Minta Durfee
Encyclopedia
Araminta Estelle "Minta" Durfee (October 1, 1889 – September 9, 1975) was an American silent film
actress from Los Angeles, California
, possibly best known for her role in Mickey
(1918).
.
Durfee and Arbuckle separated in 1921, just prior to a scandal involving the death of starlet Virginia Rappe
. There were three trials and finally Arbuckle was acquitted. His career was destroyed and he received few job offers. Durfee and Arbuckle were divorced in 1925.
Durfee was quoted in her later years as saying Arbuckle was the most generous human being I've ever met, and if I had to do it all over again, I'd still marry the same man.
Durfee was an avid defender of Mabel Normand
who was a close friend, and spoke fondly of her until her own death.
Durfee was a regular performer on television, appearing on such shows as Noah's Ark (1956). She had minor roles in motion pictures like How Green Was My Valley (1941), Naughty Marietta (1935), Rose- Marie (1936), The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964), and It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963).
In later life, Durfee gave lectures on silent film and held retrospectives on her and her husband's pictures. She was surprised and excited by the renewed interest in silent film and did her best to help.
Minta Durfee died in Woodland Hills, California at the Motion Picture Country Home in 1975. She suffered from a heart ailment.
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
actress from Los Angeles, California
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...
, possibly best known for her role in Mickey
Mickey (1918 film)
Mickey is a 1918 silent comedy-drama film starring Mabel Normand, directed by F. Richard Jones and James Young, and written by J.G. Hawks. The movie was produced by the Mabel Normand Feature Film Company.-Plot:...
(1918).
Biography
She met Roscoe Arbuckle when he was attempting to get started in theater and the two married in August 1908. Durfee entered show business in local companies as a chorus girl at the age of seventeen. She was the first leading lady of Charlie ChaplinCharlie Chaplin
Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era. He became the most famous film star in the world before the end of World War I...
.
Durfee and Arbuckle separated in 1921, just prior to a scandal involving the death of starlet Virginia Rappe
Virginia Rappe
Virginia Rappe was an American model and silent film actress.-Early life and career:Rappe was born to unwed mother Mabel Rapp in New York City. Mabel died when Virginia was 11, and Virginia was then raised by her grandmother in Chicago. At age 14 she began working as a commercial and art model in...
. There were three trials and finally Arbuckle was acquitted. His career was destroyed and he received few job offers. Durfee and Arbuckle were divorced in 1925.
Durfee was quoted in her later years as saying Arbuckle was the most generous human being I've ever met, and if I had to do it all over again, I'd still marry the same man.
Durfee was an avid defender of Mabel Normand
Mabel Normand
Mabel Normand was an American silent film comedienne and actress. She was a popular star of Mack Sennett's Keystone Studios and is noted as one of the film industry's first female screenwriters, producers and directors...
who was a close friend, and spoke fondly of her until her own death.
Durfee was a regular performer on television, appearing on such shows as Noah's Ark (1956). She had minor roles in motion pictures like How Green Was My Valley (1941), Naughty Marietta (1935), Rose- Marie (1936), The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964), and It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963).
In later life, Durfee gave lectures on silent film and held retrospectives on her and her husband's pictures. She was surprised and excited by the renewed interest in silent film and did her best to help.
Minta Durfee died in Woodland Hills, California at the Motion Picture Country Home in 1975. She suffered from a heart ailment.
Selected filmography
- It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad WorldIt's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad WorldIt's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World is a 1963 American comedy film produced and directed by Stanley Kramer about the madcap pursuit of $350,000 in stolen cash by a diverse and colorful group of strangers...
(19631963 in filmThe year 1963 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* June 12 - Cleopatra starring Elizabeth Taylor, Rex Harrison and Richard Burton premieres at the Rivoli Theatre in New York City....
) - MickeyMickey (1918 film)Mickey is a 1918 silent comedy-drama film starring Mabel Normand, directed by F. Richard Jones and James Young, and written by J.G. Hawks. The movie was produced by the Mabel Normand Feature Film Company.-Plot:...
(19181918 in filmThe year 1918 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*Following litigation for anti-trust activities, the US Supreme Court orders the Motion Picture Patents Company to disband....
) - The Other ManThe Other Man (1916 film)The Other Man is a 1916 short comedy film starring Fatty Arbuckle. The film was shot in Fort Lee, New Jersey.-Cast:* Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle* Joe Bordeaux* Minta Durfee* Horace Haine* William Jefferson* Leatrice Joy* Lillian Shaffner* Al St. John...
(19161916 in filmThe year 1916 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* October 17 - release of A Daughter of the Gods, the first US production with a million dollar budget, with the first nude scene by a major star....
