Born in Albany, New York, Auer began her career on East Coast stages at the turn of the 20th century. She began appearing in films shortly thereafter; her first film appearance was in the 1908 Wallace McCutcheon Jr directed comedy short The Sculptor's Nightmare opposite director D.W. Griffith. One of the original "Biograph Girls" (along with actress Marion Leonard), Auer would appear alongside such notable future directors as Griffith, Thomas H. Ince, Robert G. Vignola, Harry Solter and Mack Sennett in their early careers as actors. These early associations would help ensure Auer's longevity in films when the former actors became notable directors and often cast Auer in their later films.
During her early years as a motion picture actress, Auer would appear opposite such publicly popular actors of the early 20th century as: Florence Lawrence, Florence Turner, Maurice Costello, Owen Moore, Robert "Bobby" Harron and Julia Swayne Gordon.
Auer would appear in motion pictures until the 1950s, then transitioning to television before retiring. One of her last film appearances was in the 1951 comedy Love Nest, which starred a young Marilyn Monroe. Aside from acting, she also was a screenwriter for three early silent films: 1916's Edwin Carewe directed drama Her Great Price starring Mabel Taliaferro, 1917's John G. Adolfi directed drama A Modern Cinderella starring June Caprice and 1921's Her Mad Bargain, directed by Edwin Carewe and starring Anita Stewart and Arthur Edmund Carewe.
She died in New York City, New York in 1962 at the age of 82.
Filmography
Actress
1956
Pardon My Nightshirt (Short) as
Mrs. Gray
1955
Top Gun as
Mrs. Turner (uncredited)
1955
Lucy Gallant as
Woman at Sale (uncredited)
1955
Death Valley Days (TV Series) as
Widow Barbara Frietchie
- Reno (1955) - Widow Barbara Frietchie
1954
Silver Lode as
Mrs. Elmwood
1953
The Abbott and Costello Show (TV Series) as
Sophie
- Pest Exterminators (1953) - Sophie
1952
The Star as
Annie's Friend in Store (uncredited)
1952
Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok (TV Series) as
Madame Claire
- The Fortune Telling Story (1952) - Madame Claire