Henry Sedley (actor)

Henry McDonald Sedley (1881–1962^[1]) was an American actor. He caused the death of a fellow student while a freshman at Yale University in 1901, which may have been the reason for a young woman being banned by her grandmother from marrying him.^[2]

Prior to achieving fame in silent film, he owned several racehorses and was a champion jockey.^[3][4] Born in New York in 1881, he attended St. Paul's school, Andover, and the Sheffield Scientific School at Yale University,^[4] though he did not complete a degree at Yale.^[5] He bought a 70-foot racing yacht from Alfred G. Vanderbilt, and was described as a bon vivant.^[4]

When a freshman at Yale in 1901, he caused the death of a classmate, Edward F. Corrigan.^[2] He was expelled from Yale in the aftermath.^[5][6] In 1907 he reached a settlement for $300.^[6][7] About the same time, Oliver Barnes, a wealthy friend from Reno, Nevada, took Sedley under his wing and assisted his transition into the film industry.^[8] In 1912, he was in the news when a young woman's grandmother forbade her from marrying him.^[2][9]

He was a stage actor for five years prior to transitioning to film in the late 1910s.^[4][10] Early in his film career he was known for playing villains. He was almost six feet tall. Having a slight build, he was not given to portrayals of physical conflict,^[10] but in at least one instance (in Straight is the Way, 1921) his fight scene was highlighted in a review.^[11] Early in his career he roomed with Adolphe Menjou, and the two shared their possessions and paychecks.^[12]

His early film roles included The Daredevil, Thunderbolts of Fate, and The Kaiser's Bride.^[10]