Tote DuCrow in Camera, 1922.

The early decades of cinema brought many enterprising, colorful character actors to the screen, those looking and appearing real on film. Not as physically attractive or full of charisma, they brought striking personas and authenticity to their small but important parts. One such character actor, Tote Du Crow, endowed his small roles with dignity and grace, often playing Native Americans though not one in real life. Often misidentified as Native, the actor added gentle touches that brought honor and respect to his characters.

Little is known of the actor’s early life, as conflicting reports differ on his upbringing. Some stories claim he was born George Skyrock in Watsonville, California in 1858; a 1921 Boston newspaper states he was born as Du Crow, but the 1920 census reveals he was born in Barcelona, Spain to a Spanish father and French mother, with him listing himself in the record as Tote Du Crow. Other records show him brought to the US as a very small child. Perhaps he was raised as Skyrock in the United States, as the performer married actress Florence Ashbrooke in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1898 under that name after meeting her on the stage circuit. The San Francisco Daily Review also identified the jokester as Skyrock in a blurb mentioning his divorce from Ashbrooke. Continue reading →