William Shea
William James O' Shea (6 October 1856 – 5 November 1918) was a Scottish-born actor. He was born in Dumfries, Scotland and was brought to the United States when he was one-year old. His father, Thomas Shea, was a civil engineer who fought with David Farragut in the Battle of New Orleans during the American Civil War.
Shea got his start acting at the age of 18 in Col. John W. Albaugh's stock company in Albany, New York. During the 1880s, he also became known as an Irish dancer and singer. He was said to be the first real actor Vitagraph ever hired, having appeared over 4,000 roles in more than one hundred films from 1905 to 1918.
Shea died of heart disease at his home on November 5, 1918. Obituaries at the time listed Shea as the oldest movie actor in the United States, although most list his age at time of death as 56 years old. Shea is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery, Brooklyn.
Acted in
A Daughter of Two Worlds
1920
as Slim Jackson
The Meeting
1917
Walls and Wallops
1916
as Police Chief
The Blue Envelope Mystery
1916
as George
A Villainous Villain
1916
as Old Man Dukkets
The Marriage of Molly-O
1916
as Denny McGuire
The Man from Egypt
1916
as Mr. Mazuma
A Night Out
1916
as McMahon
Beached and Bleached
1915
You Can't Beat It
1915
as Brother Steve
The Boarding House Feud
1915
as Billy's Uncle
The Lady of Shalott
1915
as Captain Starboard
A Wireless Rescue
1915
as Old Welch - Polly's Father
Sweeney's Christmas Bird
1914
as Clancy
Hearts and Diamonds
1914
as Uncle William
A Train of Incidents
1914
Two Stepchildren
1914
as Joe's Uncle Jabez - an Old Farmer
The Maid from Sweden
1914
as John Haines - the Plasterer
Tangled Tangoists
1914
The Hero
1914
Sawdust and Salome
1914
as Uncle Jerry
Those Troublesome Tresses
1913
Cupid Through a Keyhole
1913
as Jack Wearyfoot - the Tramp
The Mouse and the Lion
1913
as A Gangster
The Classmate's Frolic
1913
as The Organ Player
Nothing to Wear
1912
As You Like It
1912
as Unknown role
The Bond of Music
1912
as Pierre le Noir, Vian's Neighbor
The Spider's Web
1912
Aunty's Romance
1912
as The Attorney
Her Forgotten Dancing Shoes
1912
Chumps
1912
as Mr. McSorley - the Climax
Father and Son
1912
The Life Boat
1911
as Old Capt. Bill - the Father
The Child Crusoes
1911
A Friendly Marriage
1911
as The Butler
Two Overcoats
1911
as Peter Dempsey
A Tale of Two Cities
1911
as Jarvis Lorry
Vanity Fair
1911
as Sir Pitt Crawley
A Tin-Type Romance
1910
as Old Man (uncredited)
The Telephone
1910
as Laughing man
Auld Robin Gray
1910
as Auld Robin Gray
Ito, the Beggar Boy
1910
A Midsummer Night's Dream
1909
as Mechanical
Julius Caesar, an Historical Tragedy
1908
The Shaughraun, an Irish Romance
1907