jamie" (1953), a boss in "The Ann Sothern Show" (1958), and "Pop" in the "December Bride" (1954) spin-off "Pete and Gladys" (1960). Ernest Truex passed away from a heart attack on June 27, 1973, in Fallbrook, California, at the age of 83.
