Peil was born in
Racine, Wisconsin, one of 10 children of Mr. and Mrs. John H. Pell. and the
University of Notre Dame, studying dramatics, which led to his acting on stage and later in films. His first film was ''Charley's Aunt
(1906). He had the lead in the first five-reel film, Through Fire to Fortune'' (1910). He also acted in the first film that used artificial illumination outdoors at night, the first three-reel color film, and the first
Technicolor film. Peil's wife, Henrietta, was an actress. They were married in 1916 in Wabash, Indiana, while both were touring with the Chicago Majestic Theater Stock Company. Peil died in
Hollywood, California. His son, Edward Peil Jr., and his daughter, Virginia, also acted in films. ==Selected filmography==