Clara Williams

Clara Williams (May 3, 1888 – May 8, 1928) was an American silent film actress. Along with Louise Glaum and Dorothy Dalton, she was one of the principal leading ladies at Inceville, one of the first motion picture studios to make feature films in Los Angeles. Williams appeared in more than one hundred films between 1910 and 1918, including starring roles in The Italian and William S. Hart's western, Hell's Hinges, both of which are included in the National Film Registry. When she married director Reginald Barker at age 31, she retired from acting.

Early life and career Clara Williams was born in Seattle, Washington, and made her screen debut in Western Chivalry in 1910. The following year, a half page article and photo of Williams was featured in the debut issue of Motion Picture Story magazine making her the first film actress to appear in a fan magazine. The success of The Italian (1915), in which she played the wife of an immigrant, resulted in her being typecast in roles as Latin characters. In 1917, the Los Angeles Times noted, "Heretofore she has been known almost exclusively as a portrayer of Latin parts, simply because she was such success in that sort of a role in The Italian, in which she played the leading part opposite George Beban."

In 1917, Williams and several other of the important actors and directors from Inceville left the studio to join the newly formed Paralta Company. The Los Angeles Times wrote, "Now that she is at the head of her own company and has the right to choose her own stories, she will have all the freedom in the world to show her versatility."

During her years with the Triangle studios, Williams had become known for her many gowns, and the phrase "forty famous frocks" was coined to describe her wardrobe.

While working at the Ince studios, Williams met director Reginald Barker. He directed her in numerous films, including The Man from Oregon (1915), The Criminal (1916), Three of Many (1917), Paws of the Bear (1917), The One Woman (1918), and Carmen of the Klondike (1918), which was her last screen appearance. She married Barker in February 1920 and retired.

In late February 1928, the Los Angeles Times reported that Williams had undergone a major surgery for an undisclosed condition at the California Lutheran Hospital. On May 8, 1928, five days after her 40th birthday, she died at her Los Angeles home following what the media reported as "a prolonged illness." She was survived by her husband and a brother. Her funeral was held at the Little Church of the Flowers, and her remains were cremated at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1910 Western Chivalry The Ranch Boss's Niece Short 1910 The Cowboy's Sweetheart Jennie Short 1910 The Millionaire and the Ranch Girl Nellie Blair Short 1910 A Cowboy's Vindication Faro Nan Short 1912 Red Saunders' Sacrifice Mary Warren Short 1912 Over the Divide Nell Carter Short 1912 The Minister and the Outlaw Helen Page Short 1912 The Renegades Mrs. Jim Carson Short 1912 Bar K Foreman Nellie - the Rancher's Daughter Short 1913 The Love Token Mary Simpson Short 1913 On the Mountain Ranch Ethel Fordham Short 1913 Papita's Destiny Papita Short 1913 The Witch of Salem Short 1914 For the Wearing of the Green Norah Dwyer Short 1914 The Bells of Austi Mercedes Short 1914 His Hour of Manhood Anne Larson Short 1914 The Bargain Nell Brent Alternative title: The Two-Gun Man in the Bargain 1915 The Italian Annette Ancello Donnetti 1915 The Secret of the Dead Maria Carrillo Short 1915 The Devil Elsa 1915 On the Night Stage Saloon Girl Uncredited 1915 When Love Leads Mary Dunning - the Elder Sister Short 1915 The Man from Oregon Harriet Lane 1915 The Winged Idol Mildred Leonard 1916 The Corner Mrs. Adams 1916 The Last Act Mrs. Cora Hale 1916 Hell's Hinges Faith Henley 1916 The Market of Vain Desire Helen Badgley 1916 Home Inez Wheaton 1916 The Criminal Naneta 1916 Three of Many Nina Antinni 1917 Paws of the Bear Olga Raminoff 1918 Carmen of the Klondike Dorothy Harlan 1918 The One Woman Kate Ransom (final film role)