Page "Francis Ford (actor)" Paragraph 8

Ambitious and prolific, in Ford's early work he cast himself as George Armstrong Custer, Sherlock Holmes ( with his younger brother as Dr. Watson ), and Abraham Lincoln, a role which he specialized in.

By 1912 Ford was directing alongside Thomas Ince.

It rapidly became clear that Ince was characteristically taking credit for Ford's work, so Ford moved to Universal in early 1913.

His 1913 Lucille Love, Girl of Mystery was Universal's first serial, and the first of a string of very popular serials starring Ford's collaborator and lover Grace Cunard.

The 1915 serial The Broken Coin was expanded from 15 to 22 episodes by popular demand, probably the height of Ford's career.