Fanny Midgley (born Fanny B. Frier; November 26, 1879 – January 4, 1932) was an American film actress of Hollywood's early years, mostly in

silent films A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, whe ...

Biography

Midgley was born Fanny B. Frier on November 26, 1879, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Midgley's work on stage included portraying Mopsa in the Broadway production ''The Free Lance'' (1906). Midgley's first feature film was ''Shorty Escapes Marriage'' (1914). In 1914 alone, she had 27 film appearances, including ''The Sheriff of Bisbee'', in which she starred with actress

Mildred Harris Mildred Harris (April 18, 1901 – July 20, 1944) was an American stage, film, and vaudeville actress during the early part of the 20th century. Harris began her career in the film industry as a child actress when she was 10 years old. She was a ...

, the future mother of

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 ...

's first child. From 1915 through 1919, she appeared in another 32 films, mostly in supporting roles. Her last film appearance during this period was the 1919 film ''The Lottery Man'', in which she starred with

Wanda Hawley Wanda Hawley (born Selma Wanda Pittack; July 30, 1895 – March 18, 1963) was an American actress during the silent film era. She entered the theatrical profession with an amateur group in Seattle, and later toured the United States and Can ...

and

Wallace Reid William Wallace Halleck Reid (April 15, 1891 – January 18, 1923) was an American actor in silent film, referred to as "the screen's most perfect lover". He also had a brief career as a racing driver. Early life Reid was born in St. Louis, M ...

. During the 1920s, her career began to slow, appearing in 22 films between 1920 and 1926, with her biggest film role during that time being in the 1922 film ''

The Young Rajah ''The Young Rajah'' is a 1922 silent film starring Rudolph Valentino. The film was based on the book ''Amos Judd'' by John Ames Mitchell. Plot After fifteen years, Joshua Judd ( Charles Ogle) tells his adopted son, Amos (Valentino), that his re ...

'' with

Rudolph Valentino Rodolfo Pietro Filiberto Raffaello Guglielmi di Valentina d'Antonguolla (May 6, 1895 – August 23, 1926), known professionally as Rudolph Valentino and nicknamed The Latin Lover, was an Italian actor based in the United States who starred ...

. From 1927 to 1929, her career almost completely halted compared to her previous years, with only five film appearances during this period, most notably with

Buddy Roosevelt Buddy Roosevelt (born Kenneth Stanhope Sanderson; June 25, 1898 – October 6, 1973) was an American film and television actor and stunt performer from Hollywood's early silent film years through the 1950s. Biography Roosevelt was born as Kenn ...

in ''The Cowboy Cavalier'' in 1928. She did transition somewhat successfully to sound films, and appeared in the 1930 movie ''The Poor Millionaire'', starring

Richard Talmadge Richard Talmadge (born Sylvester Alphonse Metz; 3 December 1892 – 25 January 1981) also known as Sylvester Metzetti, Ricardo Metzetti, or Sylvester Ricardo Metzetti, was a German-born actor, stuntman and film director. Early life Born in ...

and Constance Howard. In 1931, she appeared in ''

An American Tragedy ''An American Tragedy'' is a 1925 novel by American writer Theodore Dreiser. He began the manuscript in the summer of 1920, but a year later abandoned most of that text. It was based on the notorious murder of Grace Brown in 1906 and the trial of ...

'', starring

Sylvia Sidney Sylvia Sidney (born Sophia Kosow; August 8, 1910 – July 1, 1999) was an American stage, screen and film actress whose career spanned over 70 years. She rose to prominence in dozens of leading roles in the 1930s. She was nominated for the Aca ...

and

Phillips Holmes Phillips Raymond Holmes (July 22, 1907 – August 12, 1942) was an American actor. For his contributions to the film industry, he was posthumously given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960. Early life, education and career Born in ...

. Midgley was married to Cecil S. Frier at some point, and she died at the age of 52 on January 4, 1932, in Hollywood.

Partial filmography

* ''

The Immortal Alamo ''The Immortal Alamo'' is an American silent film released on May 25, 1911. ''The Immortal Alamo'' is the earliest film version of the events surrounding the 1836 Battle of the Alamo. The film was directed by William F. Haddock, and produced by ...

'' (1911) * '' The Italian'' (1915) * ''

Somewhere in France ''Somewhere in France'' is a 1916 silent era war espionage drama motion picture starring Louise Glaum and Howard C. Hickman. Directed by Charles Giblyn and produced by Thomas H. Ince, the screenplay was adapted by J. G. Hawks based on the 1915 ...

'' (1916) * ''

The Apostle of Vengeance ''The Apostle of Vengeance'' is a 1916 American silent drama film directed by Clifford Smith and starring William S. Hart, Nona Thomas, and John Gilbert. A Kentucky-born preacher returns home from Vermont in order to settle a feud between two w ...

'' (1916) * ''

Blood Will Tell ''Blood Will Tell: Tezuka Osamu's Dororo'', released as in Japan, is a 2004 PlayStation 2 game released by Sega. It is based on the Japanese manga series ''Dororo'', which was created by Osamu Tezuka. It concerns a hero named Hyakkimaru, who ...

'' (1917) * ''

Madam Who? ''Madam Who?'' is a 1918 American silent drama film directed by Reginald Barker and starring Bessie Barriscale. It was produced by Paralta Plays and distributed through W. W. Hodkinson Corporation and the General Film Company. Survives in the Lib ...

