The Watson Family are an American family of nine sibling actors who are known as "the first family of Hollywood." They were initially active as child actors in silent motion picture films.
As of 2024, Garry Watson (born 1928), the 8th Watson sibling, has been the only living sibling from the family.[1]
and since the death of Mildred Kornman and Donnie "Beezer" Smith, he is also the last living actor of the silent film era.[2]
One of the siblings, Delmar Watson, stated in the Los Angeles Times in 1968, "The studio knew we had kids of all sizes, so when they needed a kid for one of their pictures, they grabbed one of us, and soon we were all working steadily".[4]
Legacy
The family members were collectively honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located at 6674 Hollywood Blvd. in Hollywood, California on April 22, 1999. Billy, Garry, and Louise were interviewed in July, 2017 about their experiences in Hollywood.[5][6]
The Watson Family's relatives (parents, grandparents and uncles)
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (September 2022)
The Watson family's grandfather, James Watson, was a photographer who took photos of Buffalo Bill on Broadway in 1904.[4]
His son, J.C. (James Caughey) "Coy" Watson Sr. (born Ontario, Canada, April 14, 1890 – May 23, 1968), was a journeyman plasterer, who became a horse breaker for cowboy star Buck Jones and rented mounts to stars Hoot Gibson and Tom Mix, before getting into the special effects department, and became notable for designing The Flying Carpet that Douglas Fairbanks rode in the 1924 filmThe Thief of Bagdad,[4] he married Golda Gladdis Wimer (1893–1979) on September 23, 1910.[7] Their nine children went on to act in over 1,000 films, starting out as toddlers and child stars.
The eldest of the siblings, Coy Watson Jr., authored the book The Keystone Kid.[3]
The Watson's uncle George Watson was the first full time photographer for the Los Angeles Mirror and opened "Acme Studio Pictures"[4]
Appeared in over 300 films as a youth including Heidi starring Shirley Temple and with his three other brothers the film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington from the 1940s worked as a new photographer, and worked with the Coast Guard as a cameraman during World War II[4]
![[icon]](File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small}
