Alec B. Francis
Francis in 1916
Born	Alec Francis Budd (1867-12-02)2 December 1867 Suffolk, England
Died	6 July 1934(1934-07-06) (aged 66) Hollywood, California, United States
Years active	1911–1934
Known for	Actor
Spouse	Lucy Smith Bower (1923–1934; his death)

Alec B. Francis (born Alec Francis Budd, 2 December 1867 – 6 July 1934) was an English actor, largely of the silent era.^[1] He appeared in more than 240 films between 1911 and 1934.

Biography

Francis was born in Suffolk, England.^[2] He studied law at Uppingham College in England and practiced with a legal firm in London.^[3]

Disliking legal work, Francis joined a stock theater company for which he played bit parts, and was baggage master and property man. He eventually came under contract with a touring company headed by Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Kendall, acting in leading roles in England, India, South Africa, and the United States.^[3] He also performed in vaudeville.^[4]

Francis served twice in the military, once for Britain and once for the United States. He was in India for a four-year tour of duty with the British Royal Horse Artillery, and He was a nurse with American forces during the Spanish-American War.^[3]

Although Francis tried farming after his service as a nurse, he returned to acting and appeared in some plays, including musical productions in which he sang as a baritone. He began acting in films in 1913 and worked for Vitagraph, World, and other film studios.^[3]

Francis died in Hollywood Hospital in Hollywood, California, on 6 July 1934,^[3] three days after emergency abdominal surgery.^[5] His funeral was held at St. Athanasius Episcopal Church in Los Angeles, and his remains cremated.^[6]

Theodora Fitzgerald and her father Captain Fitzgerald (played by Gloria Swanson and Alec B. Francis) talk to Lord Hector Bracondale (Rudolf Valentino) in a scene still for the 1922 silent drama Beyond the Rocks.

Selected filmography