Ruth Dwyer (January 25, 1898 – March 2, 1978) was an American

film actress An actor or actress is a person who portrays a 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 term is (), lite ...

. She had a number of

starring role In the performing arts industry such as theatre, film, or television, casting, or a casting call, is a pre-production process for selecting a certain type of actor, dancer, singer, or extra for a particular role or part in a script, screenp ...

s in the

silent era 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, wh ...

, most famously as

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 ...

's leading lady in ''

Seven Chances ''Seven Chances'' is a 1925 American silent comedy film directed by and starring Buster Keaton, based on the play of the same name by Roi Cooper Megrue, produced in 1916 by David Belasco. Additional cast members include T. Roy Barnes, Snitz Ed ...

'' (1925). Dwyer mostly retired in 1928 and played a number of uncredited roles in sound films, but retired from the film business completely in the 1940s. Dwyer's entertainment career began with her working as a dancer in New York. Her performance in the chorus line in an off-Broadway production in 1919 led to her going to Hollywood. Her film debut came in the serial ''The Evil Eye''. Dwyer was married to actor and talent agent William Jackie until his death in 1954. They operated the Ruth Dwyer Agency in San Francisco, helping people obtain parts in films and television shows. Dwyer died on March 2, 1978, at the

Motion Picture Country House and Hospital The Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF) is a charitable organization that offers assistance and care to those in the motion picture and television industries and their families with limited or no resources, including services such as temp ...

in Woodland Hills, California.

Selected filmography

* '' The Evil Eye'' (1920) * ''

The Stealers ''The Stealers'' is a 1920 American silent drama film directed by Christy Cabanne. Plot As described in a film magazine, Rev. Robert Martin (Tooker) is an ex-minister who has lost his faith because of his wife's faithlessness, and taken up a l ...

'' (1920) * ''

Clay Dollars ''Clay Dollars'' is a 1921 American silent drama film directed by George Archainbaud and starring Eugene O'Brien, Ruth Dwyer and Frank Currier.Munden p.131 It was shot at studios in Fort Lee, New Jersey. Cast * Eugene O'Brien as Bruce Edwards ...

'' (1921) * ''

Second Hand Love ''Second Hand Love'' is a 1923 American film directed by William A. Wellman. Cast *Buck Jones as Andy Hanks (*as Charles Jones) * Ruth Dwyer as Angela Trent * Charles Coleman as Dugg * Harvey Clark as Scratch, The Detective *Frank Weed as Deacon ...

'' (1923) * ''

His Mystery Girl ''His Mystery Girl'' is a 1923 American silent comedy film directed by Robert F. Hill and starring Herbert Rawlinson, Ruth Dwyer, and Margaret Campbell. Plot As described in a film magazine, the friends of Kerry Reynolds (Rawlinson) think he s ...

'' (1923) * '' After a Million'' (1924) * ''

Broadway or Bust ''Broadway or Bust'' is a 1924 American silent Western comedy film directed by Edward Sedgwick and starring Hoot Gibson. It was produced and distributed by Universal Pictures. Cast Preservation With no prints of ''Broadway or Bust'' located ...

'' (1924) * ''

Jack O'Clubs ''Jack O'Clubs'' is a 1924 American silent crime drama film directed by Robert F. Hill and starring Herbert Rawlinson, Esther Ralston, and Eddie Gribbon. Plot As described in a film magazine, the dogged determination and big heart of an Irish p ...

'' (1924) * ''

The Reckless Age ''The Reckless Age'' is a 1924 American silent comedy-drama film directed by Harry A. Pollard and starring Reginald Denny. It was produced and distributed by Universal Pictures. It is based on the novel ''Love Insurance'' by Earl Derr Biggers a ...

'' (1924) * ''

Dark Stairways ''Dark Stairways'' is a 1924 American silent mystery film directed by Robert F. Hill and starring Herbert Rawlinson, Ruth Dwyer, and Hayden Stevenson. Cast Preservation With no prints of ''Dark Stairways'' located in any film archives, it is ...

'' (1924) * '' The Covered Trail'' (1924) * '' Cornered'' (1924) * ''

The Gambling Fool ''The Gambling Fool'' is a 1925 silent Western film directed by J. P. McGowan starring Franklyn Farnum. Plot As described in a film magazine review, an honest gambler arrives at a tough town to meet the hard-hearted owner of a ranch. He wins t ...

