Phyllis Maude Haver (January 6, 1899 – November 19, 1960) was an American

actress An actor or actress is a person who portrays a Character (arts), character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek ...

of the

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 ...

era.

Early life

Haver was born in

Douglass, Kansas Douglass is a city in Butler County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 1,555. History 19th century The first settlement was made at Douglass in 1869. Douglass is named for its founder, Joseph W. Do ...

to James Hiram Haver (1872–1936) and Minnie Shanks Malone (1879–1949). When she was young, her family moved to

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' ...

. Haver attended Los Angeles Polytechnic High. After graduating, she played piano to accompany the new silent films in local theaters.

Career

Haver auditioned for comedy producer

Mack Sennett Mack Sennett (born Michael Sinnott; January 17, 1880 – November 5, 1960) was a Canadian-American film actor, director, and producer, and studio head, known as the 'King of Comedy'. Born in Danville, Quebec, in 1880, he started in films in the ...

on a whim. Sennett hired her as one of his original

Sennett Bathing Beauties Sennett Bathing Beauties was a bevy of women performing in bathing costumes assembled by film producer Mack Sennett during the silent film era. Description The Sennett Bathing Beauties appeared in Mack Sennett comedy short subjects, in promotion ...

. Within a few years, she appeared as a leading lady in two-reelers for Sennett Studios. In 1923,

Buster Keaton Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton (October 4, 1895 – February 1, 1966) was an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker. He is best known for his silent film work, in which his trademark was physical comedy accompanied by a stoic, deadpan expression ...

cast her as the female lead in his short ''

The Balloonatic ''The Balloonatic'' is a 1923 American short comedy film co-directed by and starring Buster Keaton. It was one of Keaton's final short films. Plot A young man named Keaton has a series of encounters in an amusement area, much like Coney Islan ...

''. Later, while signed with DeMille-Pathé, Haver played the part of murderess Roxie Hart in the first film adaptation of ''

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

'' in 1927, opposite Hungarian film actor

Victor Varconi Victor Varconi (born Mihály Várkonyi; March 31, 1891 – June 6, 1976) was a Hungarian actor who initially found success in his native country, as well as in Germany and Austria, in silent films, before relocating to the United States, where ...

. One reviewer called her performance "astoundingly fine," and added that Haver "makes this combination of tragedy and comedy a most entertaining piece of work." She performed in the comedy film '' The Battle of the Sexes'' (1928), directed by D. W. Griffith, and appeared with

Lon Chaney Leonidas Frank "Lon" Chaney (April 1, 1883 – August 26, 1930) was an American actor. He is regarded as one of the most versatile and powerful actors of cinema, renowned for his characterizations of tortured, often grotesque and affli ...

in his last silent film, ''

Thunder Thunder is the sound caused by lightning. Depending upon the distance from and nature of the lightning, it can range from a long, low rumble to a sudden, loud crack. The sudden increase in temperature and hence pressure caused by the lightning pr ...

'' (1929). Haver retired from the industry with two sound films to her credit.

Personal life

In 1929, she married millionaire William Seeman with a service performed by New York Mayor James J. Walker at the home of

Rube Goldberg Reuben Garrett Lucius Goldberg (July 4, 1883 – December 7, 1970), known best as Rube Goldberg, was an American cartoonist, sculptor, author, engineer, and inventor. Goldberg is best known for his popular cartoons depicting complicated gadge ...

, the cartoonist. The couple divorced in 1945. Haver had no children.

Death

Haver retired in

Sharon, Connecticut Sharon is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States, in the northwest corner of the state. At the time of the 2020 census, the town had a total population of 2,680. The ZIP code for Sharon is 06069. The urban center of the town is ...

. She died at age 61 from an overdose of barbiturates in 1960."Kansas Silent Film Star Phyllis Haver is Dead"
''Lawrence Journal-World'', November 21, 1960.

Selected filmography

* ''

Whose Baby? ''Whose Baby?'' is a 1917 American silent comedy film directed by Clarence G. Badger and starring Gloria Swanson Gloria May Josephine Swanson (March 27, 1899April 4, 1983) was an American actress and producer. She first achieved fame a ...

'' (1917) * ''

The Sultan's Wife ''The Sultan's Wife'' is a 1917 American silent comedy film directed by Clarence G. Badger and starring Bobby Vernon and Gloria Swanson. The film is also known under the title ''Caught in a Harem''. Plot Gloria follows sailor boyfriend Bobby ...

