Vivien Oakland (born Vivian Ruth Andersen; May 20, 1895 – August 1, 1958), was an American actress best known for her work in comedies in Hollywood in the 1920s and 1930s, most notably with the

Hal Roach Studios Hal Roach Studios was an American motion picture and television production studio. Known as ''The Laugh Factory to the World'', it was founded by producer Hal Roach and business partners Dan Linthicum and I.H. Nance as the Rolin Film Company on Ju ...

. Oakland appeared in 157 films between 1915 and 1951.

Family

Born Vivian Ruth Andersen in San Francisco, California, she was the daughter of Norwegian immigrants Edward Andersen and Anna Marthine Olsen. Her siblings' names were Edward, Herbert (née Hagbart), and Edna. She was one half of the vaudeville team "The Oakland Sisters" with her younger sister Edna, who later performed in motion pictures as Dagmar Oakland. After the

1906 San Francisco earthquake At 05:12 Pacific Standard Time on Wednesday, April 18, 1906, the coast of Northern California was struck by a major earthquake with an estimated moment magnitude of 7.9 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of XI (''Extreme''). High-intensity sha ...

, Anna Andersen, a widow since 1898, moved the family to

Oakland, California Oakland is the largest city and the county seat of Alameda County, California, United States. A major West Coast of the United States, West Coast port, Oakland is the largest city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, the third ...

. In 1917, she married actor

John T. Murray John T. Murray (28 August 1886 – 12 February 1957) was an Australian stage and film actor.Leider p. 316 Biography Born in Melbourne in 1886, Murray was married to actress Vivien Oakland, who he had appeared with on the vaudeville stage.

(1886–1957). Oakland performed on Broadway and with the

Ziegfeld Follies The ''Ziegfeld Follies'' was a series of elaborate theatrical revue productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 to 1931, with renewals in 1934 and 1936. They became a radio program in 1932 and 1936 as ''The Ziegfeld Follies of the Air ...

Career

She supported

Laurel and Hardy Laurel and Hardy were a British-American Double act, comedy duo act during the early Classical Hollywood cinema, Classical Hollywood era of American cinema, consisting of Englishman Stan Laurel (1890–1965) and American Oliver Hardy (1892–19 ...

on several occasions, and sometimes played the wife of

Edgar Kennedy Edgar Livingston Kennedy (April 26, 1890 – November 9, 1948) was an American comedic character actor who appeared in at least 500 films during the silent and sound eras. Professionally, he was known as "Slow Burn", owing to his ability to por ...

and

Leon Errol Leon Errol (born Leonce Errol Sims, July 3, 1881 – October 12, 1951) was an Australian-American comedian and actor in the United States, popular in the first half of the 20th century for his appearances in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in film ...

in their series of short films. She played mostly bit roles in feature films in the 1940s before making her last film, an Errol comedy, in 1951. She retired from acting in 1951, settling in

Sherman Oaks, California Sherman Oaks is a neighborhood in the city of Los Angeles, California located in the San Fernando Valley, founded in 1927. The neighborhood includes a portion of the Santa Monica Mountains, which gives Sherman Oaks a lower population density than ...

. She died seven years later and was buried in

Chapel of the Pines Crematory Chapel of the Pines Crematory is a crematory and columbarium located at 1605 South Catalina Street, Los Angeles, in the U.S. state of California, in the historic West Adams District a short distance southwest of Downtown. It is beside Angelus-Ros ...

Partial filmography

* ''

Destiny Destiny, sometimes referred to as fate (from Latin ''fatum'' "decree, prediction, destiny, fate"), is a predetermined course of events. It may be conceived as a predetermined future, whether in general or of an individual. Fate Although often ...

'' (1915) * '' Madonna of the Streets'' (1924) * ''

The Rainbow Trail ''The Rainbow Trail'', also known as ''The Desert Crucible'', is Western author Zane Grey's sequel to ''Riders of the Purple Sage''. Originally published under the title ''The Rainbow Trail'' in 1915, it was re-edited and re-released in recent ...

'' (1925) * ''

The Teaser ''The Teaser'' is a 1925 American silent film, silent romantic comedy drama film written by Lewis Milestone, Edward T. Lowe Jr., and Jack Wagner (screenwriter), Jack Wagner based upon the play of the same name by Adelaide Matthews and Martha M. ...

