Born Ernest Carlton Brimmer in St. Paul, MN. While a medical student, he began acting in campus plays and eventually gave up the idea of medical practice for a career on stage. After some experience in stock and WWI service, he made his Broadway debut in 1919 (The Hawk). Two years later he made his screen debut and immediately clicked as a star. Tall, rugged, and square-jawed, he often played the strong, silent type, and enjoyed considerable popularity in the 20s as a hero capable of dealing calmly with every situation. Among his notable silent film roles was that of the hero in the modern part of De Mille's THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (1923) and as an Indian in THE VANISHING AMERICAN (1925). He spent most of the silent period with Paramount, but early in the 30s he moved to RKO and other companies. His best-known early sound vehicle was CIMARRON (1931). Despite the film's huge financial and critical success and a personal Oscar nomination, Dix found himself subsequently drifting into second features. For the rest of his career he appeared mostly in B pictures, typically in the action vein. In the mid-40s he played THE WHISTLER (1944) in a series of adventure films. He died at 55 of a heart attack. His son, Robert Dix, also appeared in films, in both leads and supporting parts.    Nominated for Actor 1930-31: CIMARRON 1 nomination