Roberta Wilson

Roberta Wilson (1896–1977) was an American actress who appeared in several silent films. She had three sisters, and all the young women would eventually act in films. Roberta and her older sister Lois Wilson were born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, while her two youngest sisters were born in Chicago, Illinois. In 1907, when Roberta was 11, the entire household moved to Birmingham, Alabama. Roberta and Lois would always regard Alabama as their home. Lois Wilson, the oldest of the girls, would end up experiencing the longest career in films, including both silent and sound pictures.

In 1915, Roberta was coaxed into acting by her older sister. After making several uncredited appearances, her career blossomed in 1916. By the end of 1916, she was receiving top billing, and the movie colony glitterati affectionately called her "Bobby." Her star was rising, and 1916 would become the most productive year of her entire movie career. During this time, Roberta and Lois became known as the "Alabama beauties." Roberta completed 24 films between 1916 and 1918, most of them two-reel shorts. This first phase lasted until Roberta's marriage in 1918. She departed the silver screen at age 21 to concentrate on her marriage.

After the collapse of her first marriage, she reinvented herself as Diana Kane. She knew the name change was needed because her motion picture career always existed in the shadow of her famous sister Lois. Whenever the media listed Roberta Wilson or Diana Kane in print, the name was accompanied by parentheses and the phrase – sister of Lois Wilson. Roberta's film production in 1916 proved she did not need additional endorsements.

Between 1924 and 1927, she acted in eight feature films as Diana Kane. She received critical praise for all of her performances. Roberta Wilson worked in 31 movies between 1916 and 1927. This second stint of movie-making came to a close with her second marriage in 1927. She would never return to the silver screen again in a credited role. Instead, she was content to focus her energy on charity work, children, entertaining, and preserving successful marriages.

Roberta's age seemed to fluctuate depending on the source. Many actors of this period and successive eras believed they would extend their careers by remaining youthful. In Roberta's case, the media of the period reported her birth year to be between 1896 and 1905. A verifiable birth certificate could settle the controversy, but the whereabouts of Roberta Wilson's original birth certificate remains a mystery.

Early life 1896–1915 When Roberta Wilson's father, Andrew Wilson (1869–1940), was 14 years old, his family emigrated from Ottawa, Canada to the United States. The Wilson Family settled in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. When Andrew was 23, he met 19-year-old Grace Stock. Grace was from an established family in nearby Franklin, Pennsylvania. Grace Stock married Andrew Wilson in Pittsburgh on September 7, 1893.

They had their first child, Lois, on June 28, 1894. When their biological mother dies, Lois is , and Roberta is . Since Roberta was a toddler when her mother died, she would have no memory of her biological mother.

After Grace's death, Roberta's father moved to Chicago, Illinois. The reasons behind the move are unknown. The 1900 Census listed him as a mercantile reporter. Some reporters have implied there was significance that the family moved to the "Pittsburgh of the South." There is no published evidence to support this.

In 1915, Roberta Wilson lived in Birmingham with her father and stepmother, Constance. She is years old. One news article states, "when at finishing school she took part in all branches of athletics." This beauty pageant was the predecessor to the Miss Alabama. Lois Wilson is the original Miss Alabama.

Roberta's sister, Lois, started making films in 1915. 21-year-old Lois Wilson's first movie was , a 2-reel short for Universal released in November 1915. Lois becomes convinced her younger sister should follow her to Hollywood to seek fame and fortune. In 1915, 19-year-old Roberta Wilson heeded her sister's advice and settled in Hollywood. She accepted, playing minor parts until her experience secured more demanding roles. She gained an increasing reputation and respect among her colleagues for her excellent acting. 1916 would become her Golden Age in filmmaking.

Films 1916–1918