'' (1925) * ''

Wife Tamers A wife ( : wives) is a female in a marital relationship. A woman who has separated from her partner continues to be a wife until the marriage is legally dissolved with a divorce judgement. On the death of her partner, a wife is referred to as ...

'' (1926) * ''

Tony Runs Wild ''Tony Runs Wild'' is a 1926 American silent Western film directed by Tom Buckingham and starring Tom Mix, Tony the Horse, Jacqueline Logan, Lawford Davidson, Duke R. Lee, and Vivien Oakland. The film was released by Fox Film Corporation on A ...

'' (1926) * ''

Along Came Auntie ''Along Came Auntie'' is a 1926 American silent film featuring Glenn Tryon and Oliver Hardy. Plot Mrs Remington Chow is concealing her second marriage from her aunt in order to receive a large inheritance. She is in financial difficulties and ...

'' (1926) * ''

Mighty Like a Moose ''Mighty Like a Moose'' is a 1926 American silent comedy short film written by Charley Chase that was directed by Leo McCarey. It was released by Pathé Exchange on July 18, 1926. This two-reel short comedy is considered by some scholars to be ...

'' (1926) * ''

Say It with Babies ''Say It with Babies'' is a 1926 American silent comedy film starring Glenn Tryon and featuring Oliver Hardy. Cast * Glenn Tryon - Casper Crum * Vivien Oakland - Mrs. Crum * Oliver Hardy - Hector, the floorwalker (as Babe Hardy) * Martha Sl ...

'' (1926) * ''

Redheads Preferred ''Redheads Preferred'' is a 1926 American silent comedy film directed by Allen Dale and starring Raymond Hitchcock, Marjorie Daw and Theodore von Eltz.Slide p.242 It was produced by the independent studio Tiffany Pictures. The film's sets were ...

'' (1926) * ''

Two-Time Mama ''Two-Time Mama'' is a 1927 American silent film, silent comedy film featuring Oliver Hardy. Cast * Tyler Brooke as Mr. Dazzle The Devil * Anita Garvin as Mrs. Dazzle * Glenn Tryon as Mr. Brown * Vivien Oakland - Mrs. Brown * Gale Henry as No ...

'' (1927) * ''

Love 'em and Weep ''Love 'em and Weep'' is a 1927 American silent comedy short film starring Mae Busch, Stan Laurel and James Finlayson. Opening Title ''Ancient Proverb—Every married man should have his fling—But be careful not to get flung too far.'' ...

'' (1927) * ''

Uncle Tom's Cabin ''Uncle Tom's Cabin; or, Life Among the Lowly'' is an anti-slavery novel by American author Harriet Beecher Stowe. Published in two volumes in 1852, the novel had a profound effect on attitudes toward African Americans and slavery in the U. ...

'' (1927) * ''

Wedding Bills ''Wedding Bills'' (also sometimes written as ''Wedding Bill$'') is a 1927 American silent comedy film directed by Erle C. Kenton and starring Raymond Griffith, Anne Sheridan, and Hallam Cooley.McCaffrey & Jacob p. 141 It is considered lost Lo ...

'' (1927) * ''

We Faw Down ''We Faw Down'' is a silent short subject directed by Leo McCarey starring comedy duo Laurel and Hardy. It was released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on December 29, 1928. It was remade in part with their film '' Sons of the Desert'' in 1933. Plot ...

'' (1928) * ''

The Man in Hobbles ''The Man in Hobbles'' is a 1928 American silent comedy film directed by George Archainbaud and starring John Harron, Lila Lee and Lucien Littlefield.Babington & Barr p.133 The film's sets were designed by the art director Hervey Libbert. Cast ...

'' (1928) * '' That's My Wife'' (1929) * '' The Time, the Place and the Girl'' (1929) * '' In the Headlines'' (1929) * ''

Personality Personality is the characteristic sets of behaviors, cognitions, and emotional patterns that are formed from biological and environmental factors, and which change over time. While there is no generally agreed-upon definition of personality, mos ...

'' (1930) * ''

The Florodora Girl ''The Florodora Girl'' is a 1930 American pre-Code drama film directed by Harry Beaumont and written by Ralph Spence (screenwriter), Ralph Spence, Al Boasberg and Robert E. Hopkins. The film stars Marion Davies, Lawrence Gray, Walter Catlett, an ...

