Origins & Early Life

Harold Clayton Lloyd Sr. (April 20, 1893 – March 8, 1971) was an American actor, comedian, and stunt performer who appeared in many silent comedy films. One of the most influential film comedians of the silent era, Lloyd made nearly 200 comedy films, both silent and talkies, from 1914 to 1947. His bespectacled "glasses character" was a resourceful, ambitious go-getter who reflected the zeitgeist of the 1920s-era United States.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

His films frequently contained "thrill sequences" of extended chase scenes and daredevil physical feats. Lloyd hanging from the hands of a clock high above the street (dangerous, but risk exaggerated by camera angles) in Safety Last! (1923) is considered one of the more enduring images in cinema. Lloyd performed lesser stunts himself despite having injured himself in August 1919 while doing publicity pictures for the Roach studio. An accident with a bomb mistaken as a prop resulted in the loss of the thumb and index finger of his right hand (the injury was disguised on future films with the use of a special prosthetic glove, and it was almost undetectable on the screen).

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Lloyd was born on April 20, 1893, in Burchard, Nebraska, the son of James...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Adriano Giannini — Contemporary (Born in 1971) (1971): Italian actor known for dubbing and roles in film and television.
• Alison Krauss — Contemporary (Born in 1971) (1971): Esteemed American bluegrass singer and musician known for her vibrant career.
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• Anselm Kiefer — Shared historical date (03-08 · Born) (1945): German painter and sculptor confronting German history, the Holocaust, and myth.
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• 1893 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1893
• April 20 (04-20) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on April 20
• 1971 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1971
• March 8 (03-08) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on March 8