Mary Miles Minter was born on April's Fool Day in 1902, as Juliet Reilly, in Shreveport, Louisiana. Because her mother couldn't make it in show business, she began to live her dream through her daughter.
By the time Mary was five years old, she had already appeared in a stage play. From that time forward, Mary overworked by her mother, obviously, not thinking of her daughter's welfare, but instead using her to climb the social ladder, not much different than some mothers of today.
By 1912, Mary appeared in her first film production entitled THE NURSE, playing the role of Juliet Shelby.
After that first foray into film, Mary wouldn't appear again until 1915, when at the age of 13, she played a fairy in THE FAIRY AND THE WAIF. For a youngster, she worked hard never knowing the joys of growing up as a normal little girl. She made only four films that year, but ground out nine films in 1916, ten in 1917, and seven in 1918. This was quite a grueling schedule for a young lady who was only 16 years old. Mary was being forced to grow up fast. But she was a bona fide star which may have cushioned the loss of her childhood.
In 1919, Mary was still going strong, appearing in top flight films such as ANNE OF GREEN GABLES, YVONNE FROM PARIS, and ROSEMARY CLIMBS THE HEIGHTS. In 1920, she would continue to be the top billed star in other movies, JENNY BE GOOD and NURSE MARJORIE. Her career continued unabated through 1920 and 1921. As a matter of fact, 1922 started out to be more of the same when Mary's life took a dramatic turn for the worse.
She was 20 and reportedly romantically involved with famed director William Desmond Taylor when suddenly, Taylor was murdered in his home. This along with the Fatty Arbuckle debacle the year before caused the film colony to come under intense scrutiny. She wasn't considered a suspect by any means, but because of a young woman involved with a man who was old enough to be her father caused puritan America to turn on the actress who was once their favorite. Her films were no longer box-office draws, no matter how good they were. (The case was never solved, although the murder is relived today with conspiracy buffs trying to figure out who did it, much like Kennedy assassination buffs.) Mary was finished.
After filming DRUMS OF FATE in 1923, Mary was never again on the silver screen. She had made 54 films and with the "talkie" era just a few short years away, she would no doubt have continued her dazzling rise to the pinnacle of Hollywood history.
On August 4, 1984, Mary Miles Minter died in Santa Monica, California at the
age of 82. She was cremated and her ashes scattered at sea.
Photos of Little Mary Minter!
Mary MM Pic 1
Mary MM Pic 2
Mary MM Pic 3
Mary MM Pic 4
Mary MM Pic 5
Mary MM Pic 6
Click here to go to Colleen Moore
My heartfelt thanks to Dale Berryessa for supplying me with the birth place and place of death. Also an additonal thanks to William Malin on the correct method of burial.
© 1998 Denny C. Jackson dejackso@iglou.com
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