Trivia

Father of actor Edward Arnold Jr.

A lifelong conservative Republican and staunch anti-Communist, he was nonetheless an early and ardent opponent of the studio blacklisting of suspected Communists.

The son of German immigrants, he worked as a butcher's assistant, bellhop and stoker before first acting on stage in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at the age of seventeen. He appeared in films with Essanay Studios from 1915. Arnold was a star character actor during the 1930s and '40s, with MGM (1933-34, 1941-50), Paramount (1937) and Universal (1939-41), specializing in roles as corrupt politicians and blustering tycoons.

Arnold actually played both the Devil and Daniel Webster in succeeding years, playing Webster in The Devil and Daniel Webster (1941) and the Devil in the WWII propaganda short Inflation (1943) the following year. The latter film, incidentally, also marked the film debut of Esther Williams.

Was an MC on the radio program called "The Chase and Sanborn Hour" starring Nelson Eddy, Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, in 1938.

In 1916 after a year with Essanay Studios, "Moving Picture World" hailed him as promising "to be one of the most popular leading men on the screen.".

Portrayed a different president each week on ABC Radio's "Mr. President" (1947-1953).

He played Diamond Jim Brady in both Diamond Jim (1935) and Lillian Russell (1940).

(1940-1942) President of Screen Actors Guild (SAG).

One of the first actors to seriously consider running for public office, Arnold ran for Los Angeles City Alderman in the mid-1940s. He lost, in a close election, and expressed his views afterward that entertainment and politics were incompatible. Of course, he has been proven wrong numerous times since then.

Screen, stage, and television actor.

Children with Harriett Marshall: Elizabeth, Jane, William.

Entered films in 1915 with Essanay Studios.

Interred at San Fernando Mission Cemetery, Mission Hills, California, USA, Section D, Lot 132, Grave 9.

Arnold died of a cerebral hemorrhage on April 26, 1956 - three months before his last film was released - "The Ambassador's Daughter" in June 1956.

Edward Arnold and Adolphe Menjou were born on the same date - February 18, 1890. Arnold was born in New York City and Menjou in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Father: Charles Schneider; Mother: Elizabeth Ohse.