Glen W. Cavender (September 19, 1883 – February 9, 1962) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 250 films between 1914 and 1949.
Biography
Glen Cavender was born on September 19, 1883, or on September 19, 1879, in Tucson, Arizona. After studying at a military school he became a non-commissioned officer in the United States Army. He toured with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show and rode with Theodore Roosevelt and the Rough Riders.
Cavender began working in films with the Frontier Company in 1910, after which he worked for Bison 101 Company, Kay-Bee, Broncho, and Kalem before going to Keystone. He started in vaudeville shows in 1912. Cavender belonged to the original Keystone Cops and was a regular in numerous Mack Sennett comedies. He also worked as a director for three Mack Sennett films between 1914 and 1916. During the 1920s, Cavender worked for the film studios Educational and Christie and appeared in Buster Keaton's film classic The General (1926) as the antagonistic Union Captain Anderson. The advance of sound film in the late 1920s damaged his career and, formerly a well-known actor, Cavender only played minor roles until his retirement in 1949.
On August 28, 1921, Cavender and three other people were injured when a gasoline stove exploded. During preparation of dinner at a picnic on Ventura Beach, gasoline leaked from the stove and caught fire. The resulting explosion cast burning fuel "over the bare backs, shoulders and limbs" of people on one side of the stove. Cavender was the most seriously injured, with burns over most of his body.
Cavender was married to actress Hazel Chene. He died in Hollywood, California.
