Lowell Sherman was one of the early cinema's first major stars who
successfully made the transition from actor to director. Born in either
1885 or 1888, his parents were John Wm. Sherman, a theatrical producer
(1855-1924), and Julia Gray Sherman, an actress and daughter of actress
Kate Gray.
In 1905 Lowell embarked on his first real stage work in New York and
his first film work took place in 1914. From the start, he proved to be
a respected actor who played the roles of the playboy and villain very
well. He directed early films for
Greta Garbo and
Katharine Hepburn, married three times
and attended the 1921 party at the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco
that scandalously ended the career of
Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle. Sherman
died of pneumonia in December 1934.