Don Marion Davis

Don Marion Davis (born October 9, 1917), professionally known as Don Marion and also credited as John Henry Jr., is an American former child actor of the silent film era, who during a brief career in show business appeared in several feature roles and comedy shorts in Hollywood screened between 1919 and 1925. He also had uncredited parts in radio. He is one of the last surviving actors who worked in the silent film era.

Entertainment career

He was born in Hollywood, California, on October 9, 1917, to Henry G. Davis and Helen Davis. He was discovered by studio entrepreneur and director Mack Sennett while he and his mother were visiting his comedian uncle Billy Armstrong around 1919.

In a 1920 newspaper article, he was described as one of the most famous child actors in the world. His feature-length films included Down on the Farm (1920) and A Small Town Idol (1921).

Post-entertainment career

After leaving the entertainment industry in 1925, he attended the University of Oregon and joined the U.S. Army in 1940, shortly prior to the United States entering World War II. After the war, he remained with the American military and held various positions in different countries, such as South Africa and South Korea.

He now resides in Tucson, Arizona.

He was falsely reported as having died on March 2, 2012, in the 2013 book Obituaries in the Performing Arts, published by McFarland & Company and authored by Harris M. Lentz.