Mildred Davis
- For the suspense/mystery author see Mildred B. Davis
Mildred Davis | |
---|---|
Born |
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | February 22, 1901
Died |
August 18, 1969 68) Santa Monica, California, U.S. | (aged
Nationality | American |
Alma mater | "Friends School" |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1916-1949 |
Spouse(s) | Harold Lloyd (1923–69) |
Children | 3 |
Mildred Hillary Davis[1] (February 22, 1901 – August 18, 1969) was an American actress who appeared in many of Harold Lloyd's classic silent comedies and eventually became his wife.
Early life and career
Davis was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and educated at the "Friends School" there. After several years spent studying, she traveled to Los Angeles in the hopes of securing a role in a film. After appearing in several small roles, she caught the attention of Hal Roach, who pointed her out to comedian Harold Lloyd. Lloyd was looking for a leading lady to replace Bebe Daniels, and cast Davis in his comedy short From Hand to Mouth in 1919. It would be the first of fifteen films they would star in together.
On February 10, 1923, she married Harold Lloyd. After their marriage, Lloyd announced that Davis would not appear in any more motion pictures. After much persuasion on Davis' part, she received Lloyd's consent for her return to the screen in Too Many Crooks which Lloyd produced through his production company.
Personal life and death
She and Harold Lloyd had three children including Gloria Lloyd and Harold Lloyd Jr. Davis was very active in Beverly Hills and as hostess at the Lloyds' estate, Greenacres, where she particularly enjoyed rose gardening. Her brother was actor Jack Davis of Our Gang, later a prominent Beverly Hills physician.
The couple remained very close for their entire life together. She found comfort in her strong friendships with actresses Marion Davies and Colleen Moore. She also developed a long-lasting friendship with Lloyd's assistant, Roy Brooks, who lived with them at Greenacres for over forty years.
Davis died from a coronary following a series of strokes in Santa Monica, California, in 1969.
Filmography
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
1916 | Marriage à la Carte | |
1917 | What'll We Do with Uncle? | |
Fighting Mad | Lily Sawyer | |
1918 | Bud's Recruit | Edith's sister |
A Weaver of Dreams | Margery Gordon | |
1919 | All Wrong | Betty Thompson |
Start Something | ||
All at Sea | ||
Call for Mr. Caveman | ||
Giving the Bride Away | ||
Looking for Trouble | ||
Tough Luck | ||
From Hand to Mouth | The Girl | |
1920 | Red Hot Hottentotts | |
Why Go Home? | ||
The Floor Below | ||
His Royal Slyness | Princess Florelle | |
Getting His Goat | ||
Haunted Spooks | The Girl | |
An Eastern Westerner | The Girl | |
High and Dizzy | The Girl | |
Get Out and Get Under | The Girl | |
Number, Please? | The Girl | |
1921 | Humor Risk | |
Now or Never | The Girl | |
Among Those Present | Miss O'Brien, The Girl | |
I Do | Wife | |
Never Weaken | The Girl | |
A Sailor-Made Man | The Girl | |
1922 | Grandma's Boy | His Girl |
Doctor Jack | The Sick-Little-Well-Girl | |
1923 | Safety Last! | The Girl |
Temporary Marriage | Hazel Manners | |
Condemned | The Girl | |
1927 | Too Many Crooks | Ceia Mason |
1949 | The Devil's Sleep | Tessie T. Tesse |
References
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mildred Davis. |
- Mildred Davis at the Internet Movie Database
- Mildred Davis Photo gallery
- Mildred Davis at Virtual History