Oscar Apfel

From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia Oscar C Apfel January 17 1878 March 21 1938 was an American film actor director screenwriter and producer He appeared in 167 films between 1913 and 1939 and also directed 94 films between 1911 and 1927 Apfel was born in Cleveland Ohio After a number of years in commerce he decided to adopt the stage as a profession He secured his first professional engagement in 1900 in his hometown He rose rapidly and soon held a position as director and producer and was at the time noted as being the youngest stage director in America1 He spent eleven years on the stage on Broadway then joined the Edison Manufacturing Company Apfel first directed for Thomas A Edison Inc in 191112 where he made the innovative short film The PasserBy 1912 He also did some experimental work at Edisons laboratory in Orange on the Edison Talking Pictures devices After many years as a director he gradually returned to acting On March 21 1938 Apfel died in Hollywood from a heart attack