Fanny Midgley
Encyclopedia
Fanny Midgley was an American film actress of Hollywood's early years, mostly in silent films.
Midgley was born Fanny B. Frier in Cincinnati, Ohio
, making her move to Hollywood to pursue an acting career in the earliest days of film making, in 1911. Her first film role was alongside Francis Ford
in the earliest film version of the Battle of the Alamo
, titled The Immortal Alamo
, a film which today has no existing copies. She had another three film roles in 1912 and 1913, then in 1914 her career took off. In 1914 alone she had twenty seven film appearances. That included The Sheriff of Bisbee, in which she starred alongside actress Mildred Harris
, the future mother of Charlie Chaplin
's first child. From 1915 through 1919 she would appear in another thirty two films, mostly in supporting roles. Her last film appearance during that period was the 1919 film The Lottery Man, in which she starred alongside Wanda Hawley
and Wallace Reid
.
During the 1920s her career would slow somewhat, but she still stayed active, appearing in twenty two films between 1920 and 1926, with her biggest film role during that time being opposite Rudolph Valentino
in the 1922 film The Young Rajah. From 1927 to 1929 her career almost completely halted compared to her previous years, with only five film appearances during that period, most notably opposite Buddy Roosevelt
in The Cowboy Cavalier in 1928.
She did transition somewhat successfully to "talking films", and appeared in the 1930 movie The Poor Millionaire, starring Richard Talmadge
and Constance Howard
. In 1931 she appeared in An American Tragedy, starring Sylvia Sidney
and Phillips Holmes
. Fanny Midgley died unexpectedly at the age of 52 on January 4, 1932, in Hollywood.
Midgley was born Fanny B. Frier in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, making her move to Hollywood to pursue an acting career in the earliest days of film making, in 1911. Her first film role was alongside Francis Ford
Francis Ford (actor)
Francis Ford was a prolific film actor, writer, and director. He was the older brother of film director John Ford. He also appeared in many of John Ford's movies, including Young Mr. Lincoln and The Quiet Man.He starred in the 1912 two-reeler The Deserter by Thomas H. Ince and acted in over 400...
in the earliest film version of the Battle of the Alamo
Battle of the Alamo
The Battle of the Alamo was a pivotal event in the Texas Revolution. Following a 13-day siege, Mexican troops under President General Antonio López de Santa Anna launched an assault on the Alamo Mission near San Antonio de Béxar . All but two of the Texian defenders were killed...
, titled The Immortal Alamo
The Immortal Alamo
The Immortal Alamo was an American silent film produced by Star Film Company, directed by Gaston Melies, and released on May 25, 1911. The Immortal Alamo is the earliest film version of the events surrounding the 1836 Battle of the Alamo. No known copies of the film exist today, and it is...
, a film which today has no existing copies. She had another three film roles in 1912 and 1913, then in 1914 her career took off. In 1914 alone she had twenty seven film appearances. That included The Sheriff of Bisbee, in which she starred alongside actress Mildred Harris
Mildred Harris
Mildred Harris was an American film actress. Harris began her career in the film industry as a popular child actress at age eleven. At the age of fifteen, she was cast as a harem girl in D. W. Griffith's Intolerance . She appeared as a leading lady through the 1920s but her career slowed with...
, the future mother of Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin
Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era. He became the most famous film star in the world before the end of World War I...
's first child. From 1915 through 1919 she would appear in another thirty two films, mostly in supporting roles. Her last film appearance during that period was the 1919 film The Lottery Man, in which she starred alongside Wanda Hawley
Wanda Hawley
Wanda Hawley , was a veteran of the silent screen films era. She entered the theatrical profession with an amateur group in Seattle, and later toured the U.S. and Canada as a singer. She co-starred with Rudolph Valentino in the 1922's The Young Rajah, and rose to stardom in a number of Cecil B...
and Wallace Reid
Wallace Reid
Wallace Reid was an actor in silent film referred to as "the screen's most perfect lover".-Early life:Born William Wallace Reid in St...
.
During the 1920s her career would slow somewhat, but she still stayed active, appearing in twenty two films between 1920 and 1926, with her biggest film role during that time being opposite Rudolph Valentino
Rudolph Valentino
Rudolph Valentino was an Italian actor, and early pop icon. A sex symbol of the 1920s, Valentino was known as the "Latin Lover". He starred in several well-known silent films including The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, The Sheik, Blood and Sand, The Eagle and Son of the Sheik...
in the 1922 film The Young Rajah. From 1927 to 1929 her career almost completely halted compared to her previous years, with only five film appearances during that period, most notably opposite Buddy Roosevelt
Buddy Roosevelt
Buddy Roosevelt was an American film actor and stunt performer from Hollywood's early silent film years through the 1950s.-Biography:...
in The Cowboy Cavalier in 1928.
She did transition somewhat successfully to "talking films", and appeared in the 1930 movie The Poor Millionaire, starring Richard Talmadge
Richard Talmadge
Richard Talmadge was a Swiss-born American actor, stuntman and film director....
and Constance Howard
Constance Howard
Constance Howard was an American silent film actress of the late 1920s and early 1930s.-Filmography:*Splendor .... Dinner Guest...
. In 1931 she appeared in An American Tragedy, starring Sylvia Sidney
Sylvia Sidney
Sylvia Sidney was an American actress who rose to prominence in the 1930s appearing in numerous crime dramas.-Early life:...
and Phillips Holmes
Phillips Holmes
Phillips Holmes was an American film actor who appeared in 44 films between 1928 and 1938. His credits included Grumpy, An American Tragedy, Broken Lullaby, Dinner at Eight, and Great Expectations....
. Fanny Midgley died unexpectedly at the age of 52 on January 4, 1932, in Hollywood.