Joseph J. Dowling

Joseph Johnson Dowling (September 4, 1850 – July 8, 1928) was an American stage and silent film actor.

Born in Pittsburgh, the son of James and Fredericka (nee Edstrem) Dowling. His father was a native of Pennsylvania while his mother immigrated from Sweden. He had two siblings, Laura and James, both of whom predeceased Dowling.

As a young boy, Dowling served as a drummer in Company G of the 29th Iowa Infantry during the Civil War.

Dowling began his career on the stage and in vaudeville before he made his film debut in 1913 in Sleuthing. He later appeared in many films with Charles Ray (with whom he appeared in five other features) and William S. Hart. He is best remembered for playing the Patriarch, one of four main characters, in the now lost film The Miracle Man (1919). Dowling continued to appear in major Hollywood silent productions including Little Lord Fauntleroy (1921) with Mary Pickford, Quincy Adams Sawyer (1922) with Lon Chaney and Blanche Sweet, The Christian (1923) with Richard Dix and Mae Busch, One Night in Rome with Laurette Taylor and the Victor Fleming directed Lord Jim (1925).

Dowling was married twice. His first marriage was to actress Sarah J. "Sadie" Hassen (née Berry) born on May 29, 1853. The couple performed together in the play Nobody's Claim, which was written specifically for them by Edwin A. Locke. The play was a hit and the two traveled around the United States performing it. They eventually settled in Mount Clemens, Michigan, in 1886. They had a son, Joseph F., in September 1890, and divorced in 1893. He later married actress Myra L. Davis to whom he remained married until his death.

Dowling died on July 8, 1928, in Hollywood. He was survived by his second wife, Myra, and his son from his first marriage.