Australians in Hollywood : Biographical Notes

Snowy Baker
Reginald “Snowy” Baker (1884-1953), actor and stuntman, first made his mark as a freakishly versatile sportsman, representing Australia in Rugby Union, Polo, Diving, and Boxing (he lost the gold medal bout at the 1908 Olympics narrowly, and in controversial circumstances: the referee was his opponent’s father). He starred (and performed his own stunts) in The Enemy Within (1918), becoming Australia ’s first great matinee idol. His second film, The Lure of the Bush (1918), was partially shot in Hollywood. While there, Baker studied studio methods, and conceived plans to crack the international market. Back in Australia he formed Carroll-Baker Productions with E. J. Carroll. They imported a Hollywood crew, including director Wilfred Lucas, to make Baker’s next 3 films, beginning with The Man from Kangaroo (1920). Moving to California in the early 1920s, he appeared in 5 Hollywood films, including His Last Race (1923), and The Sword of Valor (1924). In 1923 he became manager of the Riviera Polo Club in Santa Monica , where he tutored Americans in the arts of horse-riding and boomerang-throwing. He taught Rudolph Valentino horse tricks for The Sheikh (1921), and Douglas Fairbanks whip technique for Don Q., Son of Zorro (1925).

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