Anita Stewart
Encyclopedia
Anita Stewart was an American actress and film producer
of the early silent film
era.
, New York
as Anna May Stewart, she began her acting career in 1911 while still attending Erasmus High School in extra and bit parts for the Vitagraph film studios
at their New York City
location. Stewart was one of the earliest film actresses to achieve public recognition in the nascent medium of motion pictures and achieved a great deal of acclaim early in her acting career. Among her earlier popular roles were 1911's enormous box office hit adaptation of A Tale of Two Cities, directed by William J.Humphrey, and having an all-star cast including Mabel Normand
, Dorothy Kelly
, Norma Talmadge
and John Bunny
, as well as roles in 1913's The Forgotten Latchkey and The White Feather.
In 1917 she married Rudolph Cameron and became the sister-in-law of film director and actor Ralph Ince
, who began giving the young actress more prominent roles in films for Vitagraph. Throughout the 1910s and into the early 1920s, Anita Stewart was one of the silent screen's most popular actresses and was often paired in romantic roles with real-life husband, actor Rudolph Cameron. Stewart was also featured opposite such screen legends as Mae Busch
, and Barbara La Marr
.
Stewart left her lucrative Vitagraph Studios
career in 1918 to accept a contract with fledgling film mogul Louis B. Mayer
by the terms of which she would head her own production company at the Mayer studios in Los Angeles
. It was alleged that Stewart was recovering from an illness in a Los Angeles hospital when Mayer convinced her to leave Vitagraph for an undisclosed but exorbitant sum of money. Between 1918 and 1919 Stewart produced seven moderately successful vehicles, starring in all of them. Throughout the 1920s, Stewart continue to be featured in prominent roles in silent films. Following Stewart's divorce from Cameron in 1928, Stewart married George Peabody Converse the following year.
On May 4, 1961, Stewart died of a heart attack
in Beverly Hills, California
. For her contribution to motion picture industry as an actress, Anita Stewart was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
at 6724 Hollywood Boulevard
.
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
of the early silent film
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
era.
Early life and career
Born in BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
as Anna May Stewart, she began her acting career in 1911 while still attending Erasmus High School in extra and bit parts for the Vitagraph film studios
Vitagraph Studios
American Vitagraph was a United States movie studio, founded by J. Stuart Blackton and Albert E. Smith in 1897 in Brooklyn, New York. By 1907 it was the most prolific American film production company, producing many famous silent films. It was bought by Warner Bros...
at their New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
location. Stewart was one of the earliest film actresses to achieve public recognition in the nascent medium of motion pictures and achieved a great deal of acclaim early in her acting career. Among her earlier popular roles were 1911's enormous box office hit adaptation of A Tale of Two Cities, directed by William J.Humphrey, and having an all-star cast including Mabel Normand
Mabel Normand
Mabel Normand was an American silent film comedienne and actress. She was a popular star of Mack Sennett's Keystone Studios and is noted as one of the film industry's first female screenwriters, producers and directors...
, Dorothy Kelly
Dorothy Kelly
Dorothy Kelly was an American motion picture actress of the early silent film era.- Personal life :Dorothy Kelly was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Bessie and Thomas Kelly, descendants of Irish Quakers. In August 1916 she married wealthy lumber dealer Harvey Hevenor...
, Norma Talmadge
Norma Talmadge
Norma Talmadge was an American actress and film producer of the silent era. A major box office draw for more than a decade, her career reached a peak in the early 1920s, when she ranked among the most popular idols of the American screen.Her most famous film was Smilin’ Through , but she also...
and John Bunny
John Bunny
John Bunny was an American actor and was one of the first comic stars of the motion picture era. Between 1910 and his death in 1915 Bunny was one of the top stars of early silent film, as well as an early example of celebrity...
, as well as roles in 1913's The Forgotten Latchkey and The White Feather.
In 1917 she married Rudolph Cameron and became the sister-in-law of film director and actor Ralph Ince
Ralph Ince
Ralph Ince , was an American film director, actor and screenwriter of the silent era. He directed 171 films between 1910 and 1937. He also appeared in 110 films between 1907 and 1937....
