BEERY, WALLACE (FITZGERALD)

born April 1, 1885, Kansas City, Mo., U.S. died April 15, 1949, Los Angeles, Calif. American actor who played in more than 250 motion pictures between 1913 and 1949. Beery's first job in entertainment was as an elephant trainer for the Ringling Brothers Circus. He later joined his brother, the actor Noah Beery, Sr., in New York City, where they both worked in the choruses of theatrical productions. He was given the lead in the play The Yankee Tourist and subsequently worked for several years as a dramatic actor in touring and stock theatrical companies. In 1913 Beery joined the Essanay Studios in Chicago and began his motion-picture career as a director as well as an actor. He worked as a comedian in the Keystone comedies but in 1917 switched to playing villains for several years. He returned to comedy in the 1930s, playing gruff but lovable characters. His most notable performances were in The Champ (1931), for which he won an Academy Award as best actor, and Tugboat Annie (1933).