Fred Groves
Fred Groves (8 August 1880 – 4 June 1955) was a British actor of the celebrated Groves acting family. On stage from 1896, he appeared in the original West End production of Noël Coward's Cavalcade (1931-2); and was a leading man in silent films, latterly becoming a character player in movies. He appeared in the 1925 play Number 17 in the West End.
He was a son of Charles Groves (1843-1909), a well-known Victorian and Edwardian comedic actor who made appearances on Broadway and in London's West End. He was also a nephew of the Fred Karno comedian Walter Groves (1856-1906), and a half-brother to the film and stage actor Charles Groves (1875-1955).
Among his feature film appearances was the comedy Sally In Our Alley. It marked the screen debut of Gracie Fields, an established music hall star. Gracie's husband, the screenwriter Archie Pitt was set to play the leading role of Alf Cope, but during the first week of filming, as Fields and Pitt were travelling back from shooting, their car crashed. Though Fields escaped injury, Pitt was forced to withdraw from the cast in order to recuperate. Due to his experience and availability, the role was quickly recast with Groves taking Pitt's place.
Acted in
Your Witness
1950
as Dart Player #6
My Brother's Keeper
1948
as Landlord
My Brother Jonathan
1948
as Lisha Hodgkiss
An Ideal Husband
1947
as Phipps
Morning Departure
1946
as Captain Fenton
21 Days Together
1940
as Barnes
The Challenge
1938
as Favre
Strange Boarders
1938
as uncredited
The Viper
1938
as Inspector Bradawl
The Squeaker
1937
as Martin
Beloved Impostor
1936
as Jack Harding
Royal Eagle
1936
as Sam Waldock
Dance Band
1935
as Pantomime Act
A Glimpse of Paradise
1935
as Joshua Ware
The Old Curiosity Shop
1934
as Showman
The Ghost Camera
1933
as Barnaby Rudd
Puppets of Fate
1933
as Arthur Brandon
The World, the Flesh and the Devil
1932
as Dick Morgan
Out of the Blue
1931
as Bannister Blair
Sally in Our Alley
1931
as Alf Cope
Escape!
1930
Suspense
1930
as Pvt. Lomax
Squibs Wins the Calcutta Sweep
1922
as P. C. Lee
The Crimson Circle
1922
as Inspector Parr
The Mayor of Casterbridge
1921
as Michael Henchard
Florence Nightingale
1915
as Doctor
The Suicide Club
1914
The Cup Final Mystery
1914
Her Luck in London
1914
as Richard Lenowen
Beautiful Jim
1914
as Lt. Jim Beresford
Black-Eyed Susan
1914
as Wiliam Lorman
Inquisitive Ike
1914
as Fred
The Idol of Paris
1914
as Philippe Castelle
Bridegrooms Beware!
1913
as Bridegroom
Maria Marten, or Murder in the Red Barn
1913
as William Corder
Popsy Wopsy
1913
as Composer