, who began giving the young actress more prominent roles in films for Vitagraph. Throughout the 1910s and into the early 1920s, Anita Stewart was one of the silent screen's most popular actresses and was often paired in romantic roles with real-life husband, actor Rudolph Cameron. Stewart was also featured opposite such screen legends as Mae Busch
Mae Busch
Mae Busch was an Australian film actress who worked in both silent and sound films in early Hollywood. In the latter part of her career, she appeared in many Laurel and Hardy comedies, where she frequently played Hardy's shrewish wife.-Early life and career:Born in Melbourne, Australia, Busch was...
, and Barbara La Marr
Barbara La Marr
Barbara La Marr was an American stage and film actress, cabaret artist and screenwriter.La Marr was known as "The Girl Who Is Too Beautiful", after a Hearst newspaper feature writer, Adela Rogers St...
.
Stewart left her lucrative Vitagraph Studios
Vitagraph Studios
American Vitagraph was a United States movie studio, founded by J. Stuart Blackton and Albert E. Smith in 1897 in Brooklyn, New York. By 1907 it was the most prolific American film production company, producing many famous silent films. It was bought by Warner Bros...
career in 1918 to accept a contract with fledgling film mogul Louis B. Mayer
Louis B. Mayer
Louis Burt Mayer born Lazar Meir was an American film producer. He is generally cited as the creator of the "star system" within Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in its golden years. Known always as Louis B...
by the terms of which she would head her own production company at the Mayer studios in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. It was alleged that Stewart was recovering from an illness in a Los Angeles hospital when Mayer convinced her to leave Vitagraph for an undisclosed but exorbitant sum of money. Between 1918 and 1919 Stewart produced seven moderately successful vehicles, starring in all of them. Throughout the 1920s, Stewart continue to be featured in prominent roles in silent films. Following Stewart's divorce from Cameron in 1928, Stewart married George Peabody Converse the following year.
Later years and death
Like many of her silent film contemporaries, Stewart found the transition to sound film extremely difficult. After making just one musical short in 1932, The Hollywood Handicap, Stewart retired from the screen.On May 4, 1961, Stewart died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
in Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills is an affluent city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. With a population of 34,109 at the 2010 census, up from 33,784 as of the 2000 census, it is home to numerous Hollywood celebrities. Beverly Hills and the neighboring city of West Hollywood are together...
. For her contribution to motion picture industry as an actress, Anita Stewart was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame consists of more than 2,400 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along fifteen blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, California...
at 6724 Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood Boulevard
-Revitalization:In recent years successful efforts have been made at cleaning up Hollywood Blvd., as the street had gained a reputation for crime and seediness. Central to these efforts was the construction of the Hollywood and Highland shopping center and adjacent Kodak Theatre in 2001...
.
Selected filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1911 | Prejudice of Pierre Marie | Credited as Anna Stewart | |
| 1912 | Billy's Pipe Dream | Pert Dawson | |
| 1913 | The Swan Girl | The Swan Girl | |
| 1914 | The Girl from Prosperity | Bessie Williams | |
| 1915 | The Awakening | Jo | |
| 1916 | The Daring of Diana | Diana | |
| 1917 | Clover's Rebellion | Clover Dean | |
| 1918 | Virtuous Wives | Amy Forrester | |
| 1919 | The Painted World | Yvette Murree | |
| 1920 | The Fighting Shepherdess | Kate Prentice | Alternative title: Vindication Producer |
| 1921 | Playthings of Destiny | Julie Arnold | Producer |
| 1922 | Rose o' the Sea Rose o' the Sea Rose o' the Sea is a 1922 silent drama film directed by Fred Niblo.-Cast:* Anita Stewart - Rose Elton* Rudolph Cameron - Elliot Schuyler* Thomas Holding - Peter Schuyler* Margaret Landis - Vivienne Raymond* Kate Lester - Lady Maggie... |
Rose Elton | Producer |
| 1923 | The Love Piker | Hope Warner | |
| 1924 | The Great White Way | Mabel Vandegrift | |
| 1925 | Never the Twain Shall Meet Never the Twain Shall Meet Never the Twain Shall Meet is a 1925 silent south seas drama film based on the book by Peter B. Kyne, produced by MGM and directed by Maurice Tourneur, starring Anita Stewart and featuring Boris Karloff in an uncredited bit-part. Remade with sound in 1931 at MGM by director W. S. Van Dyke... |
Tamea | |
| 1926 | The Prince of Pilsen | Nellie Wagner | |
| 1927 | Wild Geese | Lind Archer | |
| 1928 | Sisters of Eve | Beatrice Franklin |