Clara Kimball Young

Clara Kimball Young (born Edith Matilda Clara Kimball; September 6, 1890 – October 15, 1960) was an American film actress who was popular in the early silent film era.

Early life

Edith Matilda Clara Kimball was born in Chicago on September 6, 1890, the only child to Edward Kimball and Pauline Madeline Kimball (née Garrette, 1860–1919), both of whom were traveling stock actors. She made her stage debut at the age of three, and throughout her early childhood traveled with her parents and acted with their theater company. She attended St. Francis Xavier Academy in Chicago. Afterward, she was hired into a stock company and resumed her stage career, traveling extensively through the United States and playing in various small town theaters.

Early in her career, she met and married a fellow stock company and known Broadway actor named James Young. Young's previous wife had been the songwriter/lyricist Rida Johnson Young. After sending a photograph to Vitagraph Studios, Clara Kimball Young, as she was then known, and her husband were both offered yearly contracts in 1912.

In 1914, Vitagraph released the drama My Official Wife, which starred Young as a Russian revolutionary and was directed by her husband James Young and co-starred the popular leading man Earle Williams. The film, which is now lost, was an enormous success and launched Young and Earle Williams into first place in the popularity polls, and Young immediately was signed to a contract with pioneering mogul Lewis J. Selznick.

She became involved in a much publicized affair with Selznick, culminating in a 1916 divorce suit accusing her of alienation of affection. James Young finally obtained a final decree on April 8, 1919, on grounds of desertion.

Selznick quickly formed the Clara Kimball Young Film Corporation, installing himself as president, and formed Selznick Productions to distribute her films and those of some other independent producers. After only four films with Selznick however, the personal and business relationship began to sour, and Young struggled to extricate herself from all business arrangements with Selznick, accusing him of defrauding her of her profits through a series of dummy corporations and by electing himself president of her company while not permitting her any input in her business affairs.

She began suffering a series of press attacks for her business dealings and personal relationship with Garson. By 1925, her stardom began to fade, and she made her last silent film Lying Wives. Young spent the remainder of the 1920s performing in vaudeville, and in 1928 quietly married Dr. Arthur Fauman. The advent of sound briefly revived her career, and she appeared in several featured roles for RKO Radio Pictures and Tiffany Pictures with only modest success, appearing only in bit parts including a Three Stooges short, and extra roles in mostly lower budget pictures and having a stint on radio. One of her bigger roles is in the murder mystery The Rogues Tavern (1936) where she plays a sweet but fussy motherly woman who is hiding a very big secret.

She retired from acting in 1941.

Death Young underwent minor surgery to correct a chronic bronchial problem in March 1960. She did not recover her health after the surgery, and became increasingly frail. Young died of a stroke at the Motion Picture House in Woodland Hills, California on October 15, 1960. For her contribution to the motion picture industry, Young was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6513 Hollywood Blvd.

