Priscilla Dean (November 25, 1896 – December 27, 1987) was an American actress popular in

silent film 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, when ...

as well as in theatre, with a career spanning two decades.

Biography

She was born on November 25, 1896 in

Manhattan, New York City Manhattan (), known regionally as the City, is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the five Boroughs of New York City, boroughs of New York City. The borough is also coextensive with New York County, one of the List of co ...

to an active theatrical family. Her mother was popular stage actress Mary Preston Dean, Priscilla Dean made her stage debut at the age of four, appearing in plays starring her parents. From then on, she pursued her stage career at the same time as being educated at a convent school until the age of fourteen. Following her leave from school, Priscilla went to work on stage, then tried to get into the movies. Dean made her film debut at the age of fourteen in one-reelers for Biograph and several other studios. She was finally signed on to

Universal Universal is the adjective for universe. Universal may also refer to: Companies * NBCUniversal, a media and entertainment company ** Universal Animation Studios, an American Animation studio, and a subsidiary of NBCUniversal ** Universal TV, a ...

(then called IMP) in

1911 A notable ongoing event was the Comparison of the Amundsen and Scott Expeditions, race for the South Pole. Events January * January 1 – A decade after federation, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory ...

. She soon gained popularity as the female lead in the comedy series of

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

Lee Moran Lee Moran (June 23, 1888 – April 24, 1961) was an American actor, film director, and screenwriter. Moran was active in vaudeville before he began performing in films at Nestor Studios in 1909. He transcended the silent film era of mot ...

. She was propelled to stardom after she appeared in '' The Gray Ghost'' in 1917. Following this film, she became very successful in her work. However, when the age of sound dawned, Dean's career was severely damaged. She continued to do several low-budget films for minor independent studios during the 1930s, but never regained the popularity she had earned 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 ...

. Dean died at her home in

Leonia, New Jersey Leonia is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States census, the borough's population was 8,937,Eddie Rickenbacker Edward Vernon Rickenbacker or Eddie Rickenbacker (October 8, 1890 – July 23, 1973) was an American fighter pilot in World War I and a Medal of Honor recipient.ace An ace is a playing card, die or domino with a single pip. In the standard French deck, an ace has a single suit symbol (a heart, diamond, spade, or club) located in the middle of the card, sometimes large and decorated, especially in the c ...

of aces had been "affianced for some time." *She married

Wheeler Oakman Wheeler Oakman (born Vivian Eichelberger; February 21, 1890 – March 19, 1949) was an American film actor. Early years Oakman was born as Vivian Eichelberger in Washington, D.C., and educated in that city's schools. He grew up in Fairfax, Virg ...

, who was also under contract at Universal and appeared in ''

The Virgin of Stamboul ''The Virgin of Stamboul'' is a 1920 American silent drama film directed by Tod Browning and starring husband and wife team Priscilla Dean and Wheeler Oakman and featuring Wallace Beery in a supporting role. Plot Based upon a review in a film ...

'' and '' Outside the Law'' with Priscilla. They divorced in 1926. *She married Leslie P. Arnold on October 6, 1928 in

Tijuana, Mexico Tijuana ( ,"Tijuana"
(US) and < ...

. He was famous as one of the "Around The World Flyers". He was previously married and divorced, and a court ruled that his divorce was invalid, making him a bigamist. A later court decree ruled his divorce valid. Dean and Arnold remained married until his death on March 21, 1961. She had no children.

Filmography

Silent *''A Blot on the 'Scutcheon'' (1912)(short) *''The Sunbeam (1912)(short) *''He Had But Fifty Cents'' (1912)(short) *''The Man Who Wouldn't Marry'' (1913)(short) *''

Mother ] A mother is the female parent of a child. A woman may be considered a mother by virtue of having given childbirth, birth, by raising a child who may or may not be her biological offspring, or by supplying her ovum for fertilisation in the cas ...

