Richard (Dick) Barthelmess (May 9, 1895 - August 17, 1963) was a silent film star. The son of an actress, Barthelmess began acting in college, doing amateur productions. Convinced by a family friend, actress Alla Nazimova, to try acting professionally, he made his first film appearance in 1916 in the serial Gloria's Romance as an extra. His next role, in War Brides opposite Alla Nazimova, attracted the attention of legendary director D. W. Griffith, who offered him several important roles, finally casting him opposite Lillian Gish in Broken Blossoms (1919) and Way Down East (1920). May 9 is the 129th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (130th in leap years). ... 1895 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... August 17 is the 229th day of the year (230th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1963 was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... A silent film is a film which has no accompanying soundtrack. ... Alla Nazimova, (May 22, 1879 - July 13, 1945), was a Ukrainian born stage and film actress, scriptwriter, and producer. ... 1916 is a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar) // Events January-February January 1 -The first successful blood transfusion using blood that had been stored and cooled. ... Alla Nazimova, (May 22, 1879 - July 13, 1945), was a Ukrainian born stage and film actress, scriptwriter, and producer. ... David Lewelyn Wark Griffith (January 22, 1875 - July 23, 1948) was an American film director (commonly known as D. W. Griffith) probably best known for his film The Birth of a Nation. ... Lillian Gish Lillian de Guiche (October 14, 1893 - February 27, 1993), was an American actress. ... Broken Blossoms (also called The Chink and the Child, Scarlet Blossoms and The Yellow Man and the Girl) is a 1919 film which tells the story of a Chinese man who goes to England to enlighten Christians about the teachings of Buddha. ... 1919 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1920 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar) // Events January January 7 - Forces of Russian White admiral Kolchak surrender in Krasnoyarsk. ...

In the coming years, he was one of Hollywood's highest paid performers, starring in such classics as The Patent Leather Kid (1927) and The Noose (1928); he was nominated for Best Actor at the first Academy Awards for his performance in both these films. He also founded his own production company, Inspiration Film Company, together with Charles Duell and Henry King. One of their films, Tol'able David (1921), in which Barthelmess starred as a teenage mailman, was a major success, and is considered by many to be his finest performance. ... The Patent Leather Kid is a 1927 film which tells the story of a boxer who tries to overcome corruption in the sport. ... 1927 was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Noose is a 1928 film which tells the story of the life of a prisoner. ... 1928 was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Although he never won an Oscar for any of his movie performances, the comedian Bob Hope received two honorary Oscars for his contributions to cinema. ... 1921 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...

With the advent of the sound era, Barthelmess' fortunes changed. He made several films in the new medium, most notably Only Angels Have Wings, but he failed to achieve the stardom of his silent film days and gradually left entertainment. He enlisted in the Naval Reserve in World War II, served as a lieutenant commander, and never returned to film, preferring instead to live off his investments. He died of cancer in 1963. Only Angels Have Wings (1939) is a movie directed by Howard Hawks, starring Cary Grant and Jean Arthur. ... The United States Navy Reserve is the reserve component of the United States Navy. ... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km (over 11 miles) into the air, August 9, 1945. ...

Barthelmess was one of the founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) is a professional honorary organization, founded on May 11, 1927 in California to advance the arts and sciences of motion pictures. ...