Carmelita Geraghty
Encyclopedia
Carmelita Geraghty was an American
silent-film actress.
Although born in Indiana she was educated mostly in New York City
. She went on to be a graduate of the Hollywood High School
. Though her parents wished her to stay at home, she went off to become a movie star. Her father in particular was slow to approve of his daughter's new employment.
of 1924. She soon became a favorite leading lady for directors.
In a review of one of her first films the New York Times commented that Geraghty "gives the only performance worth mentioning. She has very pretty eyes and obviously would be able to make her acting count for something in a more dramatic vehicle."
When the age of sound dawned Carmelita's career began to crumble. Her roles began to be much smaller. Her last film role was in Phantom of Santa Fe (1936). She then retired from film altogether.
She became a very accomplished artist about ten years after leaving motion pictures. Her painting style was reminiscent of French Impressionism. In the last years of her life her artwork was put on display at the Weil Gardens in Paris
.
She married MGM writer/producer Carey Wilson on May 1, 1934, and the marriage ended in 1962 upon his death. Wilson worked on the Andy Hardy
and Dr. Kildare
films. Geraghty's father had written scenarios for Douglas Fairbanks Sr..
Carmelita Geraghty died of a heart attack in 1966 at the Lombardy Hotel
in Manhattan
, aged 65. She was returning to her home in Los Angeles, California
after a month's exhibition of her work at the Weil Galleries. She is interred in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Hollywood, CA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
silent-film actress.
Early life
Her father was screenwriter Tom Geraghty. She was the sister of writers Maurice Geraghty and Gerard Geraghty.Although born in Indiana she was educated mostly in 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...
. She went on to be a graduate of the Hollywood High School
Hollywood High School
Hollywood High School is a Los Angeles Unified School District high school located at the intersection of North Highland Avenue and West Sunset Boulevard in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, California.-History:...
. Though her parents wished her to stay at home, she went off to become a movie star. Her father in particular was slow to approve of his daughter's new employment.
Career
She started work out as an extra in the early 1920s, using a fictitious name until getting her big break. She was selected as one of the WAMPAS Baby StarsWAMPAS Baby Stars
The WAMPAS Baby Stars was a promotional campaign sponsored by the Western Association of Motion Picture Advertisers in the United States which honored thirteen young women each year whom they believed to be on the threshold of movie stardom. They were selected from 1922 to 1934, and annual...
of 1924. She soon became a favorite leading lady for directors.
In a review of one of her first films the New York Times commented that Geraghty "gives the only performance worth mentioning. She has very pretty eyes and obviously would be able to make her acting count for something in a more dramatic vehicle."
When the age of sound dawned Carmelita's career began to crumble. Her roles began to be much smaller. Her last film role was in Phantom of Santa Fe (1936). She then retired from film altogether.
She became a very accomplished artist about ten years after leaving motion pictures. Her painting style was reminiscent of French Impressionism. In the last years of her life her artwork was put on display at the Weil Gardens in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
She married MGM writer/producer Carey Wilson on May 1, 1934, and the marriage ended in 1962 upon his death. Wilson worked on the Andy Hardy
Andy Hardy
Andy Hardy was a fictional character played by Mickey Rooney in an MGM film series from 1937 to 1958. Spanning over 20 years, the 16 movies were based on characters in the play Skidding by Aurania Rouverol....
and Dr. Kildare
Dr. Kildare
Dr. James Kildare is a fictional character, the primary character in a series of American theatrical films in the late 1930s and early 1940s, an early 1950s radio series, a 1960s television series of the same name and a comic book based on the TV show, and a short-lived 1970s television series...
films. Geraghty's father had written scenarios for Douglas Fairbanks Sr..
Carmelita Geraghty died of a heart attack in 1966 at the Lombardy Hotel
Lombardy Hotel
The Lombardy Hotel located at 111 East 56th Street The Lombardy Hotel located at 111 East 56th Street The Lombardy Hotel located at 111 East 56th Street (between Park Avenue and Lexington Avenue in New York City. Built in the 1920s by William Randolph Hearst for his mistress, silent film star...
in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, aged 65. She was returning to her home in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
after a month's exhibition of her work at the Weil Galleries. She is interred in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Hollywood, CA