Charlotte Merriam (April 5, 1903 – July 10, 1972) was an American motion picture actress.

Career

Bessie Charlotte Merriam was the daughter of army colonel Henry Clay Merriam (1879-1955) and born in

Fort Sheridan, Illinois Fort Sheridan is a residential neighborhood within the cities of Lake Forest, Highwood, and Highland Park in Lake County, Illinois, United States. It was originally established as Fort Sheridan, an Army post named after Civil War cavalry gene ...

. Her film career began in 1919 at the age of 16 with a role in ''The Flip of a Coin''. While visiting

Universal Pictures Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Ameri ...

that year, she was offered a part in a comedy series starring

Eddie Lyons Eddie Lyons (November 25, 1886 – August 30, 1926) was an American film actor, director, writer, and producer of the silent era. He appeared in 388, directed 153, wrote for 93, and produced 40 films between 1911 and 1926. He was born in ...

and

Leo Moran Leo Moran (born 9 November 1964 in Tuam, Galway) is best known as lead guitarist and sometimes vocalist in the Irish folk rock band The Saw Doctors. Moran studied French and Sociology at University College Galway. He later trained as a secondary ...

, possibly to replace their female regular,

Betty Compson Betty Compson (born Eleanor Luicime Compson; March 19, 1897 – April 18, 1974) was an American actress and film producer who got her start during Hollywood's silent era. She is best known for her performances in ''The Docks of New York'' and ...

, who graduated to features. Merriam accepted. Afterward, she played leads in one- and two-reel comedies, and appeared in important parts in longer features. She performed with

Colleen Moore Colleen Moore (born Kathleen Morrison; August 19, 1899 – January 25, 1988) was an American film actress who began her career during the silent film era. Moore became one of the most fashionable (and highly-paid) stars of the era and helped po ...

in ''

The Nth Commandment ''The Nth Commandment'' is a 1923 American silent drama film directed by Frank Borzage and starring Colleen Moore. It is based on a story, ''The Nth Commandment'', by Fannie Hurst, a well-known novelist of the day. The film's title jests somew ...

'' (1923) and was the female lead in '' The Brass Bottle'' (1923), directed by

Maurice Tourneur Maurice may refer to: People *Saint Maurice (died 287), Roman legionary and Christian martyr *Maurice (emperor) or Flavius Mauricius Tiberius Augustus (539–602), Byzantine emperor *Maurice (bishop of London) (died 1107), Lord Chancellor and Lo ...

. She signed a long-term contract with

Vitagraph Studios Vitagraph Studios, also known as the Vitagraph Company of America, was a United States motion picture studio. It was founded by J. Stuart Blackton and Albert E. Smith in 1897 in Brooklyn, New York, as the American Vitagraph Company. By 1907, ...

in June 1924. Her role of Mary Trail in '' Captain Blood'' (1924) was her transition from comedy to more serious films. Merriam was associated with

Warner Brothers Pictures Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. D ...

from 1929, when she signed to play the role of Camilla in ''

Dumbbells in Ermine ''Dumbbells in Ermine'' is a 1930 American early talkie pre-Code comedy film based on the 1925 play ''Weak Sisters'' by Lynn Starling. The film stars Robert Armstrong and Barbara Kent, and features Beryl Mercer, James Gleason, and Claude Gilli ...

'' (1930). She was cast with

Paul Hurst Paul Michael Hurst (born 25 September 1974) is an English football manager and former player who is the manager of club Grimsby Town. As a player, he was a defender from 1993 to 2008, notably playing his entire career at Rotherham United, b ...

in an orphanage drama produced by the

Tiffany Pictures Tiffany Pictures, which also became Tiffany-Stahl Productions for a time, was a Hollywood motion picture studio in operation from 1921 until 1932. It is considered a Poverty Row studio, whose films had lower budgets, lesser-known stars, and overal ...

about children of a deceased firefighter. The early sound film is titled ''

The Third Alarm ''The Third Alarm'' is a 1930 American pre-Code drama film directed by Emory Johnson. The film is based on the original story by Emilie Johnson and is set in San Francisco, California. The photoplay stars Anita Louise, James Hall (actor), James ...

