Frederick William Evans was born in Lambeth, London, England on February
20, 1889. Fred was a British music hall and silent film comedian, who became
famous around the time of the First World War for portraying his character
Pimple known in the U.S.A. as Flivver in more than 200 short movies. He was
described as "second only in popularity to Charlie Chaplin in Britain at
the height of his career," and as displaying "a proto-Pythonesque
humor of the absurd." Critic Barry Anthony wrote that "in many ways
the topical skits of Pimple have more in common with The Crazy Gang, Benny
Hill, the Goons, Monty Python or topical sketch shows like French and Saunders
and The Fast Show than with the classic Hollywood silent comedies."
Evans was born into a family of music hall and circus performers. His
grandfather, also named Fred Evans, was a popular clown who staged
harlequinades; his uncle Will Evans was a leading music hall comedian; and his
parents were members of several touring musical troupes. He was a childhood
friend of Charlie Chaplin. As a child he performed with his brother Joe as part
of his parents' pantomime act, the Florador Quartet. Fred and Joe then worked
together and individually in music halls, and for Sanger's Circus, before
joining filmmakers Cricks and Martin in 1910. Evans' early screen appearances
were as Charley Smiler, a disaster-prone 'dude' character dressed in a frock
coat, waistcoat and spats.
In 1912, Fred and Joe Evans began working at the Ec-Ko studios in
Teddington, and set up their own production company, Folly Films. Unable to use
the Charley Smiler character because of legal threats from Cricks and Martin,
Evans devised a new character, Pimple, an accident-prone clown with a tight
jacket, baggy pants, big boots, cricket cap, and lank strands of hair around a
central parting. The films were scripted by Joe Evans. The films were extremely successful in Britain, and by 1915 the Evans
brothers produced some six titles each month, most of which are now lost. Evans
promoted the films by travelling around the country to present them, sometimes
also performing a live act as part of a mixed program. He also toured as part
of an Army campaign to promote and raise funds for servicemen fighting the war,
but in 1916 received a medical discharge from the forces. He continued to make films,
but his popularity declined. He returned to performing in the music halls, and
had his performances filmed, but was declared bankrupt in 1920. His last films
were made in 1922.
Fred Evans died in St. Germans, Cornwall, England, U.K. from a heart
attack on August 31, 1951.
EVANS, Fred (Frederick
William Evans) [2/20/1889,
Lambeth, London, England, U.K. – 8/31/1951, St. Germans, Cornwall, England,
U.K. (heart attack)] – producer, director, writer, puppeteer, circus performer,
actor, grandson of clown Frederick William Evans [1842-1909], nephew of
director, writer, actor Will Evans (William
Edward Evans) [1873–1931], singer May Evans [1874-1911], son of clown Fred Evans
[1864-1952], theater actress Beatttie Evans [1868-1964], brother of director,
writer, actor Joe Evans (Joseph
Evans) [1891-1967], singer May Evans
[1874-1911], half-brother actor Frank Evans, father of Josey Lilian Evans
[1911- ], make-up artist Betty May
Evans [1913-2002], Peggy Adelaide Evans [1915-2005], with Lilly Poole
[1881-1951], married to dancer DaisyVictoria Styles [1907- ] (1923-1936) father of four children
[1924-1930], married to Virgina Gladys Brooker [1915- ] (1938- father of three children ? [1939-
], ? [1940- ], ? 1941 ], co-founded Folly
Films [1912].
Cowboy Mad – 1912
(Charlie Smiler)
The Adventures of
Pimple: The Indian Massacre – 1913 (Pimple/Flivver)
Big Chief Little
Pimple – 1914 (Pimple/Flivver)
Broncho Pimple –
1914 (Pimple/Flivver)
Lieutenant Pimple
Goes to Mexico – 1914 (Lieutenant Pimple/Flivver)
The Passing of Black
Pete – 1914
Ragtime Cowboy Pimple – 1915 (Pimple)