'' (1914)(short) *''The Heiress and the Crook'' (1914)(short) *''Oh, for the Life of a Fireman'' (1916)(short) *''Bungling Bill's Burglar'' (1916)(short) *''Igorrotes' Crocodiles and a Hat Box'' (1916)(short) *''Heaven Will Protect a Woiking Goil'' (1916)(short)(*extant;Library of Congress) *''Love, Dynamite and Baseballs'' (1916)(short) *''More Truth Than Poetry'' (1916)(short) *''Bungling Bill's Peeping Ways'' (1916)(short) *''Search Me!'' (1916)(short) *''

The Social Pirates ''The Social Pirates'' is a 1916 American silent film serial directed by James W. Horne. It starred Marin Sais, Ollie Kirkby and True Boardman. It was written by George Bronson Howard and produced by the Kalem Company.''Pictorial History of Silen ...

'' (1916)(serial) *''The Lion Hearted Chief'' (1916)(short) *''Knocking Out Knockout Kelly'' (1916)(short) *''Caught with the Goods'' (1916)(short)(extant;Library of Congress) *''Beer Must Go Down'' (1916)(short) *''He Maid Me'' (1916)(short) *''All bets Off'' (1916)(short) *''The Battle of Chili Con Carne'' (1916)(short) *''Broke But Ambitious'' (1916)(short) *''The Terrible Turk'' (1916)(short) *''Tigers Unchained'' (1916)(short) *''The Boy from the Gilded East'' (1916)(short) *''Nobody Guilty'' (1916)(short) *''A Silly Sultan'' (1916)(short) *''Model 46'' (1916)(short) *''With the Spirit's Help'' (1916)(short) *''When the Spirits Fell'' (1916)(short) *''Almost Guilty'' (1916)(short) *''His Own Nemesis'' (1916)(short) *''The Barfly'' (1916)(short) *''Love and a Liar'' (1916)(short) *''A Political Tramp'' (1916)(short) *''Knights of a Bathtub'' (1916)(short) *''How Do You Feel?'' (1916)(short) *''The White Turkey'' (1916)(short) *''Pass the Prunes'' (1916)(short) *''Two Small Town Romeos'' (1916)(short) *''It Sounded Like a Kiss'' (1916)(short) *'' The Bad Man of Cheyenne'' (1917)(short) *''Treat 'Em Rough'' (1917)(short) *''Why Uncle!'' (1917)(short) *''

Goin' Straight ''Goin' Straight'' is a 1917 American silent film featuring Harry Carey and released by Universal Pictures. Cast * Harry Carey - Cheyenne Harry * Priscilla Dean - Mary Carter * Vester Pegg Vester Pegg (May 23, 1889 – February 19, 195 ...

'' (1917)(short) * ''

Even As You and I ''Even As You and I'' is a 1917 American silent film, silent drama film directed by Lois Weber and starring Ben F. Wilson, Mignon Anderson and Bertram Grassby.''American Silent Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy Feature Films, 1913-1929''. p.184 ...

'' (1917) (1917) *''Somebody Lied'' (1917)(short) * '' The Hand That Rocks the Cradle'' (1917) *'' The Gray Ghost'' (1917) *'' Beloved Jim'' (1917) * '' The Two-Soul Woman'' (1918) *'' Which Woman?'' (1918) *''

The Brazen Beauty ''The Brazen Beauty'' is a 1918 American silent comedy film directed by Tod Browning. It is not known whether the film currently survives, which suggests that it may be a lost film. Cast * Priscilla Dean as Jacala Auehli * Gertrude Astor as Mrs ...

'' (1918) *''Three Mounted Men'' (1918) * '' Kiss or Kill'' (1918) *''The Wildcat of Paris'' (1918) *''She Hired a Husband'' (1918) *''Klever Kiddies'' (1919) (short) *''

The Wicked Darling ''The Wicked Darling'' is a 1919 American silent crime film directed by Tod Browning, and starring Priscilla Dean, Wellington A. Playter and Lon Chaney as pickpocket "Stoop" Connors. This was the first time Lon Chaney appeared in a Tod Browning ...

'' (1919) *''The Silk-Lined Burglar'' (1919) *''

The Exquisite Thief ''The Exquisite Thief'' is a 1919 American silent drama film directed by Tod Browning. Prints and/or fragments were found in the Dawson Film Find in 1978. Plot As described in a film magazine, Blue Jean Billie (Dean), a prosperous young woman ...

