Anecdotes

Died just three days before he was to resume his stage career with the opening of "George Washington Slept Here" by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart.

One of the founding members of the Screen Actors Guild.

Radio star Harold Peary claimed he based much of his famous character "The Great Gildersleeve" on the pompous pretensions of Berton's film characterizations.

He had just completed I'm Nobody's Sweetheart Now (1940) at Universal and was just starting "George Washington Slept Here" on Broadway when he passed away. He was replaced by Dudley Digges, who had originated the part on Broadway.

One of the earliest members of Actors Equity, he sat on the union's council. In 1919 he was in charge of the New York headquarters during the Equity strike.

In 1925 he helped found the Masquers Club, which led to him and five other actors creating the Screen Actors Guild in 1933.

Canadian-born stage and silent film player whose stentorian voice was perfect for talking pictures. He played sour-looking, well-dressed bankers, politicos and other business executive types, both honest and corrupt, with typical crust and blustery imperiousness.

Accoording to the March 1990 issue of "Films in Review" Churchill was Hollywood's busiest character actors between 1932 and 1934, appearing in 31 features in 1932, 18 in 1933, and 26 in 1934.

Appeared in three Oscar Best Picture nominees: Je suis un évadé (1932), L'incendie de Chicago (1938) and La Chevauchée fantastique (1939).

Churchill was found unconscious on the floor of his room at the Hotel Lincoln in New York City on October 9, 1940. He had failed to show for a Broadway rehearsal. He died the next day at Medical Arts Hospital and his body was transported to Hollywood for burial.