Comfort, Will Levington

Will Levington Comfort (1878–1932) was an American writer, initially known for adventure novels, with at least three of his stories adapted into feature films. His novel "Somewhere south of Sonora" was the basis for the 1933 film "Somewhere in Sonora," which starred John Wayne. Beyond his popular fiction, Comfort delved into spiritual and esoteric subjects, particularly evident in his "The Will Levington Comfort Letters" (1920–21), which addressed theosophical themes and impacted figures like Alice Bailey. He also played a role in introducing composer Dane Rudhyar to astrology through Marc Edmund Jones. Comfort's spiritual interests also led him to publish two periodicals, "The Glass Hive" and the "Reconstruction Letters." He was an influential figure for artists Mabel Alvarez and Agnes Pelton, and his own daughter, Jane Levington Comfort, also became a novelist.

Will Levington Comfort's engagement with esoteric thought is a significant aspect of his later career. His "The Will Levington Comfort Letters," published in two volumes between 1920 and 1921, directly addressed theosophical subjects and exerted an influence on notable figures within that sphere, including Alice Bailey. Comfort's interest in spiritual matters extended to practical connections within the esoteric community; he facilitated the introduction of composer and astrologer Dane Rudhyar to the study of astrology, connecting him with Marc Edmund Jones. Rudhyar later married Comfort's secretary. During a period of spiritual focus, Comfort also produced two periodicals, "The Glass Hive" and "Reconstruction Letters," further disseminating his philosophical inquiries. His influence was also recognized in the art world, particularly among painters Mabel Alvarez and Agnes Pelton, suggesting a broader impact of his spiritual and philosophical perspectives.

Born near Kalamazoo, Michigan, in 1878, Will Levington Comfort received his education in Detroit's public schools and at Albion College. He began his professional life in journalism, working as a newspaper reporter in Detroit, Cincinnati, and Covington, Kentucky. His military service included a stint in the 5th U.S. Cavalry during the Spanish–American War. Following this, he transitioned to war correspondence in 1899, undertaking assignments that led him to travel extensively in the Philippines, China, the Russian Empire, and Japan between 1899 and 1904. Later in life, he resided in Highland Park, a Los Angeles suburb.

Will Levington Comfort was born to Silas Hopkins Comfort, a druggist, and Jane Levington, who had immigrated from Ireland. His paternal great-grandfather was Captain Benjamin Hopkins, the founder of Spring Lake, Michigan. In 1900, Comfort married Ada Duffie Mullholland, with whom he had three children. His daughter, Jane Levington Comfort, followed in his literary footsteps, becoming a novelist who collaborated with her husband, Howard Allison Sturtzel (writing under the pseudonym Paul Annixter). Comfort also had two sons: John Duffie Comfort, who was a writer, and Tom Tyrone Comfort, an artist. Will Levington Comfort passed away in Los Angeles in 1932.