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Show 'GROUCH' ACTOR ENOSOWN LIFE HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 8 (UP) Claude Gillingwater, 70, who made his movie debut with Mary Pick-ford Pick-ford and became famous for "Lovable "Lov-able Grouch" roles, committed suicide sui-cide last night because he did not want to go Into old age a sick man. While his housekeeper was taking tak-ing a walk, the veteran actor shut himself up In a bedroom closet, where the gunshot would not be be heard by the chauffeur, and fired a bullet into his chest. His body was found by the housekeeper, housekeep-er, Mrs. Leon Boyd De Brock. "To the police," read a note propped on the living room' table: "I am ending my life because, at my advanced age. In my physical physi-cal condition, there is no chance of ever being well again, and I will not permit myself to become a helpless, lingering invalid. "I alone am responsible for what I am about to do." Three other notes were addressed to the housekeeper, his son, Claude Jr.. and his personal physician. Gillingwater was born in La use-anna. use-anna. Mo., and Joined a stock company com-pany the month he graduated from high school. After he had been en the road 13 years, David Belasco saw him and brought him to Broadway Broad-way where he starred for eight years. His most successful stage role was in "Three Wise Fools." In 1921 Gillingwater came to the movies in a role with Mary Pick ford in "Little Lord Fauntle-roy." Fauntle-roy." He speclairzed In character roles of the grouchy man with the heart of gold. Shirley Temple, with whom he played in several pictures, called him her "favorite leading man." |