Charles Wood

Charles Wood (April 23, 1916 – May 29, 1978) was an American singer and actor. After moving to New York City from Redwood City, California, where he grew up, he appeared in five Broadway musicals in the 1940s and 1950s. Early years Wood was born in Seattle, Washington, to Cyril Percival (Percy) Wood (b. August 18, 1883 in Gonzales, California; d. May 12, 1963 in San Jose, California) and his wife, Edith Florence Chamberlain (b. June 11, 1880 in Oakland, California; d. June 18, 1960 in Belmont, California). They were wed at Trinity Episcopal Parish Church in Seattle on November 6, 1909. Edith Florence Chamberlain Wood is a descendant of John Howland who was among the 102 passengers arriving at Plymouth aboard the Mayflower in 1620. Cyril Percy and his bride resided for one year in Susitna, Alaska, where Cyril was an early day official for the Northern Commercial Company. He served as secretary to William Fairbanks, vice president of the Northern Commercial Company, shortly after the start of the 20th century, and accompanied him on his annual inspection tours of company posts. Later, he was Northern Commercial Company agent at Iditarod, Alaska, and Kodiak, Alaska, where the family resided for eight years and one year respectively. Charles was born while the family was on one of many visits to Seattle during this period. The family finally left Alaska in 1919 and resided in Seattle for a year before settling in Redwood City in 1920. Wood attended Lincoln Grammar School in Redwood City and went on to graduate from Redwood City's Sequoia Union High School.