Who was the Frenchay Film Star?
Francis George Packer was born in Frenchay in 1877. As a youth he possessed a wonderful soprano voice. He began to sing publicly in his church choir and attracted so much attention, he later appeared on the English operatic stage. Suddenly he lost his voice and in the struggle to regain this priceless gift, lost his health. A sea trip was prescribed, so he set out for America. Subsequently he lived in a small railroad town in New England, becoming a track walker, depot agent, and baggage master. The borax mines in Death Valley next claimed his attention. With the motion picture capital close by he ventured into pictures and, changing his name to Nigel de Brulier, rose rapidly, the old artistic spirit carrying him to immediate prominence. He is remembered for his work in "The Four Horsemen," "The Three Musketeers" and "The Hunchback." (from Famous Film Folk 1925)
He died in 1948.
For a photograph of Nigel de Brulier look on the Frenchay Village Museum website.
Francis George Packer was born in Frenchay in 1877. As a youth he possessed a wonderful soprano voice. He began to sing publicly in his church choir and attracted so much attention, he later appeared on the English operatic stage. Suddenly he lost his voice and in the struggle to regain this priceless gift, lost his health. A sea trip was prescribed, so he set out for America. Subsequently he lived in a small railroad town in New England, becoming a track walker, depot agent, and baggage master. The borax mines in Death Valley next claimed his attention. With the motion picture capital close by he ventured into pictures and, changing his name to Nigel de Brulier, rose rapidly, the old artistic spirit carrying him to immediate prominence. He is remembered for his work in "The Four Horsemen," "The Three Musketeers" and "The Hunchback." (from Famous Film Folk 1925)
He died in 1948.
For a photograph of Nigel de Brulier look on the Frenchay Village Museum website.