'' (1925) * '' Going the Limit'' (1925) * ''

'' (1925) * ''

The Fear Fighter ''The Fear Fighter'' is a 1925 American silent comedy film directed by Albert S. Rogell and starring Billy Sullivan, Ruth Dwyer and J.P. McGowan.Munden p.234 Cast * Billy Sullivan as Billy Griffin * Ruth Dwyer as Catherine Curtis * J.P. M ...

'' (1925) * ''

Crack o' Dawn ''Crack o' Dawn'' is an extant 1925 silent action adventure film directed by Albert S. Rogell and starring Reed Howes. Cast *Reed Howes - Earle Thorpe Jr. * J. P. McGowan - Earle Thorpe Sr. * Ruth Dwyer - Earl Thompson * Henry A. Barrows - Henr ...

'' (1925) * ''

The Canvas Kisser ''The Canvas Kisser'' is a 1925 American silent film, silent sports film, sports drama film directed by Duke Worne and starring Ashton Dearholt, Ruth Dwyer (actress), Ruth Dwyer and Edward Cecil (actor), Edward Cecil.Munden p.109 Synopsis A boxer ...

'' (1925) * ''

White Fang ''White Fang'' is a novel by American author Jack London (1876–1916) — and the name of the book's eponymous character, a wild wolfdog. First serialized in ''Outing'' magazine between May and October 1906, it was published in book form in Oct ...

'' (1925) * ''

The Patent Leather Pug ''The Patent Leather Pug'' is a 1925 American silent sports drama film directed by Albert S. Rogell and starring Billy Sullivan, Ruth Dwyer, and J.P. McGowan.Munden p. 593 Completed in 1925, it first premiered in London under the alternative ti ...

'' (1926) * ''

Stepping Along ''Stepping Along'' is a 1926 American silent comedy film directed by Charles Hines and starring Johnny Hines, Mary Brian, and William Gaxton. Plot Cast * Johnny Hines as Johnny Rooney * Mary Brian as Molly Taylor * William Gaxton as Frank ...

'' (1926) * '' The Brown Derby'' (1926) *''

A Man of Quality ''A Man of Quality'' is a 1926 American silent crime film directed by Wesley Ruggles and starring George Walsh, Ruth Dwyer and Brian Donlevy. The survival status of the film is unknown. Cast * George Walsh as Jack Banning * Ruth Dwyer as Mar ...

'' (1926) * ''

A Hero for a Night ''A Hero for a Night'' is a 1927 American silent comedy film directed by William James Craft and produced and distributed by Universal Pictures, cashing in on the "Lindy craze", generated by Charles Lindbergh's famous ocean crossing flight. The f ...

'' (1927) * ''

The Lost Limited ''The Lost Limited'' is a 1927 American silent action film directed by J.P. McGowan and starring Reed Howes, Ruth Dwyer and Henry A. Barrows.Munden p.452 Cast * Reed Howes as Leonard Hathaway * Ruth Dwyer as Nora Murphy * Henry A. Barrows ...

'' (1927) * ''

White Pants Willie ''White Pants Willie'' is a 1927 American comedy film directed by Charles Hines and written by Howard J. Green. It is based on the 1924 novel ''White Pants Willie'' by Elmer Davis. The film stars Johnny Hines, Leila Hyams, Henry A. Barrows, ...

'' (1927) * ''

The Racing Fool ''The Racing Fool'' is a 1927 American silent action film directed by Harry Joe Brown and starring Reed Howes, Ruth Dwyer and Ernest Hilliard.Munden p.672 Cast * Reed Howes as Jack Harlowe * Ruth Dwyer as Helen Drake * Ernest Hilliard as Co ...

'' (1927) * '' The Nest'' (1927) * '' A Perfect Gentleman'' (1928) * ''

Sailors' Wives ''Sailor's Wives'' is a lost 1928 silent film romantic-comedy directed by Joseph Henabery and starring Mary Astor. It was produced and distributed by First National Pictures. Cast *Mary Astor as Carol Trent * Lloyd Hughes as Don Manning * Earl ...

'' (1928) * ''

Alex the Great ''Alex the Great'' is a lost 1928 American silent comedy film directed by Dudley Murphy and starring Richard 'Skeets' Gallagher, Albert Conti and Patricia Avery.Munden p.12 Cast * Richard 'Skeets' Gallagher as Alex the Great * Albert Conti as ...

'' (1928)

References

Bibliography

* Munden, Kenneth White. ''The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures Produced in the United States, Part 1''. University of California Press, 1997.

External links

* 1898 births 1978 deaths American film actresses American silent film actresses 20th-century American actresses Actresses from Brooklyn Film serial actresses {{US-film-actor-1890s-stub