'' (1918) * '' Wolves of the Rail'' (1918) * '' How Could You, Jean?'' (1918) * ''

Cheating the Public ''Cheating the Public'' is a 1918 American silent drama film directed by Richard Stanton and starring Enid Markey, Ralph Lewis and Bertram Grassby.Solomon p.245 Cast * Enid Markey as Mary Garvin * Ralph Lewis as John Dowling * Bertram Grass ...

'' (1918) * '' The Goat'' (1918) * ''

The Corsican Brothers ''The Corsican Brothers'' (french: Les Frères corses) is a novella by Alexandre Dumas, père, first published in 1844. It is the story of two conjoined brothers who, though separated at birth, can still feel each other's physical distress. It h ...

'' (1920) * '' Always Audacious'' (1920) * ''

All Soul's Eve ''All Souls' Eve'' is a 1921 American silent drama film directed by Chester M. Franklin and starring Mary Miles Minter. The film is based on the mystical 1920 Broadway play of the same name by Anne Crawford Flexner, with a story by Elmer Blane ...

'' (1921) * ''

Patsy Patsy is a given name often used as a diminutive of the feminine given name Patricia or sometimes the masculine name Patrick, or occasionally other names containing the syllable "Pat" (such as Cleopatra, Patience, Patrice, or Patricia). Among It ...

'' (1921) * ''

Don't Call Me Little Girl ''Don't Call Me Little Girl'' is a 1921 American silent comedy film directed by Joseph Henabery and starring Mary Miles Minter. It was adapted by Edith Kennedy from the stage play "Jerry" by Catherine Chisholm Cushing. As with many of Minter's ...

'' (1921) * ''

First Love First or 1st is the ordinal form of the number one (#1). First or 1st may also refer to: *World record, specifically the first instance of a particular achievement Arts and media Music * 1$T, American rapper, singer-songwriter, DJ, and rec ...

'' (1921) * ''

'' (1922) *''

When Love Comes ''When Love Comes'' is a 1922 American silent drama film directed by William A. Seiter and starring Helen Jerome Eddy, Harrison Ford and Fanny Midgley.Munden p.885 Cast * Helen Jerome Eddy as Jane Coleridge * Harrison Ford as Peter Jamison * Fa ...

'' (1922) * '' Stephen Steps Out'' (1923) * ''

Greed Greed (or avarice) is an uncontrolled longing for increase in the acquisition or use of material gain (be it food, money, land, or animate/inanimate possessions); or social value, such as Social status, status, or Power (social and politica ...

'' (1924) * ''

Some Pun'kins ''Some Pun'kins'' is a 1925 American silent comedy drama film directed by Jerome Storm and starring Charles Ray, Duane Thompson, and George Fawcett. It is also known by the alternative title of ''The Farmer's Boy''. Plot As described in a re ...

'' (1925) * '' Three of a Kind'' (1925) * ''

The Dangerous Dub ''The Dangerous Dub'' is a 1926 American silent Western film. Directed by Richard Thorpe, the film stars Buddy Roosevelt, Peggy Montgomery, and Joseph Girard. It was released on July 4, 1926. Synopsis Buddy Martin, a cattle driver, is in lo ...

'' (1926) * ''

The Fighting Cheat ''The Fighting Cheat'' is a 1926 American silent Western film. Directed by Richard Thorpe, the film stars Hal Taliaferro, Jean Arthur, and Ted Rackerby. It was released on February 11, 1926. Cast list * Hal Taliaferro as Wally Kenyon (credited ...

'' (1926) * ''

Ace of Action ''Ace of Action'' is a 1926 American silent Western film directed by William Bertram and starring Hal Taliaferro, Alma Rayford and Charles Colby. Plot synopsis A feud develops between two families, the Waltons and the Darcys, regarding own ...

'' (1926) * ''

Hair-Trigger Baxter ''Hair-Trigger Baxter'' is a 1926 American silent Western film directed by Jack Nelson and starring Bob Custer, Eugenia Gilbert and Lew Meehan. Cast * Bob Custer as Baxter Brant * Eugenia Gilbert as Rose Moss * Lew Meehan as Mont Blake * ...

'' (1926) * ''

The Harvester ''The Harvester'' is a 1936 American comedy film directed by Joseph Santley and written by Homer Croy, Robert Lee Johnson, Elizabeth Meehan and Gertrude Orr. It is based on the 1911 novel ''The Harvester'' by Gene Stratton-Porter, which had prev ...

'' (1927) * ''

The Flyin' Buckaroo ''The Flyin' Buckaroo'' is a 1928 American silent Western film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Hal Taliaferro, Jack D'Oise and J.P. Lockney.Quinlan, p. 342. Cast * Hal Taliaferro as Bill Mathews * Jack D'Oise as Henry Mathews * J.P ...

'' (1928) * ''

The Cowboy Cavalier ''The Cowboy Cavalier'' is a 1928 American silent Western film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Buddy Roosevelt, Olive Hasbrouck and Charles K. French. Plot Cast * Buddy Roosevelt as Prince Charming - Deputy Sheriff * Olive Hasbrouck ...

'' (1928) * ''

The Poor Millionaire ''The Poor Millionaire'' is a 1930 American silent drama film directed by George Melford and starring Richard Talmadge, Constance Howard and George Irving. Made after the sound film revolution, it was the last Hollywood film to be released w ...

'' (1930) * ''

'' (1931)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Midgley, Fanny American stage actresses American film actresses American silent film actresses Actresses from Cincinnati 1879 births 1932 deaths 20th-century American actresses