Sybil Seely (born Sibye Trevilla, January 2, 1900 – June 26, 1984) was a

silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized Sound recording and reproduction, 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) ...

actress who worked with the well known silent film comedy actor Buster Keaton. She was credited in some of her films as Sibye Trevilla.

Early years

Seely was born to Harry Travilla and Lucie Ellen Boyker in Los Angeles, the sixth of seven children. She was of French, English, and Scottish descent. Her three brothers performed "as the Travilla Brothers, a popular vaudeville act featuring stunts in a huge onstage tank using a trained seal named Winks, advertised as 'The Seal With The Human Brain.'”

Career

Seely is known to have appeared in 23 films, and her first role, according to IMDb, was an uncredited part in ''Her Nature Dance'' (1917), at the age of 17. This picture was made for the

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 ...

studio, where she began as a "

Bathing Beauty ''Bathing Beauty'' is a 1944 musical film starring Red Skelton, Basil Rathbone, and Esther Williams, and directed by George Sidney. Although this was not Williams' screen debut, it was her first Technicolor musical. The film was initially to be ...

" and where she was under contract for all of her short career. Sennett loaned her to Buster Keaton for five short films, including her first role with the great silent screen comedian as his bride and fellow ill-fated house-kit-builder in '' One Week'' (1920). This is the role for which Seely is best known, and her unflappable screen personality, as well as the ability to keep up with Keaton and perform her own stunts, earned her the roles in the four other Keaton two-reelers. The final role of her short career was in Buster Keaton's ''

The Frozen North ''The Frozen North'' is a 1922 American short comedy film directed by and starring Buster Keaton. The film is a parody of early western films, especially those of William S. Hart. The film was written by Keaton and Edward F. Cline (credited ...

'' (1922). One_Week_(1920)

Family

In 1920, she married screenwriter

Jules Furthman Jules Furthman (March 5, 1888 – September 22, 1966) was an American magazine and newspaper writer before working as a screenwriter. Biography Furthman was born in Chicago. His brother was the writer Charles Furthman. During World War I he wr ...

. They had a son, Jules Jr. In 1922, she retired from her acting career.Sybil Seely
Classic Video Streams; accessed January 18, 2019.

Death

Seely was diagnosed with colon cancer in 1983 and also suffered from cerebral arteriosclerosis at the time of her death from cardiac failure in Culver City, California, aged 84, on June 26, 1984.Death Certificate of Sybil Travilla Furthman
classicvideostreams.com; accessed January 5, 2017.

Filmography

*''Hearts and Flowers'' (1919) *''A Lady's Tailor'' (1919) *''

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) *''Up in Alf's Place'' (1919) *''His Last False Step'' (1919) *'' Down on the Farm'' (1920) *''By Golly!'' (1920) *''Married Life'' (1920) *'' One Week'' (1920) *''

Convict 13 ''Convict 13'' is a 1920 two-reel silent comedy film starring Buster Keaton. It was written and directed by Keaton and Edward F. Cline. Plot Buster plays golf one morning with a group of friends and after a disastrous start, drives his bal ...

'' (1920) *''Movie Fans'' (1920) * ''

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) *'' The Scarecrow'' (1920) (uncredited) *''Bungalow Troubles'' (1920) *'' The Boat'' (1921) *''

A Sailor-Made Man ''A Sailor-Made Man'' is a 1921 American silent comedy film directed by Fred Newmeyer and starring Harold Lloyd. Plot "The Boy" (Lloyd) is an idle playboy and heir to $20,000,000, relaxing at an exclusive resort. When he sees "The Girl" (Mildr ...

'' (1921) *''On Patrol'' (1922) *''

'' (1922)

References

External links

* One Week (1920) at

Internet Archive The Internet Archive is an American digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It provides free public access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, software applications/games, music, ...

Convict 13 (1920)
at

The Scarecrow (1920)
at

The Boat (1921)
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The Frozen North (1922)
at

{{DEFAULTSORT:Seely, Sybil American film actresses American silent film actresses Actresses from Los Angeles Deaths from colorectal cancer Deaths from cerebrovascular disease Deaths from arteriosclerosis Deaths from cancer in California Neurological disease deaths in California 1900 births 1984 deaths Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) 20th-century American actresses