Lillian Rose Rich Woodland, more commonly known as Lillian Rich (1 January 1900 – 5 January 1954) was an English-born actress of the silent era. She appeared in more than 60 films between 1919 and 1940.

Biography

Rich was born in

Herne Hill Herne Hill is a district in South London, approximately four miles from Charing Cross and bordered by Brixton, Camberwell, Dulwich, and Tulse Hill. It sits to the north and east of Brockwell Park and straddles the boundary between the borou ...

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

, on 1 January 1900. In 1919, she married a young Canadian fighter pilot named Lionel Edward "Leo" Nicholson, and accompanied him back to his hometown of

Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the province of Manitoba in Canada. It is centred on the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, near the longitudinal centre of North America. , Winnipeg had a city population of 749,6 ...

. Rich's new father-in-law decided that she had a future in Hollywood, and he gave her $1000 of his own savings to fund her acting career. After making her film debut in ''The Day She Paid'' (1919), Rich quickly became highly sought, appearing in 18 films between 1920 and 1922. In 1923, Rich lost her financial support when her father-in-law became ill and died, and she did not produce any films until the following year. She soon divorced her husband, and Rich regained her stride in 1924, appearing in six new films, with roles in eight more in 1925. She gained critical attention for her role as a "man-eating, social-climbing" woman in

Cecil B. DeMille Cecil Blount DeMille (; August 12, 1881January 21, 1959) was an American film director, producer and actor. Between 1914 and 1958, he made 70 features, both silent and sound films. He is acknowledged as a founding father of the American cine ...

's ''

The Golden Bed ''The Golden Bed'' is a 1925 American silent drama film directed by Cecil B. DeMille. It is based on the novel ''Tomorrow's Bread'' by Wallace Irwin. Jeanie MacPherson wrote the screenplay. Plot As described in a review in a film magazine, ev ...

'', and a subsequent ''The New York Times'' review called her an "extraordinarily beautiful" woman. Her next – and final – notable role was in the 1926 railroad film ''Whispering Smith''. Her career declined in the early 1930s, possibly because Rich's voice was not well suited to the new "talkie" films that took hold as sound technology became normalized. She died four days after her 54th birthday on 5 January 1954, in

Woodland Hills, Los Angeles Woodland Hills is a neighborhood bordering the Santa Monica Mountains in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California. Geography Woodland Hills is in the southwestern region of the San Fernando Valley, which is located east of Ca ...

Partial filmography

* ''

The Day She Paid ''The Day She Paid'' is a 1919 American silent drama film directed by Rex Ingram and starring Francelia Billington, Charles Clary, and Harry von Meter.Gmür p. 33 Plot Set in Manhattan, New York, Marion Buckley receives a marriage proposal f ...

'' (1919) * '' One Hour Before Dawn'' (1920) * ''

Dice of Destiny ''Dice of Destiny'' is a 1920 American silent crime drama film directed by Henry King and starring H. B. Warner, Lillian Rich, and Howard Davies.''Guide to the Silent Years of American Cinema'', p. 166 Cast * H. B. Warner as Jimmy Doyle * ...

'' (1920) * ''

Felix O'Day ''Felix O'Day'' is a lost 1920 silent film directed by Robert Thornby and starring H. B. Warner. The film was released through Pathé Exchange. It is based on a novel of the same name. Cast * H. B. Warner - Felix O'Day *Marguerite Snow - La ...

'' (1920) * '' Beyond'' (1921) * ''

The Sage Hen ''The Sage Hen'' is a 1921 American silent Western film directed by Edgar Lewis and starring Gladys Brockwell, Wallace MacDonald, and Richard Headrick.Katchmer p. 526 Cast * Gladys Brockwell as The Sage Hen * Wallace MacDonald as Her Son, as ...

