The younger brother of film director Henry King, Louis King entered movies in 1919 as a character actor. Specializing in villains and blusterers, King alternated his billing between Louis King and Lewis King throughout the silent era. In 1927, he followed his brother's lead by turning director, churning out several westerns and melodramas at FBO Studios (later RKO). Most of his talking pictures were strictly "B"s, but occasionally, e.g. his Bulldog Drummond efforts at Paramount in the 1930s, they warranted at least a B-plus for effort. King was finally afforded heftier budgets during the 1940s; his best films during that decade included 20th Century-Fox's My Friend Flicka sequels Thunderhead: Son of Flicka (1945) and Green Grass of Wyoming (1948). Louis King reverted to inexpensive programmers in the 1950s, retiring in 1956.
by Hal Erickson
biography