Selected filmography Short subjects Year Title Role Notes 1909 Washington Under the British Flag Lost film 1909 Washington Under the American Flag Lost film 1909 A Midsummer Night's Dream Penelope 1910 Richelieu; or: The Conspiracy Lost film 1910 Uncle Tom's Cabin Lost film 1910 The Sepoy's Wife The Sepoy's Wife 1910 Ransomed; or, A Prisoner of War Captain Jack's Wife Status unknown 1910 The Last of the Saxons Aldyth Lost film 1911 Lady Godiva Coventry resident praying 1912 Cardinal Wolsey Anne Boleyn Incomplete film 1912 The Haunted Rocker Madge Boggs, the Daughter Status unknown 1912 The Jocular Winds of Fate Alice De Voe Status unknown 1912 The Pipe Dingley's Wife Status unknown 1912 The Old Kent Road Sue Simmonds, Their Daughter Status unknown 1912 Dr. LaFleur's Theory the Criminal's Moll Status unknown 1912 Professor Optimo Clara Lost film 1912 The Picture Idol Beth Ward, a Passionate Fan of Howard Hanson's Status unknown 1912 Mockery Princess Dolorosa Status unknown 1912 Half a Hero Mabel Kemp Status unknown 1912 Lulu's Doctor Aunt Madge Marion 1912 When Roses Wither Howard's Wife Status unknown 1912 Lincoln's Gettysburys Address Lost film 1912 The Troublesome Step-Daughters Assistant in the Toy Shop Lost film 1912 The Money Kings Status unknown 1912 A Lively Affair Dorothy, the Maid 1912 Rock of Ages Status unknown 1912 Wanted, a Sister Evelyn Marshall Lost film 1912 Popular Betty Betty Wilson Status unknown 1912 A Vitagraph Romance Caroline, the Senator's Daughter Lost film 1912 The Irony of Fate Status unknown 1912 Mrs. Lirriper's Lodgers Mrs. Edson Status unknown 1912 A Mistake in Spelling Mabel Moore, Fred's Fiancée Status unknown 1912 Poet and Peasant Toinette Savard, the Daughter Status unknown 1912 Lord Browning and Cinderella Cinderella Status unknown 1912 In the Flat Above Priscilla Putnam, a Music Teacher Status unknown 1912 The Eavesdropper Alice Status unknown 1913 Love Hath Wrought a Miracle Rose Graham Status unknown 1913 The Little Minister Lady Babbie Lost film 1913 The Interrupted Honeymoon Mrs. Adele Young, the Wife Status unknown 1913 What a Change of Clothes Did John Mason's Fiancée 1913 The Volunteer Strike Breakers Harris's Fiancée Status unknown 1913 When Mary Grew Up Mary Status unknown 1913 Beau Brummel Helen Ballarat Lost film 1913 The Old Guard Melanie 1913 Put Yourself in Their Place Mr. Kent's Daughter Status unknown 1913 The Way Out Emma Bindley – a Spinster Status unknown 1913 Getting Up a Practice Emily Irving, Dr. Lyons' Sweetheart Status unknown 1913 The Mystery of the Stolen Child The Nurse Status unknown 1913 Mr. Mintern's Misadventures Muriel Leach Status unknown 1913 The Mystery of the Stolen Jewels First Thief Status unknown 1913 The Wrath of Osaka Miro Status unknown 1913 The White Slave; or, The Octoroon Zoe – the Octoroon Status unknown 1913 Delayed Proposals Marion Van Sicklen Status unknown 1913 Jack's Chrysanthemum Kichimatsu, a Japanese Maiden Status unknown 1913 The Spirit of the Orient Normallee Status unknown 1913 The Taming of Betty Betty Status unknown 1913 A Faithful Servant Nina, Count Gullio's Sweetheart Status unknown 1913 A Maid of Mandalay Ma May Status unknown 1913 The Lonely Princess The Princess, Prince Raffaello's Daughter Status unknown 1913 When Women Go on the Warpath; or, Why Jonesville Went Dry Minor Role Status unknown 1913 Cupid Versus Women's Rights Madge Trenton Status unknown 1913 The Hindoo Charm Phyllis – the Step-Mother Status unknown 1913 John Tobin's Sweetheart Minor Role Lost film 1913 Extremities Gladys Robinson Status unknown 1913 The Test Eleanor Anstruther Status unknown 1913 The Pirates Helen Merwin Status unknown 1913 On Their Wedding Eve Edna Morvell Status unknown 1913 Jerry's Mother-In-Law Jerry's Wife Status unknown 1913 Fellow Voyagers Jerry's Wife Status unknown 1913 Betty in the Lions' Den Betty Status unknown 1913 A Lesson in Jealousy Mabel – the Wife Status unknown 1913 Beauty Unadorned Helen Preston Incomplete film 1913 Love's Sunset Nita Travers Status unknown 1913 Up in a Balloon Betty Simpson Status unknown 1914 The Perplexed Bridegroom Lucy Demly, the Bride Status unknown 1914 Goodness Gracious Gwendoline Status unknown 1914 Some Steamer Scooping Clara Lane, a Journalist Status unknown 1914 Her Husband Dora Allen, Mrs. Tom Harcourt Status unknown 1914 The Silver Snuff Box Amy, Julian's Granddaughter Status unknown 1914 The Awakening of Barbara Dare Dorothy Clayton Status unknown 1914 The Violin of M'sieur Yvonne – Gerome's Daughter Status unknown 1914 Happy-Go-Lucky Happy-Go-Lucky Status unknown 1914 David Garrick Ada Ingot Status unknown 1914 Taken by Storm Betty, the Willful Wife Status unknown 1916 A Race for Life Status unknown 1935 Hollywood Extra Girl Grace Documentary 1936 Ants in the Pantry Mrs. Beulah Burlap 1936 Love in September Mrs. Thompson 1937 New News Mrs. Van Gage

