 His first role was in the 1911 short "The Code of Honor", and he had an uncredited role in Cecil B. DeMille's feature film "Joan the Woman" (1917), but a steady stream of parts did not begin until "The Tiger's Trail" (1919).Kohler's stern features earned him a niche playing villains.His role as Bauman in "The Iron Horse" (1924) is a notable example.