'' (1919) *''Pretty Smooth'' (1919) *''

Paid in Advance ''Paid in Advance'' is a 1919 American silent drama film set during the Alaska Gold Rush, from the story ''The Girl Who Dared'' by James Oliver Curwood. The film was directed by Allen Holubar, who wrote the screen adaption as well. The movie sta ...

'' (1919) *'' Forbidden'' (1919) *''

'' (1920) *'' Outside the Law'' (1920) *''

Reputation The reputation of a social entity (a person, a social group, an organization, or a place) is an opinion about that entity typically as a result of social evaluation on a set of criteria, such as behavior or performance. Reputation is a ubiquitous ...

'' (1921) * ''

Conflict Conflict may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Conflict'' (1921 film), an American silent film directed by Stuart Paton * ''Conflict'' (1936 film), an American boxing film starring John Wayne * ''Conflict'' (1937 film) ...

'' (1921) *'' Wild Honey'' (1922) *'' Under Two Flags'' (1922) *''

The Flame of Life ''The Flame of Life'' (also known as ''That Lass o' Lowrie's'') is a 1923 American silent drama film starring Priscilla Dean, Robert Ellis, Kathryn McGuire, and Wallace Beery. The film was written by Elliott J. Clawson from the Frances Hodgso ...

'' (1923) *'' Drifting'' (1923) *''

White Tiger The white tiger or bleached tiger is a leucistic pigmentation variant of the Mainland tiger. It is reported in the wild from time to time in the Indian states of Madhya Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, in the Sunderbans region and ...

'' (1923) *'' The Storm Daughter'' (1924)(*fragment; BFI archive) *''

The Siren of Seville ''The Siren of Seville'' is a 1924 American silent adventure film directed by Jerome Storm and Hunt Stromberg Hunt Stromberg (July 12, 1894 – August 23, 1968) was a film producer during Hollywood's Golden Age. In a prolific 30-year career b ...

'' (1924) *'' A Cafe in Cairo'' (1924) * '' The Crimson Runner'' (1925) * ''

The Danger Girl ''The Danger Girl'' is a 1916 American silent comedy film directed by Clarence G. Badger and starring Bobby Vernon and Gloria Swanson. Plot Reggie's sister disguises herself as a boy to prove to her brother and sweetheart that a vamp is on ...

'' (1926) *'' Forbidden Waters'' (1926) *''

The Dice Woman ''The Dice Woman'' is a 1926 American silent action adventure film directed by Eddie Dillon and starring Priscilla Dean. No known prints of it exist, and it is presumed lost. No longer a Universal contract star in 1926, Dean was in her career' ...

'' (1926) *''

The Speeding Venus ''The Speeding Venus'' is a 1926 American silent film, silent drama film directed by Robert Thornby and starring Priscilla Dean, Robert Frazer and Dale Fuller (actress), Dale Fuller.Munden p.754 Cast * Priscilla Dean as Emily Dale * Robert Fraz ...

'' (1926) *'' West of Broadway'' (1926) *'' Jewels of Desire'' (1927) * ''

Birds of Prey Birds of prey or predatory birds, also known as raptors, are hypercarnivorous bird species that actively hunt and feed on other vertebrates (mainly mammals, reptiles and other smaller birds). In addition to speed and strength, these predators ...

'' (1927) *''

Slipping Wives ''Slipping Wives'' is a silent comedy short film starring Priscilla Dean, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy prior to their official billing as the duo Laurel and Hardy. The team appeared in a total of 107 films between 1921 and 1951. Priscilla Dean ...

'' (1927)(short) *''The Honorable Mr. Buggs'' (1927)(short) *''Life in Hollywood No. 7'' (1927) (short) *''All for Nothing'' (1928)(short) Sound * '' Trapped'' (1931) *'' Law of the Sea'' (1931) *''Hollywood Halfbacks'' (1931) *''Behind Stone Walls'' (1932) *'' Klondike'' (1932)

References

External links

*
Priscilla Dean photographs and articlesPriscilla Dean
in a chorus in 1910 on the right (Univ. of Washington, Sayre collection) {{DEFAULTSORT:Dean, Priscilla 1896 births 1987 deaths American film actresses American silent film actresses Hal Roach Studios actors 20th-century American actresses Actresses from New York City Accidental deaths from falls People from Leonia, New Jersey