'' (1930). After the advent of sound, Merriam's roles consisted of portrayals of tarnished society women, notably Marcia Mae Jones' drunken mother in '' Night Nurse'' (1931) starring

Barbara Stanwyck Barbara Stanwyck (; born Ruby Catherine Stevens; July 16, 1907 – January 20, 1990) was an American actress, model and dancer. A stage, film, and television star, during her 60-year professional career she was known for her strong, realistic sc ...

and

Clark Gable William Clark Gable (February 1, 1901November 16, 1960) was an American film actor, often referred to as "The King of Hollywood". He had roles in more than 60 motion pictures in multiple genres during a career that lasted 37 years, three decades ...

, and as the

syphilis Syphilis () is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium ''Treponema pallidum'' subspecies ''pallidum''. The signs and symptoms of syphilis vary depending in which of the four stages it presents (primary, secondary, latent, an ...

infected Elise in ''

Damaged Lives ''Damaged Lives'' is a 1933 Canadian/American Pre-Code Hollywood, pre-Code exploitation film directed by Edgar G. Ulmer. The screenplay is based on the French play ''Les Avariés'' (1901) by Eugène Brieux.Bogdanovich, Peter (1997) (New York: K ...

'' (1934). She seems to have retired after that.

Personal life and death

In December 1923, Merriam was named a co-respondent in a divorce suit brought by May Morris, the wife of film director

Reggie Morris James Reginald "Reggie" Morris (June 25, 1886 – February 16, 1928) was an American actor, film director, director, and screenwriter of the silent film, silent era. He appeared in 46 films between 1913 and 1918. He also directed 40 films b ...

. Merriam married actor

Rex Lease Rex Lloyd Lease (February 11, 1903 – January 3, 1966) was an American actor. He appeared in over 300 films, mainly in Poverty Row westerns. Biography Lease arrived in Hollywood in 1924. He found bit and supporting parts at Film Booking O ...

in 1925. The two met when he appeared in one of her films two years earlier. They had two children, Douglas Merriam Kinleyside (1937–1964) and Duncan William Kinleyside (1940–1994). The actress filed for divorce in 1929. Merriam later married actor Don Douglas, who died in 1946. Their residence was at 12423 Laurel Terrace,

Studio City, California Studio City is a neighborhood in the city of Los Angeles, California, in the southeast San Fernando Valley, just west of the Cahuenga Pass. It is named after the studio lot that was established in the area by film producer Mack Sennett in 1927, ...

. Lastly, Merriam married Russell Kennedy Woodward (1910–1974). Her childhood ambition was to become a concert pianist. She continued her musical education as a screen actress. She studied to be a vocalist with Felix Hughes. In January 1931, Merriam was operated on for an emergency

appendicitis Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix. Symptoms commonly include right lower abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and decreased appetite. However, approximately 40% of people do not have these typical symptoms. Severe complications of a rup ...

San Francisco, California San Francisco (; Spanish for " Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous in California and 17th ...

. She was in the Bay Area to participate in the entertainment for an automobile show.Los Angeles Times, ''Actress Stricken With Appendicitis'', January 31, 1931, Page A1. Merriam died in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

on July 10, 1972.

Partial filmography

* ''

The Blue Bonnet ''The Blue Bonnet'' is a 1919 American silent drama film directed by Louis Chaudet and starring Billie Rhodes, Ben F. Wilson, and Irene Rich.Wlaschin p.289 Cast * Billie Rhodes as Ruth * Ben F. Wilson as Jairus Drake * Irene Rich as Martha Dra ...

'' (1919) * ''

The Honey Bee ''The Honey Bee'' is a 1920 American silent drama film directed by Rupert Julian and starring Marguerita Sylva, Thomas Holding and Nigel Barrie.Goble p.323 Cast * Marguerita Sylva as Hilda Wilson * Thomas Holding as Harris Doreyn * Nigel Ba ...