'' (1921) * '' Go Straight'' (1921) * '' The Millionaire'' (1921) * '' The Blazing Trail'' (1921) * '' Man to Man'' (1922) * '' The Bearcat'' (1922) * '' Afraid to Fight'' (1922) * '' The Kentucky Derby'' (1922) * '' One Wonderful Night'' (1922) * '' The Love Master'' (1924) * ''

The Man from Wyoming ''The Man from Wyoming'' is a 1924 American silent Western film directed by Robert N. Bradbury and starring Jack Hoxie, Lillian Rich, and William Welsh. Plot As described in a film magazine, Jack Halloway (Payton) covets the land of cattlem ...

'' (1924) * '' The Phantom Horseman'' (1924) * '' Empty Hearts'' (1924) * '' Never Say Die'' (1924) * '' Soft Shoes'' (1925) * ''

'' (1925) * '' Seven Days'' (1925) * '' The Love Gamble'' (1925) * '' The Ship of Souls'' (1925) * '' On the Front Page'' (1926) * ''

Dancing Days "Dancing Days" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin. It appears on their 1973 album, ''Houses of the Holy'', and was released as a single in the US. It was recorded at Stargroves, England in 1972. It was inspired by an Indian tune tha ...

'' (1926) * ''

Exclusive Rights In Anglo-Saxon law, an exclusive right, or exclusivity, is a de facto, non-tangible prerogative existing in law (that is, the power (sociology), power or, in a wider sense, right) to perform an action or acquire a benefit and to permit or deny ot ...

'' (1926) * '' The Isle of Retribution'' (1926) * '' The Golden Web'' (1926) * '' Snowbound'' (1927) * '' God's Great Wilderness'' (1927) * '' Woman's Law'' (1927) * ''

Web of Fate ''Web of Fate'' is a 1927 American silent drama film directed by Dallas M. Fitzgerald and starring Lillian Rich, Henry Sedley and Eugene Strong.Langman & Finn p.296 Cast * Lillian Rich as Gloria Gunther / Beverly Townsend * Henry Sedley as ...

'' (1927) * ''

That's My Daddy ''That's My Daddy'' is a 1928 American silent comedy starring Reginald Denny (actor), Reginald Denny and Barbara Kent. The film's story is credited to Denny; though the direction is credited to Fred C. Newmeyer, Denny claimed to have directed mos ...

'' (1928) * '' The Old Code'' (1928) * '' The Forger'' (1928) * ''

High Seas The terms international waters or transboundary waters apply where any of the following types of bodies of water (or their drainage basins) transcend international boundaries: oceans, large marine ecosystems, enclosed or semi-enclosed region ...

'' (1929) * '' Red Pearls'' (1930) * '' The Devil Plays'' (1931) * ''

Once a Lady ''Once a Lady'' is a 1931 American Pre-Code drama film directed by Guthrie McClintic and starring Ruth Chatterton, Ivor Novello and Jill Esmond. The film, produced and distributed by Paramount Pictures, is a remake of the Pola Negri silent fi ...

'' (1931) * ''

A Lad an' a Lamp ''A Lad an' a Lamp'' is a 1932 ''Our Gang'' short comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan. It was the 119th (32nd talking episode) ''Our Gang'' short that was released. The film has been criticized as containing racist humor. Plot Fascina ...

'' (1932) * ''

Birthday Blues ''Birthday Blues'' is a 1932 '' Our Gang'' short comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan. It was the 118th (31st talking episode) ''Our Gang'' short that was released. Plot When their pennypinching father refuses to buy a birthday gift for ...

'' (1932) * ''

Mark of the Spur ''Mark of the Spur'' is a 1932 American pre-Code Western film directed by J.P. McGowan and starring Bob Custer, Lillian Rich and George Chesebro.Pitts, p. 63 Cast * Bob Custer as The Kid * Lillian Rich as Alice - Beckett's Adopted Daughter * ...

'' (1932) * '' Free Wheeling'' (1932) * '' Sprucin' Up'' (1935) * '' The Girl Friend'' (1935)

References

External links

* *
Winnipeg's Silent Film Star (Manitoba History, Number 50, October 2005)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rich, Lillian 1900 births 1954 deaths English film actresses English silent film actresses English emigrants to the United States Actresses from London 20th-century English actresses