Francis X. Bushman - Later Career

Later Career

Bushman was paid large salaries during his screen career, and donated his home and the land upon which it stood on Hollywood Boulevard to Sid Grauman who erected his famous Chinese Theater upon it. But his fortune was wiped out in the great crash of 1929, and his career as a movie star had run its course. Bushman eked out a living taking small roles in pictures and attempting to run a few small businesses. On viewing one of his early films, Bushman is said to have remarked, "My God, look at that! I'm putting all my emotion into my chin!"

After his film career had waned, Bushman made his broadcasting mark on the CBS Radio network's long-running dramatic serial entitled Those We Love. In the soap opera, which ran from 1938 to 1945, Bushman played the role of John Marshall, a father of the twins (played by Richard Cromwell and Nan Grey). Robert Cummings rounded out the cast.

In later years, he made guest appearances on television, playing roles on series such as Peter Gunn, Make Room for Daddy, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, Perry Mason and Dr. Kildare. In 1956, Bushman appeared in a Burns and Allen episode (#73) where he played himself. Bushman made two science fiction films 12 to the Moon (1960) released by Columbia Pictures and The Phantom Planet released by American International Pictures (1961).

In 1966, Bushman guest-starred on a two-part episode of Batman. Both Bushman and his The Grip of the Yukon co-star, Neil Hamilton, appeared in the episode—their first such reunion in 38 years. Bushman's role—as a wealthy collector of silent pictures and promoter of a silent film festival—was one of his last appearances on camera.