Betty Morrissey (September 14, 1907 – April 20, 1944) was an American film actress. She appeared in 12 films between 1923 and

1931 Events January * January 2 – South Dakota native Ernest Lawrence invents the cyclotron, used to accelerate particles to study nuclear physics. * January 4 – German pilot Elly Beinhorn begins her flight to Africa. * January 22 – Sir I ...

. She was born and died in New York City. Morrissey's mother was Anna Morrissey. Morrissey was discovered by

Erich von Stroheim Erich Oswald Hans Carl Maria von Stroheim (born Erich Oswald Stroheim; September 22, 1885 – May 12, 1957) was an Austrian-American director, actor and producer, most noted as a film star and avant-garde, visionary director of the silent era. H ...

and appeared in some of his films. She plays the feminine lead in ''The Leather Pusher'' series which stars Reginald Denny. She also appeared with Denny in 1925's '' Skinner's Dress Suit'' in which she did a Charleston style dance. She has roles in

The Gold Rush ''The Gold Rush'' is a 1925 American silent comedy film written, produced, and directed by Charlie Chaplin. The film also stars Chaplin in his Little Tramp persona, Georgia Hale, Mack Swain, Tom Murray, Henry Bergman, and Malcolm Waite. Chapl ...

starring

Charlie Chaplin Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin Jr. (16 April 188925 December 1977) was an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the era of silent film. He became a worldwide icon through his screen persona, the Tramp, and is consider ...

as well as ''Woman of Paris''. She left the

motion picture A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...

industry in 1928 when she married James A. Murray. Murray became a

first lieutenant First lieutenant is a commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces; in some forces, it is an appointment. The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations, but in most forces it is sub-divided into a s ...

and trial judge advocate at the army air base in

Santa Ana, California Santa Ana () is the second most populous city and the county seat of Orange County, California. Located in the Greater Los Angeles region of Southern California, the city's population was 310,227 at the 2020 census, making Santa Ana the List of ...

. Morrissey died at St. Clare's Hospital in New York City under the name Mrs. Elizabeth Murray''Ex Film Actress Dies In New York'', ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'', April 22, 1944, pg. A8. on April 20, 1944, aged 36. The Murrays had a son.

Selected filmography

* ''

A Woman of Paris ''A Woman of Paris'' is a feature-length American silent film that debuted in 1923. The film, an atypical drama film for its creator, was written, directed, produced and later scored by Charlie Chaplin. It is also known as ''A Woman of Paris: A ...

'' ( 1923) * '' The Fast Worker'' (1924) * ''

What Shall I Do? ''What Shall I Do?'' is a 1924 American silent drama film directed by John G. Adolfi and starring Dorothy Mackaill, John Harron, and Louise Dresser. Synopsis After an accident, a man suffers from amnesia and leaves his wife and child to retur ...

'' (1924) * ''

Virtue's Revolt ''Virtue's Revolt'' is a 1924 American silent drama film directed by James Chapin and starring Edith Thornton, Crauford Kent and Betty Morrissey.Munden p.860 Synopsis An ambitious young actress comes to New York City but finds that she can only ...

'' (1924) * '' Turned Up'' (1924) * ''

Traffic in Hearts ''Traffic in Hearts'' is a 1924 American silent drama film directed by Scott R. Dunlap and starring Robert Frazer, Mildred Harris, and Marion Feducha.Munden p. 825 Synopsis A man plans to build modern tenement buildings, but is opposed by his ...

'' (1924) * '' Lady of the Night'' (

1925 Events January * January 1 ** The Syrian Federation is officially dissolved, the State of Aleppo and the State of Damascus having been replaced by the State of Syria. * January 3 – Benito Mussolini makes a pivotal speech in the Italia ...

) * ''

The Desert Demon ''The Desert Demon'' is a 1925 American silent Western film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Jay Wilsey, Betty Morrissey, and Harry Todd. Plot As described in a film magazine review, Bill Davis, also known as Buffalo Bill, Jr., saves a ...

'' (1925) * ''

Honor Among Lovers ''Honor Among Lovers'' is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film made by Paramount Pictures, directed by Dorothy Arzner. The film stars Claudette Colbert, Fredric March, Monroe Owsley, Charles Ruggles and Ginger Rogers. Plot Julia Traynor (Claud ...

'' (

)

References

External links

* 1907 births 1944 deaths American film actresses American silent film actresses Actresses from New York City 20th-century American actresses {{US-film-actor-1900s-stub