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Frances Lee

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Years active
  
1924–1935

Name
  
Frances Lee


Frances Lee

Full Name
  
Myrna (or Merna) Tibbetts

Born
  
May 5, 1906 (
1906-05-05
)

Died
  
November 5, 2000(2000-11-05) (aged 94)Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California, U.S.

Spouse(s)
  
Alexander Bennett (1935–1977)

Occupation
  
Actress, Ziegfeld Girl

Frances Lee McCain - Actor


Frances Lee McCain - Actor


Frances Lee (May 5, 1906 – November 5, 2000) was an American film actress during Hollywood's silent film era, and well into the sound film era of the 1930s.

Contents

Dancing career

Frances Lee was born as Myrna Tibbetts (some sources indicate Merna Tibbetts) in Eagle Grove, Iowa. She initially began pursuing a career as a teacher but began taking dance lessons, which led to her being spotted by Gus Edwards, who owned a theater in New York City. Edwards persuaded Lee to perform at his theater, and she joined the cast of The Ziegfeld Follies in 1923, when she was hired by Al Christie to perform in his Christie Comedies.

Silent film career

Moving to Hollywood in the mid-1920s to pursue acting, she received her first film role in 1924, starring in Hello and Goodbye, a comedy short film. That brought her to the attention of the studios and launched her into a very successful and busy silent film career. In 1925 she had roles in three films, and in 1926 her number of films jumped to seven. She was a frequent guest at the home of Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks and became friends with other notable Hollywood legends, to include Rudolph Valentino until his death in 1926. In 1927 she had roles in five films and was selected as one of thirteen girls to be WAMPAS Baby Stars, which that year included silent film star Sally Phipps and actress Barbara Kent.

The year 1928 was a big year for her. She starred in nine films, the most memorable of which was Sweeties with Bobby Vernon. Her biggest year by far was 1929, when she starred in ten films, including the lead role in Stage Struck Susie opposite Eddie Barry and Divorce Made Easy starring alongside Marie Prevost and Douglas MacLean. That year, she married Alexander Bennett, brother to Australian silent film actress Enid Bennett. Their wedding was attended by such famous Hollywood legends as Enid Bennett's husband, film producer Fred Niblo; actresses Gloria Swanson and Greta Garbo; and actors Rod La Rocque and John Gilbert.

Transition to "talking films" and later life

She made a semisuccessful transition to "talking films" while the majority of silent film stars did not. Her first film in 1930 was Down with Husbands followed by The Stronger Sex starring Carmel Myers. However, her career had slowed considerably from the silent film years, and from 1931 to 1935 she had roles in only seven films. She auditioned for the female lead role in King Kong and was one of two actresses finally considered for the role, losing it ultimately to Fay Wray.

Later years

She retired from film acting after 1935, living with her husband in Beverly Hills, California. She began working in interior design and studied for and received a degree in teaching. She and her husband lived in Brentwood, where she began one of the early Head Start programs at Knox Presbyterian Nursery School. She also taught dance, society behavior, and etiquette at the Elisa Ryan Studio, where she instructed the daughters of President Richard M. Nixon. In 1972 she and Alex moved to Cardiff-by-the-Sea. She worked as a children's librarian at the Rancho Sante Fe Library until only a few years before her death.

She died on November 5, 2000, in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California, aged 94.

Filmography

Actress
1935
Traveling Saleslady as
Secretary (uncredited)
1934
Flirtation Walk as
Blonde (uncredited)
1934
These Thirty Years as
Mae Lercombe
1933
Phantom Thunderbolt as
Judy Lane
1933
Her Splendid Folly as
Natalie
1932
The Tabasco Kid (Short) as
Mary Jones
1931
What a Head! (Short) as
Betty - Papa's Daughter
1930
The Stronger Sex (Short)
1930
Down with Husbands (Short) as
Mrs. Henry Sweet
1929
Marching to Georgie (Short)
1929
Show of Shows as
Performer in 'Ladies of the Ensemble' Number
1929
Adam's Eve (Short) as
June
1929
Divorce Made Easy as
Eileen Stanley
1929
Stage Struck Susie (Short) as
Susie
1929
Reckless Rosie (Short) as
Peggy
1929
Tight Places (Short)
1929
The Carnation Kid as
Doris Whitely
1929
Footlight Fanny (Short)
1929
Confessions of a Chorus Girl (Short)
1928
Nifty Numbers (Short) as
Doris
1928
Believe It or Not (Short)
1928
Picture My Astonishment (Short)
1928
Skating Home (Short)
1928
Stop Kidding (Short) as
Susan
1928
Slick Slickers (Short) as
Susan
1928
Chicken a La King as
Babe Lorraine
1928
Hold 'Er Cowboy (Short)
1928
Bugs, My Dear! (Short)
1928
Sweeties (Short)
1928
The Little Snob as
Alice
1928
Save the Pieces (Short)
1927
Splash Yourself (Short)
1927
Wedding Wows (Short) as
The Girl
1927
Crazy to Fly (Short) as
The Girl
1927
Short Socks (Short)
1927
Good as Gold as
Jane Laurier
1927
Tie That Bull (Short)
1927
Jail Birdies (Short)
1927
Duck Out (Short) as
Maggie
1926
Don't Fire (Short)
1926
Hoot Mon! (Short)
1926
Wife Shy (Short) as
Bill's Sister
1926
Dummy Love (Short) as
Evelyn
1926
Till We Eat Again (Short) as
Bobby's Sweetheart
1926
Broken China (Short) as
Betty Brown
1926
Page Me (Short)
1925
Yes, Yes, Babette (Short) as
Bobby's Sweetie
1925
Slippery Feet (Short) as
Frances
1925
Watch Out (Short) as
Frances
1924
Hello and Goodbye (Short)

References

Frances Lee Wikipedia