Pioneering comedian of early silent movies. Born William Andrew Quirk. Entered films with D.W. Griffith at the Biograph studios in Manhattan. After pairing with budding star Mary Pickford, Quirk established himself as one of the leading comedians in the infant days of the star system. He later worked for Solax, Vitagraph, and other studios. Despite his meteoric rise, his popularity had faded by 1915. After a brief and unsuccessful stab at directing, a futile attempt to restart his starring career, and a suicide attempt, he settled for small character roles. Quirk died of severe ulceration of the esophagus. He was buried in his family lot on April 28, 1926.
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Pioneering comedian of early silent movies. Born William Andrew Quirk. Entered films with D.W. Griffith at the Biograph studios in Manhattan. After pairing with budding star Mary Pickford, Quirk established himself as one of the leading comedians in the infant days of the star system. He later worked for Solax, Vitagraph, and other studios. Despite his meteoric rise, his popularity had faded by 1915. After a brief and unsuccessful stab at directing, a futile attempt to restart his starring career, and a suicide attempt, he settled for small character roles. Quirk died of severe ulceration of the esophagus. He was buried in his family lot on April 28, 1926.
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