Mabel Van Buren (born Mabel Brown Southard; July 17, 1878 – November 4, 1947) was an American stage and screen actress.

Biography

As a theatrical performer she played the leading lady in both ''The Virginian'' and ''The Squaw Man'' (1909). Van Buren became prominent in motion pictures at the time of the development of feature-length movies in 1914. She starred in '' The Girl of the Golden West'' (1915) under the direction of

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 ...

. It was Demille who brought Mabel west to

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood, ...

. Mabel was the first leading lady of the

Famous Players-Lasky Famous Players-Lasky Corporation was an American motion picture and distribution company formed on June 28, 1916, from the merger of Adolph Zukor's Famous Players Film Company—originally formed by Zukor as Famous Players in Famous Plays—and t ...

studio on

Vine Street Vine Street is a street in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California that runs north–south between Franklin Avenue and Melrose Avenue. The intersection with Hollywood Boulevard was once a symbol of Hollywood itself. The famed intersection fell into ...

Hollywood, California Hollywood is a neighborhood in the central region of Los Angeles, California. Its name has come to be a shorthand reference for the U.S. film industry and the people associated with it. Many notable film studios, such as Columbia Pictures, ...

. Her final role of note was in ''Neighbor's Wives'' (1933) in which she played ''Mrs. Lee''. She continued acting in movies until the death of her husband, James Gordon. He was a Shakesperian actor who died in 1941. Other films in which she played prominent parts are '' The Warrens of Virginia'' (1915), ''The Man From Home'' (1914), and ''Craig's Wife'' (1928). Van Buren's residence was 4351 Kingswell Avenue,

Los Angeles, California 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' ...

. She died of pneumonia in 1947, age 69, at St. Vincent's Hospital. Her daughter, Katherine Charlton, was also an actress.

Partial filmography

* ''

The House with Closed Shutters ''The House with Closed Shutters'' is a 1910 American silent drama film directed by D. W. Griffith and released by the Biograph Company. Prints of ''The House with Closed Shutters'' exist in the film archives of the Museum of Modern Art, Georg ...

'' (1910, Short) - On Porch / At Farewell * '' Brewster's Millions'' (1914) - Mrs. Gray * ''

The Dishonored Medal ''The Dishonored Medal'' is a 1914 silent American adventure film, directed by Christy Cabanne. It stars Miriam Cooper, George Gebhard, and Raoul Walsh, and was released on May 3, 1914. Cast list * Miriam Cooper as Zora * George Gebhard as Lie ...

'' (1914) - Anitra * '' The Master Mind'' (1914) - Lucine, ''Three-Arm Fanny'' * ''

The Man on the Box ''The Man on the Box'' is a 1914 American silent comedy-drama film directed by Oscar Apfel and co-directed by Cecil B. DeMille. It was based on the 1904 novel of the same name by Harold MacGrath and stars Horace B. Carpenter. Max Figman had ...

'' (1914) - Kit Warburton * '' The Man from Home'' (1914) - Ethel Granger Simpson * ''

The Circus Man ''The Circus Man'' is a 1914 silent film produced by Jesse Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It was directed by Oscar Apfel and written by Cecil B. DeMille from a story based on the novel ''The Rose in the Ring'' by George Barr McCutcheo ...

'' (1914) - Mary Braddock * '' The Ghost Breaker'' (1914) - Delores * '' The Girl of the Golden West'' (1915) - The Girl * '' The Warrens of Virginia'' (1915) - Mrs. Warren * '' The Woman'' (1915) - Grace Robertson * ''

Should a Wife Forgive? ''Should a Wife Forgive?'' is a 1915 American silent drama film directed by Henry King and starring Lillian Lorraine, Mabel Van Buren, and Lew Cody.''Guide to the Silent Years of American Cinema'', p. 84 Cast * Lillian Lorraine as La Belle Rose ...

'' (1915) - Mary Holmes * ''

The Sowers ''The Sowers'' is a surviving 1916 silent film drama produced by Jesse Lasky, released through Paramount Pictures and directed by William C. deMille. The feature stars Blanche Sweet and Thomas Meighan and is based on the 1896 novel ''The Sowers' ...

'' (1916) - Princess Tanya * ''

Ramona ''Ramona'' is a 1884 American novel written by Helen Hunt Jackson. Set in Southern California after the Mexican–American War, it portrays the life of a mixed-race Scottish– Native American orphan girl, who suffers racial discrimination and ...

'' (1916) - Ramona (in the prologue) * ''

The House with the Golden Windows ''The House with the Golden Windows'' is a lost 1916 American drama silent film directed by George Melford and written by Charles Sarver. The film stars Wallace Reid, Cleo Ridgely, Billy Jacobs, James Neill, Mabel Van Buren, and Marjorie Daw. T ...

'' (1916) - Mrs. Peabody * ''

The Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...

