Actor. He was best known for playing the character roles of distinguished gentlemen including bankers, voters, trustees, congressmen officials, doormen, and delegates, but most of his roles were uncredited. He will be best remembered for playing the role of the 'Delegate' in the biographical historical war film drama, "Wilson" (1944). The film which was directed by Henry King, written by Lamar Trotti, and which also starred Alexander Knox, Charles Coburn, and Geraldine Fitzgerald, is a chronicle of the political career of the United States President Woodrow Wilson. He was born as John Edward Ardell in Huron, Ontario, Canada, to George Ardell (1837-1916), and his wife Mary Ann Armstrong Ardell on March 24, 1880. He made his actual film debut playing the role of 'Member of Board of Directors' in the comedy romance film, "If You Could Only Cook" (1935), which starred Herbert Marshall, Jean Arthur, and Leo Carrillo. Besides, "If You Could Only Cook" (1935), and "Wilson" (1944), his many other film credits include, "Nobody's Fool" (1936), "Manhattan Heartbeat" (1940), "Experiment Perilous" (1944), "Diamond Horseshoe" (1945), "Deadline For Murder" (1946), "If I'm Lucky" (1946), "Crack-Up" (1946), "The Razor's Edge" (1946), "The Late George Apley" (1947), "T-Men" (1947), and his last role as a 'United States Congressman' in the film drama, "Beyond Glory" (1948), which also starred Alan Ladd, Donna Reed, and George Macready. He suffered from depression later in life and chose to take his own life from carbon monoxide poisoning while he was sitting in his car at his home in Hollywood, California, on April 23, 1949, at the age of 69, and he was cremated through Grand View Memorial Park Crematory in Glendale, California, and his ashes are currently in an unknown location. He was married to Mary B. Barclay Ardell (1888-1957), with whom he had four children Barclay William Ardell (1910-1985), John Edward Ardell Jr. (1912-1963), Phyllis B. Ardell (1914-1945), and Mary Elizabeth Ardell (1917-1993).