Olga Grey
Encyclopedia
Olga Grey was an American
silent film
actress.
Anna "Anushka" Zacsek, a Budapest native, immigrated to the United States, and by her late teens was pursuing an acting career in Hollywood.
Her first film appearance was in the 1915
film His Lesson, in which she had the lead role. She would have twelve film roles that year, including a role in the now classic film The Birth of a Nation
, starring Lillian Gish
, Mae Marsh
, and directed by D. W. Griffith
.
In 1916
she appeared in seven films, including the role of "Lady Agnes" in Macbeth
. She would have another eleven roles between 1917
and 1920
, with a steady decline of quality roles.
She left the business in 1920, and became an attorney under her original name, Anna Zacsek. In 1942 she was one of the defense attorneys in the "Sleepy Lagoon
" trials, defending gang members Henry Leyvas, Victor Segobia, and Edward Grandpré. She was the only woman attorney in the courtroom for these trials.
Anna Zacsek was residing in Los Angeles
at the time of her death on April 25, 1973, aged 76.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
actress.
Anna "Anushka" Zacsek, a Budapest native, immigrated to the United States, and by her late teens was pursuing an acting career in Hollywood.
Her first film appearance was in the 1915
1915 in film
The year 1915 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* February 8 : D.W Griffith's The Birth of a Nation premieres at Clune's Auditorium Los Angeles and breaks box office and film length records, running at a total length of 3 hrs 10 minutes.* June 18 : The Motion Picture Directors...
film His Lesson, in which she had the lead role. She would have twelve film roles that year, including a role in the now classic film The Birth of a Nation
The Birth of a Nation
The Birth of a Nation is a 1915 American silent film directed by D. W. Griffith and based on the novel and play The Clansman, both by Thomas Dixon, Jr. Griffith also co-wrote the screenplay , and co-produced the film . It was released on February 8, 1915...
, starring Lillian Gish
Lillian Gish
Lillian Diana Gish was an American stage, screen and television actress whose film acting career spanned 75 years, from 1912 to 1987....
, Mae Marsh
Mae Marsh
Mae Marsh was an American film actress with a career spanning over 50 years.-Early life:...
, and directed by D. W. Griffith
D. W. Griffith
David Llewelyn Wark Griffith was a premier pioneering American film director. He is best known as the director of the controversial and groundbreaking 1915 film The Birth of a Nation and the subsequent film Intolerance .Griffith's film The Birth of a Nation made pioneering use of advanced camera...
.
In 1916
1916 in film
The year 1916 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* October 17 - release of A Daughter of the Gods, the first US production with a million dollar budget, with the first nude scene by a major star....
she appeared in seven films, including the role of "Lady Agnes" in Macbeth
Macbeth (1916 film)
Macbeth is a silent, black and white 1916 film adaptation of the classic William Shakespeare play, Macbeth.It was directed by John Emerson, and released on June 4, 1916 in the United States, and on February 26, 1917 in Japan. This version of Macbeth was produced by D. W. Griffith, with...
. She would have another eleven roles between 1917
1917 in film
The year 1917 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*Foundation of Universum Film AG , as a propaganda film company, in Berlin.*Technicolor System 1, a two-color process, is introduced...
and 1920
1920 in film
The year 1920 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* November 27 - The Mark of Zorro, starring Douglas Fairbanks opens.-Top grossing films :-Films released in 1920:U.S.A. unless stated*The $1,000,000 Reward...
, with a steady decline of quality roles.
She left the business in 1920, and became an attorney under her original name, Anna Zacsek. In 1942 she was one of the defense attorneys in the "Sleepy Lagoon
Sleepy Lagoon
"Sleepy Lagoon" can refer to:*"Sleepy Lagoon," a 1940 popular song by Sir Eric Coates and Jack Lawrence*The 1942 Sleepy Lagoon murder, which led to the Zoot Suit riots*Sleepy Lagoon, a 1943 movie...
" trials, defending gang members Henry Leyvas, Victor Segobia, and Edward Grandpré. She was the only woman attorney in the courtroom for these trials.
Anna Zacsek was residing in Los Angeles
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...
at the time of her death on April 25, 1973, aged 76.
Selected filmography
- The Third EyeThe Third Eye (serial)The Third Eye is a 1920 film serial directed by James W. Horne. The film is considered to be lost.-Cast:* Warner Oland - Curtis Steele / Malcolm Graw* Eileen Percy - Rita Moreland* Jack Mower - Dick Keene* Olga Grey - Zaida Savoy...
(19201920 in filmThe year 1920 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* November 27 - The Mark of Zorro, starring Douglas Fairbanks opens.-Top grossing films :-Films released in 1920:U.S.A. unless stated*The $1,000,000 Reward...
) - Jim BludsoJim BludsoJim Bludso is a 1917 drama film directed by Tod Browning. It was Browning's first feature film as a director. Contemporary sources are variable on the matter of whether the direction was a joint effort between Browning and the film's star, Wilfred Lucas. In their book Dark Carnival: The Secret...
(19171917 in filmThe year 1917 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*Foundation of Universum Film AG , as a propaganda film company, in Berlin.*Technicolor System 1, a two-color process, is introduced...
) - MacbethMacbeth (1916 film)Macbeth is a silent, black and white 1916 film adaptation of the classic William Shakespeare play, Macbeth.It was directed by John Emerson, and released on June 4, 1916 in the United States, and on February 26, 1917 in Japan. This version of Macbeth was produced by D. W. Griffith, with...
(19161916 in filmThe year 1916 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* October 17 - release of A Daughter of the Gods, the first US production with a million dollar budget, with the first nude scene by a major star....
) - The Birth of a NationThe Birth of a NationThe Birth of a Nation is a 1915 American silent film directed by D. W. Griffith and based on the novel and play The Clansman, both by Thomas Dixon, Jr. Griffith also co-wrote the screenplay , and co-produced the film . It was released on February 8, 1915...
(19151915 in filmThe year 1915 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* February 8 : D.W Griffith's The Birth of a Nation premieres at Clune's Auditorium Los Angeles and breaks box office and film length records, running at a total length of 3 hrs 10 minutes.* June 18 : The Motion Picture Directors...
)