Scott Kolk

Walter Scott Kolk (May 16, 1905 – December 1, 1993) was an American actor in the 1920s and 1930s. He is most notable for his roles in All Quiet on the Western Front and Secret Agent X-9.^{[citation needed]} During his years as an entertainer at clubs, he was sometimes billed as Walter Kolk.^[1][2]

Kolk was born on May 16, 1905,^[3] in Baltimore, Maryland, but he considered Maine his home state. He attended Summer Street Grammar School in South Portland, Maine, Maine, before going bck to Maryland for four years at a military school.^[4] His mother was Mrs. Anna E. Kolk, and he had two sisters^[5] and a brother.^[6]

Kolk was a professional musician before he became an actor. He played drums for orchstras on the Keith Circuit^[5] and for Meyer Davis's orchestra and introduced the Black Bottom dance to Washington, D. C., when that orchestra played at Club Chanticleer there.^[7] He also was a "favorite singer and entertainer" at the Le Paradis supper club in Washington, and he headed the first revue at the Silver Slipper supper club when it opened in that city.^[8]

Actress Marion Davies saw Kolk perform musically in Venice, Italy, while she was on a tour of Europe. She suggested that he try performing in films, which led him to take screen tests at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. As a result of those tests, he was cast in Davies's first sound film.^[5]

In the early 1930s, Kolk left the film business. He had grown disenchanted with the lifestyle associated with film people and with himself, saying "I got so I couldn't live with myself."^[9] He bought a farm in Maine with his savings and lived alone with minimal contact with neighbors. He spent time with the land, including plowing, harvesting, and hunting. About 1+1⁄2 years later, he returned to Hollywood.^[9]

Kolk's Broadway roles include Lieutenant Dale in Take the Air (1928) and George Armstrong in Baby Pompadour (1934).^[3] His work in films included having the starring role in the 12-part serial Secret Agent X-9 (1937).^[6]

Kolk died on December 1, 1993, in Canton, Maine.^[3]