Summary
Phyllis Maude Haver (January 6, 1899 – November 19, 1960) was an American actress of the silent film era.
Phyllis Haver | |
|---|---|
 Haver in 1922 | |
| Born | Phyllis Maude Haver January 6, 1899 Douglass, Kansas, U.S. |
| Died | November 19, 1960 (aged 61) Sharon, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1915–1930 |
| Spouse |
William Seeman
(m. 1929; div. 1945) |
Early life edit
Haver was born in Douglass, Kansas to James Hiram Haver and Minnie Shanks Malone. When she was young, her family moved to Los Angeles, California. Haver attended Los Angeles Polytechnic High. After graduating, she played piano to accompany the new silent films in local theaters.[1]
Career edit
Haver auditioned for comedy producer Mack Sennett on a whim. Sennett hired her as one of his original Sennett Bathing Beauties.[2] Within a few years, she appeared as a leading lady in two-reelers for Sennett Studios. In 1923, Buster Keaton cast her as the female lead in his short The Balloonatic.
Later, while signed with DeMille-Pathé, Haver played the part of murderess Roxie Hart in the first film adaptation of Chicago in 1927, opposite Hungarian film actor Victor Varconi. One reviewer called her performance "astoundingly fine," and added that Haver "makes this combination of tragedy and comedy a most entertaining piece of work."[3]
She performed in the comedy film The Battle of the Sexes (1928), directed by D. W. Griffith, and appeared with Lon Chaney in his last silent film, Thunder (1929). Haver retired from the industry with two sound films to her credit.
Personal life edit
In 1929, she married millionaire William Seeman with a service performed by New York Mayor James J. Walker[4] at the home of Rube Goldberg, the cartoonist. The couple divorced in 1945. Haver had no children.
Death edit
Haver retired in Sharon, Connecticut. She died at age 61 from an overdose of barbiturates in 1960.[5]
Selected filmography edit
- Whose Baby? (1917)
- The Sultan's Wife (1917)
- The Pullman Bride (1917)
- '49–'17 (1917)
- Are Waitresses Safe? (1917)
- Salome vs. Shenandoah (1919)
- Love, Honor and Behave (1920)
- A Small Town Idol (1921)
- The Bolted Door (1923)
- The Balloonatic (1923 short)
- The Common Law (1923)
- Lilies of the Field (1924)
- The Fighting Coward (1924)
- Single Wives (1924)
- The Breath of Scandal (1924)
- One Glorious Night (1924)
- The Foolish Virgin (1924) *lost film
- The Snob (1924) *lost film
- New Brooms (1925) *lost film
- After Business Hours (1925)
- I Want My Man (1925)
- Her Husband's Secret (1925) *lost film
- A Fight to the Finish (1925)
- The Caveman (1926) *partially lost, one reel is missing
- Up in Mabel's Room (1926)
- Don Juan (Uncredited, 1926)
- Other Women's Husbands (1926)
- Hard Boiled (1926)
- The Nervous Wreck (1926)
- 3 Bad Men (1926)
- Fig Leaves (1926)
- What Price Glory (1926)
- The Way of All Flesh (1927) *lost film
- The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary (1927) *lost film
- The Fighting Eagle (1927)
- No Control (1927)
- Your Wife and Mine (1927)
- The Wise Wife (1927)
- Chicago (1927)
- Nobody's Widow (1927)
- The Little Adventuress (1927)
- The Shady Lady (1928)
- The Battle of the Sexes (1928)
- Sal of Singapore (1928)
- Tenth Avenue (1928)
- Thunder (1929) *lost film, only half a reel survives
- The Office Scandal (1929)
- She Couldn't Say No (1930) *lost film, only soundtrack survives
References edit
- ^ The Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra, mont-alto.com; retrieved May 8, 2016.
- ^ Phyllis Haver, Actress, dies, The Pittsburgh Press, November 21, 1960.
- ^ Movie Review: Chicago Hall, Mordaunt. The New York Times, 1927; retrieved August 28, 2011.
- ^ Death Comes to Silent Star, Phyllis Haver, The Milwaukee Journal, November 21, 1960.
- ^ "Kansas Silent Film Star Phyllis Haver is Dead", Lawrence Journal-World, November 21, 1960.
Bibliography edit
- "Ex-Actress Found Dead In Her Home; Phyllis Haver, Who Starred in Silent Films, Believed to Have Taken Her Life" (fee). The New York Times. Associated Press. November 21, 1960. p. 58. Retrieved September 4, 2007.
External links edit
- Phyllis Haver at IMDb
- Phyllis Haver at Find a Grave
- Phyllis Haver at Virtual History