Granville Redmond Biography

Landscape painter. Born in Philadelphia, PA on March 9, 1871. Stricken with scarlet fever, Redmond was deaf at age three. After moving with his family to San Jose, CA about 1874, he attended the Berkeley School for the Deaf from 1879-90. At that school he was greatly influenced by Theophilus D?Estrella who taught Redmond painting, drawing, pantomime and encouraged him in his art studies.

Upon graduation, he entered the San Francisco School of Design where he studied with Mathews and Joullin. There he was awarded a scholarship for further study in Paris at Academie Julian under Constant and Laurens. While in Paris he shared apartments with Gottardo Piazzoni and Douglas Tilden. Some of his early paintings done in France are signed "S. Redmond."

Returning to California in 1898, he took up residence in Los Angeles. The years 1910-17 were spent in Northern California where he was a resident at different periods of San Mateo, Monterey County and Belvedere.

In 1917 his ability in sign language was put to good use when he became a bit player in the silent movies in Hollywood. Redmond became good friends with Charlie Chaplin and was instrumental in perfecting Chaplin?s pantomime technique. He had a studio on the Chaplin movie lot and appeared in several of his movies, the most memorable role being the sculptor in "City Lights." He also had a feature role in "You?d be Surprised."