) - His Wife's MistakesHis Wife's MistakesHis Wife's Mistakes is a 1916 short comedy film directed by and starring Fatty Arbuckle.-Cast:* Roscoe Arbuckle* Minta Durfee* Joe Bordeaux* Arthur Earle - Percy Dovewing* Betty Gray* William Jefferson* Alfred St. John...
(1916) - Bright LightsBright Lights (1916 film)Bright Lights is a 1916 short comedy film directed by and starring Fatty Arbuckle.-Cast:* Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle* Joe Bordeaux* Jimmy Bryant* Minta Durfee* Gilbert Ely* William Jefferson* Mabel Normand* Al St. John...
(1916) - The Masquerader (1914)
- Fatty and the Broadway StarsFatty and the Broadway StarsFatty and the Broadway Stars is a 1915 short comedy film directed by and starring Fatty Arbuckle.-Cast:* Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle* Ivy Crosthwaite* Mack Sennett* Joe Weber* Lew Fields* Sam Bernard* William Collier Sr.* Joe Jackson* Brett Clark...
(19151915 in filmThe year 1915 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* February 8 : D.W Griffith's The Birth of a Nation premieres at Clune's Auditorium Los Angeles and breaks box office and film length records, running at a total length of 3 hrs 10 minutes.* June 18 : The Motion Picture Directors...
) - A Village ScandalA Village ScandalA Village Scandal is a 1915 short comedy film directed by and starring Fatty Arbuckle.-Cast:* Raymond Hitchcock* Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle - Fatty* Flora Zabelle* Al St. John* Harry McCoy* Minta Durfee...
(1915) - Fickle Fatty's FallFickle Fatty's FallFickle Fatty's Fall is a 1915 short comedy film directed by and starring Fatty Arbuckle.-Cast:* Phyllis Allen* Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle* Glen Cavender* Ivy Crosthwaite* Alice Davenport* Bobby Dunn - Man* Minta Durfee* May Emory* Edgar Kennedy...
(1915) - Court House CrooksCourt House CrooksCourt House Crooks is a 1915 short comedy film. It features Harold Lloyd in an uncredited role.-Cast:* Ford Sterling - The District Attorney* Charles Arling - The Judge* Minta Durfee - The Judge's Wife* Doris Baker - Little Sister...
(1915) - When Love Took WingsWhen Love Took WingsWhen Love Took Wings is a 1915 short comedy film directed by and starring Fatty Arbuckle.-Cast:* Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle - Reckless Fatty* Minta Durfee - The Girl* Frank Hayes - The Girl's Father* Joe Bordeaux - Fatty's rival...
(1915) - Fatty's Faithful FidoFatty's Faithful FidoFatty's Faithful Fido is a 1915 short comedy film directed by and starring Fatty Arbuckle.-Cast:* Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle - Fatty* Minta Durfee - Fatty's girl* Al St...
(1915) - Fatty's Chance AcquaintanceFatty's Chance AcquaintanceFatty's Chance Acquaintance is a 1915 short comedy film directed by and starring Fatty Arbuckle.-Cast:* Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle - Fatty* Billie Bennett - Fatty's wife* Harry McCoy - Pickpocket* Minta Durfee - Pickpocket's girlfriend* Frank Hayes - Cop...
(1915) - Fatty's Reckless FlingFatty's Reckless FlingFatty's Reckless Fling is a 1915 short comedy film directed by and starring Fatty Arbuckle.-Cast:* Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle - Fatty* Edgar Kennedy - Neighbor* Minta Durfee - Neighbor's wife* Glen Cavender - House detective* Frank Hayes - Card player...
(1915) - Fatty and Mabel at the San Diego ExpositionFatty and Mabel at the San Diego ExpositionFatty and Mabel at the San Diego Exposition is a 1915 silent short comedy film, directed by Fatty Arbuckle and starring Arbuckle and Mabel Normand.-Production background:...
(1915) - Mabel, Fatty and the LawMabel, Fatty and the LawMabel, Fatty and the Law is a 1915 short comedy film starring Fatty Arbuckle and Mabel Normand, and directed by Fatty Arbuckle.-Cast:* Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle - Fatty* Mabel Normand - Fatty's Wife* Harry Gribbon - Hubby* Minta Durfee - Hubby's Wife...
(1915) - Fatty and Minnie He-HawFatty and Minnie He-HawFatty and Minnie He-Haw is a 1914 short comedy film directed by and starring Fatty Arbuckle.-Cast:* Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle - Fatty* Minnie Devereaux - Minnie He-Haw* Edward Dillon - * Minta Durfee - Minta...
(19141914 in filmThe year 1914 in film involved some significant events, including the debut of Cecil B. DeMille as a director.-Events:*The 3,300-seat Mark Strand Theatre opens in New York City....