'' (1917) * ''

The Pullman Bride ''The Pullman Bride'' is a 1917 American silent comedy film directed by Clarence G. Badger and starring Gloria Swanson. Cast * Gloria Swanson as The Girl * Mack Swain as The Chosen One * Chester Conklin as A Rejected Suitor * Laura La Varnie a ...

'' (1917) * '' '49–'17'' (1917) * ''

Salome vs. Shenandoah ''Salome vs. Shenandoah'' is a 1919 American silent film comedy short directed by Ray Grey, Erle C. Kenton, and Ray Hunt. It starred Ben Turpin, Charles Murray, and Phyllis Haver. It was produced by Mack Sennett and distributed by Famous Player ...

'' (1919) * ''

Love, Honor and Behave ''Love, Honor and Behave'' is a 1938 American drama film directed by Stanley Logan and starring Wayne Morris and Priscilla Lane. The supporting cast includes John Litel, Thomas Mitchell, Dick Foran and Dickie Moore. " Bei Mir Bist Du Sc ...

'' (1920) * ''

A Small Town Idol ''A Small Town Idol'' is a 1921 American silent feature comedy film produced by Mack Sennett and released through Associated First National. The film stars Ben Turpin and was made and acted by many of the same Sennett personnel from his previo ...

'' (1921) * ''

The Bolted Door ''The Bolted Door'' is a 1923 American drama film directed by William Worthington and written by George Randolph Chester. It is based on the 1910 novel ''The Bolted Door'' by George Gibbs. The film stars Frank Mayo, Charles A. Stevenson, Phyl ...

'' (1923) * ''

'' (1923 short) * '' The Common Law'' (1923) * '' Lilies of the Field'' (1924) * '' The Fighting Coward'' (1924) * ''

Single Wives ''Single Wives'' is a 1924 American silent drama film directed by George Archainbaud and produced by and starring Corinne Griffith. It was distributed by First National Pictures. Cast Preservation status ''Single Wives'' is preserved at the ...

'' (1924) * '' The Breath of Scandal'' (1924) * ''

One Glorious Night ''One Glorious Night'' is a 1924 American silent drama film directed by Scott R. Dunlap and starring Elaine Hammerstein, Alan Roscoe, and Phyllis Haver Phyllis Maude Haver (January 6, 1899 – November 19, 1960) was an American actress of ...

'' (1924) * ''

The Foolish Virgin ''For the earlier silent.film of the same name see The Foolish Virgin (1916 film)'' ''The Foolish Virgin'' is a lost 1924 American silent romantic drama film released by Columbia Pictures. It was directed by George W. Hill and stars Elaine H ...

'' (1924) *lost film * '' The Snob'' (1924) *lost film * ''

New Brooms ''New Brooms'' is a 1925 American silent romantic comedy film, directed by William C. deMille, and starring Bessie Love, Neil Hamilton, and Phyllis Haver. It was produced by Famous Players-Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It is bas ...

'' (1925) *lost film * '' After Business Hours'' (1925) * ''

I Want My Man ''I Want My Man'' is a 1925 American drama film directed by Lambert Hillyer and written by Joseph F. Poland, Earle Snell, and Earl Hudson. It is based on the 1924 novel ''The Interpreter's House'' by Maxwell Struthers Burt. The film stars Dori ...

'' (1925) * ''

Her Husband's Secret ''Her Husband's Secret'' is a 1925 American silent drama film directed by Frank Lloyd and starring Antonio Moreno, Patsy Ruth Miller, and Ruth Clifford Ruth Clifford (February 17, 1900 – November 30, 1998) was an American actress of lea ...

'' (1925) *lost film * '' A Fight to the Finish'' (1925) * '' The Caveman'' (1926) *partially lost, one reel is missing * '' Up in Mabel's Room'' (1926) * ''

Don Juan Don Juan (), also known as Don Giovanni (Italian), is a legendary, fictional Spanish libertine who devotes his life to seducing women. Famous versions of the story include a 17th-century play, '' El burlador de Sevilla y convidado de piedra'' ...

