Born 1887 in London, Kenneth Alexander was a photographer for United Artists, 20th Century Studios and Samuel Goldwyn Productions. He became a US citizen in 1914 when he established a freelance studio in Honolulu, Hawaii, and became more widely known for celebrity portraiture.
Classic beauties taken by Kenneth Alexander
During World War I, Alexander served in the aero-photo service of the United States Navy operating from a warship, taking close-ups and panoramas. He later established himself as a photographer in New York with a tagline, “Photographer of Women Exclusively”, a gender reversal of Pirie MacDonald’s motto. He gained particular acclaim with United Artists during his time in New York assisting them and other film companies with offices in the city.
After New York, Alexander moved to Los Angeles at the behest of Lillian Gish, who wanted him as a photographer on her film La Bohème. He eventually settled in Hollywood, where he was employed by Sam Goldwyn Productions throughout the 1930s.
Alexander died in 1975 at the age of 87. He was known for his celebrity portraiture, photographing such stars as Marlene Dietrich, Lillian Gish, Betty Blythe, and Vilma Bánky.
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