Actor
Francis X. Bushman
Born 9 January 1883 · Baltimore, Maryland, USA — died 23 August 1966
Francis X. Bushman (1883–1966) was an American actor and one of the first great matinee idols of silent film, rising at Essanay and later Metro in the 1910s. He is best remembered as Messala in the 1925 Ben-Hur. He later returned to the screen in character roles.
Key films
Two Men and a Girl (1911)
Made during his debut year at Essanay, when he began his rapid rise to silent-era stardom.
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925)On Cinespective
His most famous role, as the villain Messala in a landmark silent epic.
David and Bathsheba (1951)
A supporting role in a Hollywood biblical epic, part of his later career comeback.
The Bad and the Beautiful (1952)
A small role in a celebrated film about Hollywood, during his later character-actor years.
Key awards
No major awards are documented here.
On Cinespective
Full filmography · 87
- 1911Two Men and a Girl · as John Lincoln (or Francis, her dream prince)Actor
- 1911Saved from the Torrents · as Arthur ChesterActor
- 1912When Wealth Torments · as Jim O'BrienActor
- 1912The Voice of Conscience · as William ShermanActor
- 1912The Iron Heel · as Robert Gregg Sr. & Jr.Actor
- 1912The Eye That Never Sleeps · as Howard MayneActor
- 1913The Thirteenth Man · as Jack HanneyActor
- 1913The Way Perilous · as Frank Davenport - The Young ManActor
- 1913The Right of Way · as Frank RobinsonActor
- 1913A Mistaken Accusation · as PietroActor
- 1913When Soul Meets Soul · as Prince Arames/Professor DelaplaneActor
- 1914Dawn and Twilight · as Pietro Delani, a Blind MusicianActor
- 1914Hearts and Flowers · as John MartinActor
- 1914A Night With a Million · as Jack WiltonActor
- 1914Yarn a-Tangle · as The BeauActor
- 1914An Unplanned Elopement · as Frank MelbourneActor
- 1914The Plum Tree · as Craig EwellActor
- 1914The Fable of the Bush League Lover Who Failed to Qualify · as The Matinee IdolActor
- 1914Jane · as The Red-Haired ManActor
- 1914The Hour and the Man · as Frank MaxwellActor
- 1914The Countess · as Richard HasbrookActor
- 1914Under Royal Patronage · as Richard SavageActor
- 1915The Gallantry of Jimmy Rodgers · as Jimmy RodgersActor
- 1915The Second in Command · as Lt. Col. Miles AnstrutherActor
- 1915The Slim Princess · as Alexander H. PikeActor
- 1915Graustark · as Grenfall LorryActor
- 1915The Ambition of the Baron · as Count Jean de LugnanActor
- 1915The Silent Voice · as Franklyn StarrActor
- 1916A Virginia Romance · as Ralph EverlyActor
- 1916Man and His Soul · as John Conscience / John PowerActor
- 1916A Million a Minute · as Stephen QuaintanceActor
- 1916Romeo and Juliet · as RomeoActor
- 1916The Wall Between · as Sgt. John KendallActor
- 1916In the Diplomatic Service · as Dick StansburyActor
- 1916In the Diplomatic ServiceDirector
- 1916Romeo and JulietDirector
- 1917Their Compact · as James Van Dyke MooreActor
- 1917The Voice of Conscience · as William Poatter / James HoustonActor
- 1917Red, White and Blue Blood · as John SpauldingActor
- 1917The Great Secret · as William Montgomery StrongActor
- 1917The Adopted Son · as Two Gun CarterActor
- 1918The Poor Rich Man · as Vantyne CarterActor
- 1918With Neatness and Dispatch · as Paul DonaldsonActor
- 1918The Brass Check · as Richard TrevorActor
- 1918Cyclone Higgins, D.D. · as Cyrus 'Cyclone' Higgins, D.D.Actor
- 1918Under Suspicion · as Gerry SimpsonActor
- 1918Social Quicksands · as Warren DexterActor
- 1918A Pair of Cupids · as Peter WarburtonActor
- 1919Daring Hearts · as Hugh BrownActor
- 1925Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ · as MessalaActor
- 1925The Masked Bride · as GroverActor
- 1926The Marriage Clause · as Barry TownsendActor
- 1926Playing the SwellActor
- 1927The Flag: A Story Inspired by the Tradition of Betsy Ross · as George WashingtonActor
- 1927The 13th Juror · as Henry DesmondActor
- 1927The Lady in Ermine · as Gen. DostalActor
- 1928Say It with Sables · as John CaswellActor
- 1928Midnight Life · as Jim LoganActor
- 1928The Beautiful Spy · as BelgranoActor
- 1928The Grip of the Yukon · as Colby MacDonaldActor
- 1930Once a Gentleman · as BannisterActor
- 1930The Dude Wrangler · as CanbyActor
- 1930Call of the CircusActor
- 1931The Galloping Ghost · as 'Buddy' CourtlandActor
- 1932Human Targets · as Bart TravisActor
- 1932Watch Beverly · as President OrloffActor
- 1933The Film Parade · as (archive footage) (uncredited)Actor
- 1936Hollywood Boulevard · as Frank - Director, Desert SceneActor
- 1937Dick Tracy · as Chief Clive AndersonActor
- 1941Mr. Celebrity · as HimselfActor
- 1942Silver Queen · as CreditorActor
- 1942Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10) · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 1944Twenty Years After · as (archive footage)Actor
- 1951David and Bathsheba · as King Saul (uncredited)Actor
- 1951Hollywood Story · as HimselfActor
- 1952The Bad and the Beautiful · as Eulogist (uncredited)Actor
- 1952Apache Country · as Commissioner LathamActor
- 1953The Other Wise Man · as Old ManActor
- 1954Sabrina · as Mr. TysonActor
- 1957The Story of Mankind · as MosesActor
- 196012 to the Moon · as Secretary General of the International Space OrderActor
- 1960Hedda Hopper's Hollywood · as SelfActor
- 1961The Phantom Planet · as SessomActor
- 1966The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini · as MalcolmActor
- 1972Hollywood: The Dream Factory · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 1994The Bible According to Hollywood · as SelfActor
- 2021This Is Francis X. Bushman · as Self (archival footage)Actor
Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.