'' (1930) * '' Back Pay'' (1930) * ''

The Matrimonial Bed ''The Matrimonial Bed'' is a 1930 American pre-Code comedy film produced and released by Warner Bros. It was based on the French play by André Mouëzy-Éon and Yves Mirande. The English version of the play, by Sir Seymour Hicks, opened in New ...

'' (1930) * ''

Oh Sailor Behave ''Oh, Sailor, Behave!'' is a 1930 American Pre-Code musical comedy film produced and released by Warner Brothers, and based on the play ''See Naples and Die'', written by Elmer Rice. The film was originally intended to be entirely in Technicolor ...

'' (1930) * ''

A Lady Surrenders ''A Lady Surrenders'' is a 1930 American Pre-Code romantic drama film directed by John M. Stahl and starring Genevieve Tobin, Rose Hobart, Conrad Nagel, and Basil Rathbone. A copy exists in the Library of Congress. Plot summary A man is left b ...

'' (1930) * '' Many a Slip'' (1931) * ''

Gold Dust Gertie ''Gold Dust Gertie'' is a 1931 American Pre-Code musical comedy produced and released by Warner Brothers. It was originally completed as a full musical. Due to the backlash against musicals, however, all the songs were cut from the film in all r ...

'' (1931) * '' A House Divided'' (1931) * ''

The Age for Love ''The Age for Love'' is a 1931 American pre-Code comedy film (now lost) directed by Frank Lloyd based on the 1930 novel of the same name by Ernest Pascal. The film was a vehicle for Howard Hughes' mistress Billie Dove. The film was a commercial ...

'' (1931) * ''

Cock of the Air ''Cock of the Air'' is a 1932 American pre-Code aviation comedy film directed by Tom Buckingham and written by Charles Lederer and Robert E. Sherwood. The film stars Chester Morris, Billie Dove, Matt Moore, Walter Catlett and Luis Alberni. ''Co ...

'' (1932) * '' The Tenderfoot'' (1932) * ''

Secrets of the French Police ''Secrets of the French Police'' is a 1932 American Pre-Code crime film directed by A. Edward Sutherland and starring Gwili Andre, Gregory Ratoff, and Frank Morgan. The film was made as a B film by RKO Radio Pictures, using some of the sets fr ...

'' (1932) * ''

Scram! ''Scram!'' is a 1932 pre-Code Laurel and Hardy film produced by Hal Roach, directed by Ray McCarey, and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Plot The story begins in a courtroom, where Stan and Ollie appear before Judge Beaumont on a charge o ...

'' (1932) * ''

They Just Had to Get Married ''They Just Had to Get Married'' is a 1932 American pre-Code comedy film directed by Edward Ludwig and starring Slim Summerville, ZaSu Pitts, Roland Young, and Verree Teasdale. The screenplay was written by Gladys Lehman, H.M. Walker, and an u ...

'' (1932) * ''

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 Kornma ...

'' (1933) * ''

Merry Wives of Reno ''Merry Wives of Reno'' is a 1934 American pre-Code comedy film directed by H. Bruce Humberstone and starring Guy Kibbee, Glenda Farrell, Donald Woods, Margaret Lindsay, Hugh Herbert, Frank McHugh and Ruth Donnelly. The film was released by War ...

'' (1934) * ''

The Defense Rests ''The Defense Rests'' (or ''Take the Witness'') is a 1934 American film directed by Lambert Hillyer and starring Jack Holt, Jean Arthur, and Nat Pendleton. The movie was produced in May 1934 and released on 15 July 1934. Cast * Jack Holt as M ...

'' (1934) * '' Money Means Nothing'' (1934) * ''

Rendezvous at Midnight ''Rendezvous at Midnight'' is a 1935 American mystery film directed by Christy Cabanne and starring Ralph Bellamy, Valerie Hobson, Catherine Doucet and Irene Ware. The film was produced and distributed by Hollywood studio Universal Pictures. T ...

'' (1935) * ''

Star of Midnight ''Star of Midnight'' is a 1935 American mystery comedy film directed by Stephen Roberts. William Powell was loaned out to RKO Pictures from MGM to star with Ginger Rogers. Plot New York lawyer and playboy Clay "Dal" Dalzell (William Powell) is ...

