Walter Edwards (director)

Walter Edwards (January 8, 1870 – April 12, 1920), was an American director, screenwriter and actor. He directed 46 films during his career.[1][2]

Walter Edwards
Walter Edwards (1917)
Born	(1870-01-08)January 8, 1870 Michigan
Died	April 12, 1920(1920-04-12) (aged 50) Honolulu
Occupation(s)	Director, Screenwriter, Actor

Edwards initially work at the Elitch Theatre was as a director in 1896, but he later returned for multiple seasons as an actor in the summer stock cast. "In 1896, Mrs. Elitch signed J. H. Huntley to direct a resident stock company... After six weeks of melodrama, however, and a few unsatisfactory notices, the organization of the company was changed. Huntley, who was not very popular with audiences or with newspaper reviewers, was replaced by Walter Edwards."[3] On July 12, 1896, Edwards started as director and his first play was J. K. Tillotson's A Gilded Crime. The newspaper review stated: "Walter Edwards' presence has strengthened the company materially..."[3]

Between 1897 and 1908 Edwards was a regular of the Elitch Theatre summer stock cast. Commenting on his leading roles in 1898, Mary Elitch remembered, "Walter Edwards headed a very strong company when the 1898 season opened with Mrs. Frances Hodgson Burnett's Esmeralda. His leading lady was Margaret Dibdin."[4] Later, in 1912, Edwards returned to the Elitch Theatre and was the lead in The Deep Purple by Wilson Mizner and Paul Armstrong.[5]