'' (Uncredited, 1926) * '' Other Women's Husbands'' (1926) * '' Hard Boiled'' (1926) * ''

The Nervous Wreck ''The Nervous Wreck'' is a 1926 American silent film, silent comedy film, comedy adventure film directed by Scott Sidney and starring Harrison Ford (silent film actor), Harrison Ford, Phyllis Haver and Chester Conklin.Connelly p.182 It is based ...

'' (1926) * ''

3 Bad Men ''3 Bad Men'' is a 1926 American silent film, silent Western (genre), Western film directed by John Ford. Bob Mastrangelo has called it "One of John Ford's greatest silent epics." The film possibly inspired the title for Akira Kurosawa's 1958 fi ...

'' (1926) * ''

Fig Leaves ''Fig Leaves'' is a 1926 American silent comedy film directed by Howard Hawks, released by Fox Film Corporation, and starring George O'Brien and Olive Borden. The film had a sequence, a fashion show, that was filmed in 2-strip Technicolor. ...

'' (1926) * ''

What Price Glory What Price Glory? may refer to: * ''What Price Glory?'' (1926 film), directed by Raoul Walsh * ''What Price Glory'' (1952 film), directed by John Ford * ''What Price Glory?'' (play), a 1924 play by Maxwell Anderson and Laurence Stallings; basis for ...

'' (1926) * ''

The Way of All Flesh ''The Way of All Flesh'' (sometimes called ''Ernest Pontifex, or the Way of All Flesh'') is a semi-autobiographical novel by Samuel Butler that attacks Victorian-era hypocrisy. Written between 1873 and 1884, it traces four generations of the ...

'' (1927) *lost film * '' The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary'' (1927) *lost film * ''

The Fighting Eagle ''The Fighting Eagle'' is a 1927 American silent film adventure and romance drama starring Rod La Rocque. It was directed by Donald Crisp and it was produced by Cecil B. DeMille. The film was set during the Napoleonic Era. ''The Fighting Eagle' ...

'' (1927) * '' No Control'' (1927) * ''

Your Wife and Mine ''Your Wife and Mine'' is a 1927 American silent film, silent comedy film directed by Frank O'Connor (actor), Frank O'Connor and starring Phyllis Haver, Stuart Holmes and Wallace MacDonald.Katchmer p.533 Cast * Phyllis Haver as Phyllis Warren * ...

'' (1927) * ''

The Wise Wife ''The Wise Wife'' is a 1927 American silent comedy film directed by E. Mason Hopper and starring Phyllis Haver, Tom Moore and Jacqueline Logan.Goble p.394 The film's sets were designed by the art director Mitchell Leisen. The costumes were ...

'' (1927) * ''

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

'' (1927) * ''

Nobody's Widow ''Nobody's Widow'' is a 1927 American silent comedy film directed by Donald Crisp and starring Leatrice Joy, Charles Ray and Phyllis Haver. It is an adaptation of a 1910 play of the same title by Avery Hopwood.The A to Z of American Theater: Mo ...

'' (1927) * '' The Little Adventuress'' (1927) * ''

The Shady Lady ''The Shady Lady'' is a 1928 American drama film directed by Edward H. Griffith and starring Phyllis Haver, Robert Armstrong and Louis Wolheim.Quinlan p.122 It was made as a part-talkie during the transition from silent to sound film. Synops ...

'' (1928) * '' The Battle of the Sexes'' (1928) * ''

Sal of Singapore ''Sal of Singapore'' is a 1928 American silent drama film directed by Howard Higgin. At the 2nd Academy Awards in 1930, Elliott J. Clawson was nominated for an Academy Award in the category Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay). Complete prints o ...

'' (1928) * '' Tenth Avenue'' (1928) * ''

'' (1929) *lost film, only half a reel survives * ''

The Office Scandal ''The Office Scandal'' is a 1929 American drama film directed by Paul L. Stein and starring Phyllis Haver, Raymond Hatton and Margaret Livingston.Langman p.84 It was originally made as a silent, but some sound effects a musical score and talkin ...

'' (1929) * '' She Couldn't Say No'' (1930) *lost film, only soundtrack survives

References

Bibliography

External links

* *
Phyllis Haver
at Virtual History {{DEFAULTSORT:Haver, Phyllis 1899 births 1960 deaths Actresses from Kansas American film actresses American silent film actresses Drug-related deaths in Connecticut Barbiturates-related deaths People from Douglass, Kansas Actresses from Los Angeles 20th-century American actresses 1960 suicides