E. H. Calvert

Elisha Helm Calvert, born William Helm on 27 June 1863 and often billed with his military title as Captain E. H. Calvert, was an American film actor and director who died in Hollywood, California, on 5 October 1941. Sources give his birthplace as either Madison, Wisconsin, or Alexandria, Virginia. A veteran of the Spanish-American War who served in Cuba and retired as a captain, he acted in stock theater and vaudeville before entering motion pictures. He worked as a director for 18 years, beginning with the Essanay Company, where he also acted. Over his career he appeared in more than 170 films and directed about 60 more. Later audiences may know him best from his supporting parts: district attorney Markham in the early Philo Vance murder mysteries, the senior officer and foil to Wheeler and Woolsey in Half Shot at Sunrise, and one of the college professors who meet Groucho Marx in Horse Feathers. He retired from the screen in 1939.