Melbourne MacDowell (November 22, 1856 – February 18, 1941) was an American stage and screen actor. He began on the legitimate stage in the 1870s and first appeared on the silent screen in 1917.He was born Willet Melbourne MacDowell in Little Washington, New Jersey (now South River, New Jersey). He had an older brother named E. A. MacDowell. As a teen Melbourne went to sea in the Merchant Marines eventually becoming a mate.