'' (1920) * '' The Brass Bottle'' (1923) as Sylvia Hamilton * ''

'' (1923) as Angie Sprunt * ''

Painted People ''Painted People'' is a 1924 American silent comedy-drama film directed by Clarence G. Badger and starring Colleen Moore. It was produced and distributed by Associated First National Pictures. Plot As described in a review of the film in a film ...

'' (1924) * ''

The Breathless Moment ''The Breathless Moment'' is a 1924 American silent comedy drama film directed by Robert F. Hill and starring William Desmond, Charlotte Merriam Charlotte Merriam (April 5, 1903 – July 10, 1972) was an American motion picture actress. ...

'' (1924) * ''

Borrowed Husbands ''Borrowed Husbands'' is a 1924 American silent comedy film directed by David Smith and starring Florence Vidor. It was produced and distributed by Vitagraph Company of America. Plot As described in a film magazine review, Nancy Burrard's hus ...

'' (1924) * ''

Code of the Wilderness ''Code of the Wilderness'' is a 1924 American silent Western film directed by David Smith and starring John Bowers, Alice Calhoun, and Alan Hale. Cast * John Bowers as Rex Randerson * Alice Calhoun as Ruth Harkness * Alan Hale as Willa ...

'' (1924) * '' Captain Blood'' (1924) as Mary Traill * '' So Big'' (1924) as Julie Hempel * ''

Pampered Youth ''Pampered Youth'' is a 1925 American silent drama film directed by David Smith and starring Cullen Landis, Alice Calhoun, and Allan Forrest. It is an adaption of the 1918 novel ''The Magnificent Ambersons'' by Booth Tarkington. It was one of ...

'' (1925) * ''

Steele of the Royal Mounted ''Steele of the Royal Mounted'' is a 1925 American silent Western film directed by David Smith and starring Bert Lytell, Stuart Holmes and Charlotte Merriam. It is based on a novel by James Oliver Curwood about the Royal Canadian Mounted Polic ...

'' (1925) * '' Oh Billy, Behave'' (1926) * ''

One Punch O'Day ''One Punch O'Day'' is a 1926 American silent sports action film directed by Harry Joe Brown and starring Billy Sullivan, Charlotte Merriam and Jack Herrick.Munden p.571 It was distributed by the independent Rayart Pictures, the forerunner of M ...

'' (1926) * '' The Candy Kid'' (1928) * ''

Queen of the Night Clubs ''Queen of the Night Clubs'' is a 1929 American Pre-Code musical drama film produced and directed by Bryan Foy, distributed by Warner Bros., and starred legendary nightclub hostess Texas Guinan. The picture, which featured appearances by Eddi ...

'' (1929) as Girl * ''

Pleasure Crazed ''Pleasure Crazed'' is a 1929 American drama film directed by Donald Gallaher and Charles Klein and written by Douglas Z. Doty and Clare Kummer. The film stars Marguerite Churchill, Kenneth MacKenna, Dorothy Burgess, Campbell Gullan, Douglas ...

'' (1929) * ''

Second Choice ''Second Choice'' is a 1930 American Pre-Code black-and-white film released by Warner Bros. and starring Dolores Costello and Chester Morris. The film is notable as being the first (and only film) in which Dolores Costello sang. It is a lost fi ...

'' (1930) as Satterlee * ''

'' (1930) as Camilla * ''

'' (1930) * '' Night Nurse'' (1931) as Mrs Ritchey * '' Man Wanted'' (1932) as Miss Smith, Receptionist (uncredited) * ''

'' (1933) as Elise Cooper * '' Broken Dreams'' (1933) * '' The Avenger'' (1933) * '' Alimony Madness'' (1933) * ''

Dancing Man ''Dancing Man'' is the name given to a photograph of a man who was filmed dancing on the street in Sydney, Australia, after the end of World War II. On 15 August 1945, a cameraman, Jim Pearson, took note of a man's joyful expression and dance ...

'' (1934)

References

******

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Merriam Charlotte 1903 births 1972 deaths People from Sheridan, Illinois American film actresses American silent film actresses Actresses from Illinois 20th-century American actresses People from Studio City, Los Angeles