'' (1916) - Princess Adala * '' Lost and Won'' (1917) - Minor Role * ''

Those Without Sin ''Those Without Sin'' is a 1917 American silent drama film directed by Marshall Neilan, written by Thomas J. Geraghty, George DuBois Proctor and Harvey F. Thew, and starring Blanche Sweet, Tom Forman, Clarence Geldart, Guy Oliver, James Neill, ...

'' (1917) - Estelle Wallace * ''

A School for Husbands ''A School for Husbands'' is a lost 1917 American comedy silent film directed by George Melford, written by Hugh Stanislaus Stange and Harvey F. Thew, and starring Fannie Ward, Jack Dean, Edythe Chapman, Frank Elliott, Mabel Van Buren and James ...

'' (1917) - Mrs. Airlie * ''

The Silent Partner ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

'' (1917) - Edith Preston * '' Unconquered'' (1917) - Mrs. Lenning * ''

The Jaguar's Claws ''The Jaguar's Claws'' is a 1917 American Western silent film directed by Marshall Neilan and written by William M. McCoy, Beatrice DeMille and Leighton Osmun. The film stars Sessue Hayakawa, Fritzi Brunette, Tom Moore, Marjorie Daw, Tom For ...

'' (1917) - Marie * '' The Squaw Man's Son'' (1917) - Lady Stuckley * ''

Hashimura Togo ''Hashimura Togo'' is a 1917 American silent comedy film directed by William C. deMille and written by Marion Fairfax and Wallace Irwin. The film stars Sessue Hayakawa, Florence Vidor, Mabel Van Buren, Walter Long, Tom Forman, and Raymond Hatt ...

'' (1917) - Mrs. Reynolds * '' The Countess Charming'' (1917) - Mrs. Vandergraft * ''

The Devil-Stone ''The Devil-Stone'' is a 1917 American silent romance film directed by Cecil B. DeMille, co-written by his mother Beatrice deMille and Jeanie MacPherson, and starring Geraldine Farrar. The film had sequences filmed in the Handschiegl Color ...

'' (1917) - Mrs. Rogers * '' The Winding Trail'' (1918) - Lou * ''

Breakers Ahead ''Breakers Ahead'' is a 1918 American silent drama film, directed by Charles Brabin. It stars Viola Dana, Clifford Bruce, and Mabel Van Buren, and was released on March 25, 1918. Plot Agnes Bowman is the sweetheart of Captain Scudder, a local s ...

'' (1918) - Aunt Agatha Pixley * '' Riders of the Night'' (1918) - Sally's Aunt * ''Hearts of Men'' (1919) - Tina Ferronni * ''

Young Mrs. Winthrop ''Young Mrs. Winthrop'' is a lost 1920 American silent drama film starring Ethel Clayton. It is based on the 1882 Victorian era Broadway play by Bronson Howard. The film was produced by Famous Players–Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictur ...

'' (1920) - Mrs. Dunbar * ''

The Sins of Rosanne ''The Sins of Rosanne'' is a surviving 1920 American silent drama film starring Ethel Clayton and directed by actor/director Tom Forman. The Famous Players-Lasky studio produced the film with release by Paramount Pictures. The film is preserved ...

'' (1920) - Mrs. Ozanne * ''

Conrad in Quest of His Youth ''Conrad in Quest of His Youth'' is a 1920 American silent comedy-drama film directed by William C. deMille and starring Thomas Meighan. The film is based on the 1903 novel ''Conrad in Search of His Youth'' by Leonard Merrick which was adapted ...

'' (1920) - Nina * '' The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse'' (1921) - Elena * ''

A Wise Fool ''A Wise Fool'' is a 1921 American silent drama film produced by Famous Players-Lasky and released by Paramount Pictures. This film is based on the novel ''The Money Master'' by Sir Gilbert Parker and was directed by George Melford. James Kirkw ...

'' (1921) - Madame Langlois * ''

Moonlight and Honeysuckle ''Moonlight and Honeysuckle'' is a 1921 American silent romantic comedy film directed by Joseph Henabery and starring Mary Miles Minter and Monte Blue. It was adapted by Barbara Kent from the 1919 stage play of the same name by George Scarboro ...

'' (1921) - Mrs. Langley * '' Miss Lulu Bett'' (1921) - Ina Deacon * '' Beyond the Rocks'' (1922) - Jane McBride * '' For the Defense'' (1922) - Cousin Selma * ''

The Woman Who Walked Alone ''The Woman Who Walked Alone'' is a 1922 American silent drama film directed by George Melford and written by John Colton and Will M. Ritchey. The film stars Dorothy Dalton, Milton Sills, E. J. Ratcliffe, Wanda Hawley, Frederick Vroom, Mayme K ...

