Fred Woodward (actor)


Fred J. Woodward was a Canadian actor and animal impersonator during the silent film era who specialized in playing animal parts.

Biography

Woodward appeared in three films with the short-lived The Oz Film Manufacturing Company, all produced in 1914: The Patchwork Girl of Oz, The Magic Cloak of Oz and His Majesty, the Scarecrow of Oz. Before embarking on a film career Woodward appeared as a vaudeville actor with the Orpheum Circuit in roles portraying the "Teddy Bear" and the "Parrot". From 1909–1911 he played different animal parts with the Ziegfeld Follies including the "Ostrich", the "Jackass", the Frog, Stork and the Owl, and the G. O. P. Elephant. He later appeared at Weber & Fields in Roly Poly playing an alligator.
In 1913 Woodward moved to Los Angeles to appear in Oliver Morosco's musical play The Tik-Tok Man of Oz in which he played the role of Hank the Mule.
Woodward was born in Toronto in 1882 and died in Victoria on the Canadian West Coast in 1960 at an age of 77.

Filmography and roles