'' (1935) * '' Keystone Hotel'' (1935) * '' Lady Luck'' (1936) * '' Way Out West'' (1937) * ''

Should Wives Work? ''Should Wives Work?'' is a 1937 American short comedy film directed by Leslie Goodwins. In 1937, at the 10th Academy Awards, it was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Short Subject (Two-Reel).Amateur Crook ''Amateur Crook'' is a 1937 American romantic comedy film directed by Sam Katzman. The film is also known as ''Crooked But Dumb'' (in the United Kingdom) and ''Jewel Thief'' (American TV title). Plot Joan Barclay as Betsy Cummings takes a j ...

'' (1937) * '' Double Danger'' (1938) * ''

Rebellious Daughters ''Rebellious Daughters'' is a 1938 American crime drama film. It was the first feature film directed by Jean Yarbrough, and starred Marjorie Reynolds. The film's producer was Ben Judell of Progressive Pictures, known for low-budget exploitation fi ...

'' (1938) * ''

Slander House ''Slander House'' is a 1938 American film directed by Charles Lamont. The film's producer was Ben Judell of Progressive Pictures, known for low-budget exploitation films with provocative titles; other films released by Progressive the same year ...

'' (1938) * ''

A Chump at Oxford ''A Chump at Oxford'' is a Hal Roach comedy film produced in 1939 and released in 1940 by United Artists. It was directed by Alfred J. Goulding and was the penultimate Laurel and Hardy film made at the Roach studio. The title echoes the film '' ...

'' (1940) * ''

Pop Always Pays ''Pop Always Pays'' is a 1940 American comedy film directed by Leslie Goodwins using a screenplay by Charles E. Roberts, based on a story by Arthur J. Beckhard. Although not credited in the film, news reports of the time reported that when Goodwi ...

'' (1940) * ''

The Man in the Trunk ''The Man in the Trunk'' is a 1942 American comedy film directed by Malcolm St. Clair and written by John Larkin. The film stars Lynne Roberts, George Holmes, Raymond Walburn, J. Carrol Naish, Dorothy Peterson and Eily Malyon. The film was re ...

'' (1942) * ''

Laugh Your Blues Away ''Laugh Your Blues Away'' is a 1942 American comedy film directed by Charles Barton and written by Harry Sauber and Ned Dandy. The film stars Jinx Falkenburg, Bert Gordon, Johnny Mitchell, Isobel Elsom, Roger Clark and George Lessey. The film w ...

'' (1942) * ''

The Girl Who Dared ''The Girl Who Dared'' is a 1944 American mystery film directed by Howard Bretherton and written by John K. Butler. The film stars Lorna Gray, Peter Cookson, Grant Withers, Veda Ann Borg, John Hamilton and Willie Best. The film was released on A ...

'' (1944) * ''

The Man Who Walked Alone ''The Man Who Walked Alone'' is a 1945 American B film romantic comedy film produced by PRC Pictures, Inc., directed by Christy Cabanne, with top-billed Dave O'Brien and Kay Aldridge, along with Walter Catlett and Guinn (Big Boy) Williams. K ...

'' (1945) * ''

Utah Utah ( , ) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. Utah is a landlocked U.S. state bordered to its east by Colorado, to its northeast by Wyoming, to its north by Idaho, to its south by Arizona, and to it ...

'' (1945) * '' Night and Day'' (1946) * ''

Bunco Squad ''Bunco Squad'' is a 1950 American crime film directed by Herbert I. Leeds and written by George Callahan. The film stars Robert Sterling, Joan Dixon, Ricardo Cortez, Douglas Fowley and Elisabeth Risdon. The film was released on September 1, ...

'' (1950) * ''Punchy Pancho'' (1951)

References

External links

* * * *
Vivien Oakland (lordheath.com)
* https://www.aveleyman.com/ActorCredit.aspx?ActorID=13133 * http://www.lordheath.com/menu1_67.html
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
1895 births 1958 deaths American film actresses American people of Norwegian descent American silent film actresses Hal Roach Studios actors Burials at Chapel of the Pines Crematory Actresses from California 20th-century American actresses {{US-film-actor-1890s-stub