'' (1922) - Hannah Schriemann * '' While Satan Sleeps'' (1922) - Sunflower Sadie * ''

Manslaughter Manslaughter is a common law legal term for homicide considered by law as less culpable than murder. The distinction between murder and manslaughter is sometimes said to have first been made by the ancient Athenian lawmaker Draco in the 7th cen ...

'' (1922) - Prisoner * ''

Youth to Youth ''Youth to Youth'' is a 1922 American silent melodrama film directed by Emile Chautard and starring Billie Dove, Edythe Chapman, and Hardee Kirkland. It was released on October 16, 1922. Cast * Billie Dove as Eve Allinson * Edythe Chapman as M ...

'' (1922) - Mrs. Brookins * '' Pawned'' (1922) - Mrs. Veniza * ''Fighting Blood'' (1923) - Mrs. Wilcox - Judy's Mother * '' Wandering Daughters'' (1923) - Annie Bowden * ''

The Light That Failed ''The Light That Failed'' is the first novel by the Nobel Prize-winning English author Rudyard Kipling, first published in ''Lippincott's Monthly Magazine'' in January 1891. Most of the novel is set in London, but many important events through ...

'' (1923) - Madame Binat * '' Lights Out'' (1923) - Mrs. Gallant * '' In Search of a Thrill'' (1923) - Lila Lavender * '' The Dawn of a Tomorrow'' (1924) - Bet * '' The Top of the World'' (1925) - Mary Ann * ''

Smooth as Satin ''Smooth as Satin'' is a 1925 American silent drama film based upon the stage play, ''The Chatterbox'', by Bayard Veiller. It was directed by Ralph Ince and stars Evelyn Brent. The film was remade in 1930, entitled ''Alias French Gertie''. P ...

'' (1925) - Mrs. Munson * ''

His Secretary ''His Secretary'' is a 1925 American Silent film, silent comedy film directed by Hobart Henley. The film stars Norma Shearer and Lew Cody. Plot As described in a film magazine review, Ruth, a young woman who is in love with her employer but is ...

'' (1925) - Mrs. Sloden * '' The King of Kings'' (1927) - (uncredited) * ''

The Meddlin' Stranger ''The Meddlin' Stranger'' is a lost 1927 American silent Western film directed by Richard Thorpe and featuring Boris Karloff. Cast * Wally Wales as Wally Fraser * Nola Luxford as Mildred Crawford * Charles K. French as Her Father * Mabel Van ...

'' (1927) - Mrs. Crawford * ''

Craig's Wife ''Craig's Wife'' is a 1925 play written by American playwright George Kelly. It won the 1926 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and has been adapted for three feature films. Production ''Craig's Wife'' premiered on Broadway at the Morosco Theatre on ...

'' (1928) - Mrs. Frazer * ''

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) - Mrs. Brown * ''

His First Command ''His First Command'' is a 1929 American pre-Code comedy action film directed by Gregory La Cava and starring William Boyd, Dorothy Sebastian and Gavin Gordon.Munden p.352 Location shooting took place at Fort Riley in Kansas. Synopsis A playboy ...

'' (1929) - Mrs. Sargent * ''

Neighbors' Wives ''Neighbors' Wives'' is a 1933 American pre-Code drama film directed by B. Reeves Eason and starring Dorothy Mackaill, Tom Moore and Mary Kornman.Dooley, p. 338 Cast * Dorothy Mackaill as Helen McGrath * Tom Moore as John McGrath * Mary Kornm ...

'' (1933) - Mrs. Lee * ''

Mississippi Mississippi () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States, bordered to the north by Tennessee; to the east by Alabama; to the south by the Gulf of Mexico; to the southwest by Louisiana; and to the northwest by Arkansas. Miss ...

'' (1935) - Party Guest (uncredited) (final film role)

References

Lincoln, Nebraska Lincoln is the capital city of the U.S. state of Nebraska and the county seat of Lancaster County. The city covers with a population of 292,657 in 2021. It is the second-most populous city in Nebraska and the 73rd-largest in the United Sta ...

Daily Star, ''Answers To Movie Fans'', September 30, 1917, Page 30. *

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the Un ...

, ''Lasky Lot, In Ruins, Recall Early Film History'', June 6, 1926, Page B10. *Los Angeles Times, ''Original Girl of the Golden West, 69, Dies''November 6, 1947, Page 2. *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 d ...

, ''Mabel Van Buren'', November 6, 1947, Page 27. *

Washington Post ''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large nati ...

, ''Notes About Plays And Players'', October 24, 1909, Page 94.

External links

*
Catherine Van Buren, Mabel's daughter
(University of Washington, Sayre collection) {{DEFAULTSORT:Van Buren, Mabel American film actresses American stage actresses American silent film actresses Actresses from Chicago 1878 births 1947 deaths Deaths from pneumonia in California 20th-century American actresses