Marion Leonard
Encyclopedia
Marion Leonard was an American stage
actress who became one of first motion picture celebrities in the early years of the silent film
era.
, Marion Leonard began working in live theatre until 1908 when at the age of twenty-seven she was signed by American Mutoscope and Biograph Company
. She made her screen debut in the short film "At the Crossroads of Life" directed by Wallace McCutcheon, Jr. from a screenplay
by D.W. Griffith who also appeared as an actor in this film.
Within a year, she had leading roles, frequently directed by Griffith. At a time when screen credits were not given to actors, she and Florence Auer
were the first star actresses to be billed by the studio as a "Biograph Girl". Of her films made at Biograph, thirty-two were with an up-and-coming young actress named Mary Pickford
.
and a personal relationship developed that led to marriage. The two would eventually leave Biograph to make films together for Universal Pictures
and other studios and sometimes through their own production company.
In 1915, after appearing in more than one hundred and fifty films, Marion Leonard retired from film but did return eleven years later at age forty-five for one final appearance in a 1926 Mack Sennett
comedy.
Marion Leonard died in 1956 at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital
in Woodland Hills, California.
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
actress who became one of first motion picture celebrities in the early years of the 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 career
Born in Cincinnati, OhioCincinnati, 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...
, Marion Leonard began working in live theatre until 1908 when at the age of twenty-seven she was signed by American Mutoscope and Biograph Company
American Mutoscope and Biograph Company
The American Mutoscope and Biograph Company, was a motion picture company founded in 1895 and active until 1928. It was the first company in the United States devoted entirely to film production and exhibition, and for two decades was one of the most prolific, releasing over three thousand short...
. She made her screen debut in the short film "At the Crossroads of Life" directed by Wallace McCutcheon, Jr. from a screenplay
Screenplay
A screenplay or script is a written work that is made especially for a film or television program. Screenplays can be original works or adaptations from existing pieces of writing. In them, the movement, actions, expression, and dialogues of the characters are also narrated...
by D.W. Griffith who also appeared as an actor in this film.
Within a year, she had leading roles, frequently directed by Griffith. At a time when screen credits were not given to actors, she and Florence Auer
Florence Auer
Florence Auer was an American theater and motion picture actress whose career spanned more than five decades.-Life and career:...
were the first star actresses to be billed by the studio as a "Biograph Girl". Of her films made at Biograph, thirty-two were with an up-and-coming young actress named Mary Pickford
Mary Pickford
Mary Pickford was a Canadian-born motion picture actress, co-founder of the film studio United Artists and one of the original 36 founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
.
Marriage and Switch to Universal Pictures
While working for Biograph, Leonard met screenwriter/director Stanner E.V. TaylorStanner E.V. Taylor
Stanner E.V. Taylor was an American screenwriter and director of the silent era. He wrote for 108 films between 1908 and 1929.He was born in St. Louis, Missouri and died in Los Angeles, California...
and a personal relationship developed that led to marriage. The two would eventually leave Biograph to make films together for Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures
-1920:* White Youth* The Flaming Disc* Am I Dreaming?* The Dragon's Net* The Adorable Savage* Putting It Over* The Line Runners-1921:* The Fire Eater* A Battle of Wits* Dream Girl* The Millionaire...
and other studios and sometimes through their own production company.
In 1915, after appearing in more than one hundred and fifty films, Marion Leonard retired from film but did return eleven years later at age forty-five for one final appearance in a 1926 Mack Sennett
Mack Sennett
Mack Sennett was a Canadian-born American director and was known as the innovator of slapstick comedy in film. During his lifetime he was known at times as the "King of Comedy"...
comedy.
Marion Leonard died in 1956 at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital
Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital
The Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital is a retirement community, with individual cottages, and a fully licensed, acute-care hospital, located at 23388 Mulholland Drive in Woodland Hills, California...
in Woodland Hills, California.