) - Fatty's Magic PantsFatty's Magic PantsFatty's Magic Pants is a 1914 short comedy film directed by and starring Fatty Arbuckle.-Cast:* Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle - Fatty* Charley Chase - Fatty's Rival* Minta Durfee - The Girl* Harry McCoy - Party Guest* Bert Roach - Party Guest...
(1914) - Leading Lizzie AstrayLeading Lizzie AstrayLeading Lizzie Astray is a 1914 short comedy film directed by and starring Fatty Arbuckle.-Cast:* Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle - A Farm Boy* Minta Durfee - Lizzie, the Farm Boy's Fiancée* Ed Brady - A City Slicker* Mack Swain - In from the Mines...
(1914) - Fatty's Wine PartyFatty's Wine PartyFatty's Wine Party is a 1914 short comedy film directed by and starring Fatty Arbuckle.-Cast:* Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle* Syd Chaplin* Alice Davenport* Edward Dillon - * Minta Durfee* Mabel Normand* Mack Swain...
(1914) - Tillie's Punctured RomanceTillie's Punctured Romance (1914 film)Tillie's Punctured Romance is the first feature-length comedy film from Keystone Film Company and the Christie Film Company, produced in 1914. A silent film directed by Mack Sennett, the film stars Marie Dressler, Mabel Normand, Charles Chaplin, and the Keystone Cops...
(1914) - An Incompetent HeroAn Incompetent HeroAn Incompetent Hero is a 1914 short comedy film directed by and starring Fatty Arbuckle.-Cast:* Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle* Edward Dillon - * Minta Durfee* Mabel Normand...
(1914) - Lovers' Post OfficeLovers' Post OfficeLovers' Post Office is a 1914 short comedy film directed by and starring Fatty Arbuckle.-Cast:* Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle* Edward Dillon - * Minta Durfee* Mabel Normand...
(1914) - Fatty AgainFatty AgainFatty Again is a 1914 short comedy film directed by and starring Fatty Arbuckle.-Cast:* Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle* Minta Durfee* Charles Murray* Ricca Allen* Jess Dandy - Carnival Boss...
(1914) - Fatty's DebutFatty's DebutFatty's Debut is a 1914 short comedy film directed by and starring Fatty Arbuckle.-Cast:* Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle* Minta Durfee* Al St. John...
(1914) - Lover's LuckLover's LuckLover's Luck is a 1914 short comedy film directed by and starring Fatty Arbuckle.-Cast:* Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle - Fatty* Minta Durfee - The Girl* Al St. John - Fatty's Rival* Josef Swickard - The Girl's Father* Phyllis Allen - The Girl's Mother...
(1914) - The Masquerader (1914)
- The Rounders (1914)
- His New ProfessionHis New ProfessionHis New Profession is a 1914 American comedy silent film made at the Keystone Studios and starring Charlie Chaplin. The film involves Chaplin taking care of a man in a wheelchair...
(1914) - Fatty's GiftFatty's GiftFatty's Gift is a 1914 American short comedy film directed by and starring Fatty Arbuckle.-Cast:* Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle* Minta Durfee* Hank Mann* Al St. John...
(1914) - Those Happy DaysThose Happy DaysThose Happy Days is a 1914 short comedy film directed by and starring Fatty Arbuckle.-Cast:* Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle* Chester Conklin* Minta Durfee* Mack Swain...
(1914) - The Sky PirateThe Sky PirateThe Sky Pirate is a 1914 short comedy film directed by and starring Fatty Arbuckle.-Cast:* Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle* Minta Durfee* Hank Mann* Mabel Normand* Al St. John...
(1914) - Fatty's FinishFatty's FinishFatty's Finish is a 1914 short comedy film directed by and starring Fatty Arbuckle.-Cast:* Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle* Minta Durfee* Hank Mann* Al St. John...
(1914) - Fatty and the HeiressFatty and the HeiressFatty and the Heiress is a 1914 short comedy film directed by and starring Fatty Arbuckle.-Cast:* Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle* Edward Dillon - * Minta Durfee* Al St. John* Slim Summerville...
(1914) - The KnockoutThe KnockoutThe Knockout was Charlie Chaplin's seventeenth film for Keystone Studios. Chaplin only has a small role, and Fatty Arbuckle takes up the main role...
(1914) - The AlarmThe Alarm (film)The Alarm is a 1914 short comedy film directed by and starring Fatty Arbuckle.-Cast:* Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle* Minta Durfee* Hank Mann* Mabel Normand* Al St. John...
(1914) - The Water DogThe Water DogThe Water Dog is a 1914 short comedy film directed by and starring Fatty Arbuckle....
