About Jeanie MacPherson
Lived 1886 – 1946 (aged 60). Jeanie MacPherson was an American actor, screenwriter, film actor and film director.
Abbie Jean MacPherson (May 18, 1886 – August 26, 1946) was an American silent actress, writer and director. She is known for her collaborations with directors D. W. Griffith and Cecil B. DeMille, and was a founding member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Early life Abbie Jean MacPherson Her parents were John S. MacPherson and Evangeline C. Tomlinson.
After working with Griffith, MacPherson began working with the Universal Company, where she starred in more prominent roles. In 1913, she wrote, directed and starred in The Tarantula, about a Spanish-Mexican girl, known as the Tarantula, who seduced men before killing them. With this film, she became the youngest director in motion picture history. The Tarantula is the only film she directed.
MacPherson continued working for the Universal Company for two years, until her failing health caused her to leave. alt=Picture of Cecil B DeMille, a famous American film director, producer and actor of the early cinematic era. MacPherson was a pilot and sought to take daily flights. She was the only woman to pilot the plane of Ormer Locklear.
In 1946, MacPherson became ill with cancer while researching Unconquered (1947), a historical drama, and had to stop work. She died that August in Los Angeles at age 60 and was buried at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood. She was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6150 Hollywood Blvd.
Filmography As Performer Year Films Credit Notes 1909 Schneider's Anti-Noise Crusade Performer Short 1910 A Mohawk's Way Performer Short 1911 The Lonedale Operator Performer Short 1911 Fisher Folks Performer Short 1915 The Black Box Performer Serial
As Writer Year Films Credit Notes 1913 The Sea Urchin Scenario Shortalso performer 1913 Red Margaret, Moonshiner Scenario Short 1914 The Lie Scenario Short 1914 The Desert's Sting Scenario Shortalso performer 1914 The Trap Scenario Shortalso performer 1915 Chimmie Fadden Out West Screenplay 1915 Carmen Scenario co-written with William DeMille 1915 Temptation Scenario co-written with Hector Turnbull & C.B. DeMille 1915 The Captive Story co-written with C. B. DeMille 1915 The Cheat Scenario co-written with Hector Turnbull 1916 The Golden Chance Story co-written with C.B. DeMille 1916 The Love Mask Story 1916 The Trail of the Lonesome Pine Storycredited as Jeanne MacPherson,co-written with C.B. DeMille 1916 The Dream Girl Scenario 1916 The Heart of Nora Flynn Scenario co-written with Hector Turnbull 1916 Joan the Woman Scenario co-written with William DeMille 1917 The Little American Story & Scenario co-written with C.B. DeMille 1917 The Woman God Forgot Story co-written with William DeMille 1917 The Devil-Stone Scenario co-written with Beatrice deMille & Leighton Osmun 1917 A Romance of the Redwoods Story co-written with C.B. DeMille 1918 Old Wives for New Scenario co-written with C.B. DeMille 1918 Till I Come Back to You Scenario 1918 The Whispering Chorus Scenario 1919 For Better, For Worse Scenario co-written with William DeMille 1919 Don't Change Your Husband Scenario 1919 Male and Female Scenario 1920 Something to Think About Story 1921 The Affairs of Anatol Scenario 1921 Forbidden Fruit Story 1922 Saturday Night Story & Scenario 1922 Manslaughter Adaptation 1923 Adam's Rib Scenario 1923 The Ten Commandments Scenario 1924 Triumph Adaptation 1925 The Golden Bed Screenplay 1925 The Road to Yesterday Adaptation 1926 Red Dice Adaptation 1926 Her Man o' War Scenario co-written with Charles A. Logue 1926 Young April Adaptation co-written with Douglas Z. Doty 1927 The King of Kings Story & Continuity 1929 Dynamite Dialogue 1929 The Godless Girl Story co-written with Ernest Pascal 1930 Madam Satan Screenplay 1933 The Devil's Brother Adaptation 1935 The Crusades Treatment 1938 The Buccaneer Adaptation 1941 Land of Liberty Narration 1948 Unconquered Scenario
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Important facts
People in Jeanie MacPherson's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Jeanie MacPherson's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Jeanie MacPherson?
actress, screenwriter (1886-1946)
When was Jeanie MacPherson born?
Jeanie MacPherson was born on 18 May 1886 in Boston.
When did Jeanie MacPherson die?
Jeanie MacPherson died on 26 August 1946 in Los Angeles.
What was Jeanie MacPherson's occupation?
Jeanie MacPherson was an actor, screenwriter, film actor and film director.
What nationality was Jeanie MacPherson?
Jeanie MacPherson was American.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Jeanie MacPherson
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Jeanie MacPherson. https://biography.guide/jeanie-macpherson/
MLA: "Jeanie MacPherson." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/jeanie-macpherson/.
Chicago: "Jeanie MacPherson." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/jeanie-macpherson/.
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