Joseph Kaufman

Who was Joseph Kaufman?

Joseph Kaufman was an American silent film actor and director prominent during the WW1 years. He was born in Washington, D.C. and died in New York City very early in the Influenza pandemic of 1918.

His wife was silent film star Ethel Clayton. Kaufman started out as an actor appearing on Broadway in 1903 with Maude Adams in The Pretty Sister of Jose. He eventually changed to acting in and then directing silent films, his output being numerous short films. As American films began to expand to feature length Kaufman followed suit and proved particularly adept and popular at directing beautiful Broadway actresses including his wife Ethel Clayton. He directed Pauline Frederick, Marguerite Clark, and Billie Burke. His last film The Song of Songs starred Elsie Ferguson.

As actor he is reported to have had three teeth knocked out in a screen fight with actor Earl Metcalfe. Following his death in February 1918, both of his parents died, his mother on April 9, 1918 and his father on April 18, 1918.