(1914) - A Suspended OrdealA Suspended OrdealA Suspended Ordeal is a 1914 short comedy film directed by and starring Fatty Arbuckle....
(1914) - Caught in a CabaretCaught in a CabaretCaught in a Cabaret is a short film from 1914 starring Charlie Chaplin and the film's writer/director Mabel Normand. Chaplin plays a waiter who fakes being a Greek Ambassador to impress a girl. He then is invited to a garden party where he gets in trouble with the girl's jealous boyfriend...
(1914) - Where Hazel Met the VillainWhere Hazel Met the VillainWhere Hazel Met the Villain is a 1914 short comedy film directed by and starring Fatty Arbuckle....
(1914) - Twenty Minutes of LoveTwenty Minutes of LoveTwenty Minutes of Love is a 1914 American comedy silent film made by Keystone Studios. It was the first film written and directed by Charlie Chaplin.-Cast:* Charlie Chaplin - Pickpocket* Minta Durfee - Edgar' Girl* Edgar Kennedy - Lover...
(1914) - The Star BoarderThe Star BoarderThe Star Boarder is a 1914 American-made motion picture starring Charlie Chaplin.-Cast:* Charles Chaplin - The Star Boarder* Minta Durfee - Landlady* Edgar Kennedy - Landlady's husband* Gordon Griffith - Their son...
(1914) - Cruel, Cruel LoveCruel, Cruel LoveCruel, Cruel Love is a 1914 American comedy silent film made at the Keystone Studios and starring Charlie Chaplin.- Plot :This early Chaplin film has him playing a character quite different from the Tramp for which he would become famous. He is a rich, upper-class gentleman whose romance is...
(1914) - Tango TanglesTango TanglesTango Tangles is a 1914 American-made motion picture starring Charlie Chaplin and Fatty Arbuckle. Chaplin appears with no moustache. The action takes place in a dance hall, with a drunken Chaplin, Ford Sterling, and the huge, menacing, and acrobatic Arbuckle fighting over a girl.-Cast:* Charles...
(1914) - Rebecca's Wedding DayRebecca's Wedding DayRebecca's Wedding Day is a 1914 short comedy film starring Fatty Arbuckle.-Cast:* Phyllis Allen* Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle* Minta Durfee* Billy Gilbert -...
(1914) - A Flirt's MistakeA Flirt's MistakeA Flirt's Mistake is a 1914 short comedy film featuring Fatty Arbuckle.-Cast:* Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle - The Husband* Minta Durfee - The Wife* William Hauber - Cop* Edgar Kennedy - The Rajah* Virginia Kirtley* Henry Lehrman -...
(1914) - The Under-SheriffThe Under-SheriffThe Under-Sheriff is a 1914 short comedy film featuring Fatty Arbuckle.-Cast:* Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle* Chester Conklin* Alice Davenport* Minta Durfee* George Nichols...
(1914) - A Misplaced FootA Misplaced FootA Misplaced Foot is a 1914 short comedy film starring Fatty Arbuckle.-Cast:* Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle* Minta Durfee* Hank Mann* Mabel Normand* Ford Sterling* Al St. John...
(1914) - Fatty's FlirtationFatty's FlirtationFatty's Flirtation is a 1913 short comedy film featuring Fatty Arbuckle.-Cast:* Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle* Minta Durfee* William Hauber* Hank Mann* Mabel Normand* Ford Sterling...
(19131913 in filmThe year 1913 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* The Squaw Man, the first Hollywood feature film, is made.* December 29, Charlie Chaplin signs a contract with Mack Sennett to begin making films at Keystone Studios.* D. W...
) - Fatty Joins the ForceFatty Joins the ForceFatty Joins the Force is a 1913 short comedy film featuring Fatty Arbuckle. It features the Keystone Kops in a background role.-Plot:Fatty is an obese and timid man who rescues a little girl from drowning. The girl who turns out to be the daughter of the Police Commissioner. The grateful...
(1913) - Wine (1913)
- Fatty at San DiegoFatty at San DiegoFatty at San Diego is a 1913 short comedy film featuring Fatty Arbuckle and Mabel Normand.-Cast:* Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle - Fatty* Mabel Normand - Mabel* Phyllis Allen* Minta Durfee* Henry Lehrman* Ford Sterling...
(1913) - A Quiet Little WeddingA Quiet Little WeddingA Quiet Little Wedding is a 1913 short comedy film featuring Fatty Arbuckle.-Cast:* Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle* Charles Avery* Alice Davenport* Minta Durfee* Billy Gilbert* Edgar Kennedy* Al St. John...
(1913) - Fatty's Day OffFatty's Day OffFatty's Day Off is a 1913 short comedy film featuring Fatty Arbuckle....
(1913)