Margaret Morris
Encyclopedia
Margaret Morris was an American film actress of the silent film era, and into the 1930s.
Morris, born in Minneapolis, Minnesota
, was the great-niece to former US President Benjamin Harrison
. She became interested in acting by her late teens, and moved to Hollywood to pursue an acting career. At 22 she starred in her first film, the 1920 movie Her First Elopement. Her career went on a fast track from there, with her starring in eleven films through 1924, which included the 1923 film The Ghost City
opposite Pete Morrison
, and The Galloping Ace opposite Jack Hoxie
in 1924.
Also in 1924, she was one of thirteen girls selected as "WAMPAS Baby Stars
", a list that included future Hollywood legend Clara Bow
and Elinor Fair
. She would star in another twenty eight films through 1929, and was at the height of her career. However, like many early film stars, she did not transition well with the advent of sound films. In 1932 she starred opposite Tom Tyler
in Single-Handed Sanders, a western. She would have several B-movie roles, mostly uncredited, from 1932 to 1937. Her last film was The Toast of New York
, an uncredited role, in 1937.
She retired from acting that same year, but remained in Los Angeles
. She died there on June 7, 1968, aged 69.
Morris, born in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
, was the great-niece to former US President Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison was the 23rd President of the United States . Harrison, a grandson of President William Henry Harrison, was born in North Bend, Ohio, and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana at age 21, eventually becoming a prominent politician there...
. She became interested in acting by her late teens, and moved to Hollywood to pursue an acting career. At 22 she starred in her first film, the 1920 movie Her First Elopement. Her career went on a fast track from there, with her starring in eleven films through 1924, which included the 1923 film The Ghost City
The Ghost City
The Ghost City is a 1923 Western film serial directed by Jay Marchant. The film is considered to be lost.-Cast:* Pete Morrison - Laughing Larry Newton* Margaret Morris - Alice Sinclair* Al Wilson - Raymond Moreton* Frank Rice - Sagebrush Hilton...
opposite Pete Morrison
Pete Morrison
George D. Morrison, nicknamed Pete, was an American silent western film actor born August 8, 1890 in Westminster, Colorado. During his childhood he lived at Morrison, Colorado and Idaho Springs, and got his early tastes of horsemanship riding with his father Thomas during the summer...
, and The Galloping Ace opposite Jack Hoxie
Jack Hoxie
Jack Hoxie was an American rodeo performer and motion picture actor whose career was most prominent in the silent film era of the 1910s through the 1930s...
in 1924.
Also in 1924, she was one of thirteen girls selected as "WAMPAS Baby Stars
WAMPAS Baby Stars
The WAMPAS Baby Stars was a promotional campaign sponsored by the Western Association of Motion Picture Advertisers in the United States which honored thirteen young women each year whom they believed to be on the threshold of movie stardom. They were selected from 1922 to 1934, and annual...
", a list that included future Hollywood legend Clara Bow
Clara Bow
Clara Gordon Bow was an American actress who rose to stardom in the silent film era of the 1920s. It was her appearance as a spunky shopgirl in the film It that brought her global fame and the nickname "The It Girl." Bow came to personify the roaring twenties and is described as its leading sex...
and Elinor Fair
Elinor Fair
Elinor Fair was an American motion picture actress born in Richmond, Virginia. She began her career with the name Eleanor Crowe, changed it to Lenore Fair, and finally settled on Elinor Fair...
. She would star in another twenty eight films through 1929, and was at the height of her career. However, like many early film stars, she did not transition well with the advent of sound films. In 1932 she starred opposite Tom Tyler
Tom Tyler
Tom Tyler was an American actor in silent and sound motion pictures, best known for his portrayal of superhero Captain Marvel in the acclaimed 1941 movie serial The Adventures of Captain Marvel.-Biography:...
in Single-Handed Sanders, a western. She would have several B-movie roles, mostly uncredited, from 1932 to 1937. Her last film was The Toast of New York
The Toast of New York
The Toast of New York is a 1937 American biopic starring Edward Arnold, Cary Grant, Frances Farmer, and Jack Oakie. The film is a fictionalized account of the lives of financiers James Fisk and Edward S. Stokes...
, an uncredited role, in 1937.
She retired from acting that same year, but remained in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. She died there on June 7, 1968, aged 69.
Selected filmography
- Mark of the FrogMark of the FrogMark of the Frog is a 1928 drama film serial directed by Arch Heath. The film is now considered to be lost.-Cast:* Donald Reed* Margaret Morris* George Harcourt* Gus De Weil* Frank Lackteen* Charles Anthony Hughes * Frank B...
(19281928 in film-Events:Although some movies released in 1928 had sound, most were still silent.* July 28 - Lights of New York is released by Warner Brothers. It is the first "100% Talkie" feature film, in that dialog is spoken throughout the film...
) - The Iron ManThe Iron Man (serial)-Cast:* Luciano Albertini - Paul Breen* Margaret Morris - Arlene Graham* Joe Bonomo - Gaston La Rue* Jack Dougherty - Dick Clifford * Lola Todd - Mimi* Jean De Briac - Jules Despaed* William Welsh* Rose Dione* Harry Mann...
(19241924 in film-Events:* Entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer Pictures to create Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer...
) - The Ghost CityThe Ghost CityThe Ghost City is a 1923 Western film serial directed by Jay Marchant. The film is considered to be lost.-Cast:* Pete Morrison - Laughing Larry Newton* Margaret Morris - Alice Sinclair* Al Wilson - Raymond Moreton* Frank Rice - Sagebrush Hilton...
(19231923 in film-Events:*April 15 - Lee De Forest demonstrates the Phonofilm sound-on-film system at the Rivoli Theater in New York with a series of short musical films featuring vaudeville performers.-Top grossing films :-Films released in 1923:U.S.A...
) - Beasts of ParadiseBeasts of ParadiseBeasts of Paradise is a 1923 adventure film serial directed by William James Craft. It is now considered to be lost.-Cast:* William Desmond - Phil Grant* Eileen Sedgwick - Helen Frazer* William Gould Beasts of Paradise is a 1923 adventure film serial directed by William James Craft. It is now...
(1923)