John K. Wells

John K. Wells (July 2, 1886 – December 27, 1953) was an American actor, director, producer, and writer of the Silent film era. Wells was a 29-year old actor who earned his first credited role in the 1915 Universal short film — The Queen of Hearts.

Wells worked his way up the ranks at Universal, ultimately being promoted from Assistant Director to full-time Director in 1917. In 1919, Wells worked on the Universal movie serial — The Lion Man. After directing the first two chapters of the production, he quit his job. Wells booked passage and departed for Australia, hoping to participate in their burgeoning movie industry. In 1921, Wells hit his high water mark when he wrote, produced, and directed the Australian film — Silks and Saddles.

Wells and his wife, Agnes Vernon, returned to America in 1922. Wells partnered in a real estate brokerage firm in La Jolla, California. He briefly emerged in the publishing world when he published his novel — Rafter Romance in 1932. In 1933, RKO picked up the rights to Rafter Romance and made it the basis for two films produced in the 1930s — Rafter Romance and Living on Love.

John and Judith Wells continued to live in both California and Arizona until his wife died in 1948. Wells would die five years later in 1953. He was 67 when he died.