(1892-1979)

MARY PICKFORD

Mary Pickford, born Gladys Louise Smith on April 8, 1892, was a Canadian-American screenwriter, producer, and actress. Pickford began stage acting at the age of 5 and soon moved to New York to join Broadway. Soon after her stage debut in The Warrens of Virginia, she got involved with film and made over 40 movies in one year. She soon became known as America's sweetheart, beloved for her charm and beauty in the age of silent film. In 1919 she founded a film company called the United Artists, along with Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin, and D.W. Griffith. She acted in her first "talkie" in the 1929 film "Coquette". Many believe her stardom started to die as talkies became popular, claiming she could never live up to her performances in silent film. She acted in her last film in 1933, but many still believe her to be one of the most influential and famous actresses to ever live. After retiring from acting, she worked as a producer on multiple films until her later years, where she withdrew in her home until her death on May 29, 1979 in Santa Monica.