BIO

Claud Allister was born William Claud Michael Palmer in London, England, in 1888.   After graduating from the Felsted School, he began his career as a clerk in London’s financial district.

Allister turned to regional stage productions as early as 1910, at the age of 22, and continued appearing on the English stage, except for his period of service as a commissioned officer during World War I, through the mid-1930s.

He moved to New York and Broadway in the mid-1920s and appeared in 8 productions through 1960.   His role in Ferenc Molnár's smash hit The Play’s the Thing (1926-1928) got him noticed in Hollywood.

Picked up for his abilities as a character actor, Allister made his big screen debut for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1929 at the age of 41.   He appeared in more than 65 features through 1954.

Allister died in Santa Barbara, California, in 1970, at the age of 81.

Additional English stage history is available at:

Additional Broadway stage history is available at:

NOTED FILMS