Features Year Title Role Notes 1914 My Official Wife Helene Marie Lost film 1914 The Fates and Flora Fourflush Flora Fourflush Film serial Lost film 1914 Lola Lola Barnhelun 1915 The Deep Purple Doris Moore Lost film 1915 Hearts in Exile Hope Ivanovna 1915 Marrying Money Mildred Niles 1915 Trilby Trilby O'Ferral 1915 The Heart of the Blue Ridge Plutina Lost film 1915 Camille Camille Lost film 1916 The Yellow Passport Sonia Sokoloff Lost film 1916 The Feast of Life Aurora Fernandez 1916 The Dark Silence Mildred White 1916 The Foolish Virgin Mary Adams Lost film 1916 The Common Law Valerie West Lost film 1916 The Rise of Susan Susan Incomplete film 1917 The Price She Paid Mildred Gower Lost film 1917 The Easiest Way Laura Murdock Lost film 1917 Magda Magda Lost film 1917 Shirley Kaye Shirley Kaye 1918 The Marionettes Fernande de Monclars Lost film 1918 The House of Glass Margaret Case Lost film 1918 The Reason Why Zara Zenova Lost film 1918 The Claw Mary Saurin Lost film 1918 The Savage Woman Renee Benoit Lost film 1918 The Road Through the Dark Gabrielle Jardee Lost film 1919 Cheating Cheaters Ruth Brockton Lost film 1919 The Better Wife Charmian Page Lost film 1919 Eyes of Youth Gina Ashling 1919 Soldiers of Fortune Uncredited Lost film 1920 The Forbidden Woman Diane Sorel 1920 For the Soul of Rafael Marta Raquel Estevan Lost film 1920 Mid-Channel Zoe Blundell 1921 Hush Vera Stanford Lost film 1921 Straight from Paris Lucette Grenier 1921 Charge It Julia Lawrence 1921 What No Man Knows Norma Harvey Incomplete film 1922 The Worldly Madonna Lucy Trevor, Dancer/Janet Trevor, Nun 1922 The Hands of Nara Nara Alexieff Lost film 1922 Enter Madame Prima Donna Lisa Della Robia 1923 The Woman of Bronze Vivian Hunt Lost film 1923 Cordelia the Magnificent Cordelia Marlowe Lost film 1923 A Wife's Romance Joyce Addisonn Lost film 1925 Lying Wives Patricia Chase 1931 Kept Husbands Mrs. Henrietta Post 1931 Mother and Son Faro Lil 1931 Women Go on Forever Daisy Bowman 1932 Love Bound Mrs. Jane Randolph 1932 Probation Mrs. Humphries 1933 File 113 Mme. Fauvel 1934 I Can't Escape Mrs. Wilson 1934 Romance in the Rain Mlle. Fleurette Malevinsky 1934 The Return of Chandu Dorothy Regent 1935 The Drunkard Mrs. Karns 1935 She Married Her Boss Parsons 1935 His Night Out Mrs. Davis 1935 Fighting Youth Mrs. Stewart, House Mother 1935 The Fighting Coward Mrs. Gordon 1936 Dangerous Waters Kind Lady Passenger Uncredited 1936 Three on the Trail Rose Peters 1936 The Rogues' Tavern Mrs. Jamison 1936 Oh, Susanna Aunt Peggy Lee 1936 The Black Coin Donna Luise Navarro 1937 They Wanted to Marry Wedding Guest Talking to Hunter Uncredited 1937 Hills of Old Wyoming Ma Hutchins 1937 Dangerously Yours Mrs. Prentiss Uncredited 1937 The Mysterious Pilot Martha, Fritz's Wife Film serial Chs.3-5,9,14-15 1938 The Secret of Treasure Island Cortez Hotel Maid Film serial Uncredited 1938 The Wages of Sin Fat Pearl 1938 The Frontiersmen Mrs. Peters 1941 The Round Up Mrs. Wilson 1941 Mr. Celebrity Herself

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