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Ruth Dwyer

1898 – 1978

American actress

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About Ruth Dwyer

Lived 1898 – 1978 (aged 80). Ruth Dwyer was an American actor and film actor.

Ruth Mildred Dwyer (January 25, 1898 – March 2, 1978) was an American film actress. She had a number of starring roles in the silent era, most famously as Buster Keaton's leading lady in Seven Chances. Dwyer mostly retired in 1928 and played a number of uncredited roles in sound films, but retired from the film business completely in the 1940s.

Early life and career Dwyer was the eldest of two daughters born to Lydia Hope Strong and Christian A. Dwyer. Her sister Ethel Selina Dwyer also had a brief silent film career although best known as "Jane" opposite Ronald Adair in the 1921 Broadway production of Tarzan of the Apes.

Dwyer's entertainment career began with her working as a dancer in New York. Her performance in the chorus line in an off-Broadway production in 1919 led to her going to Hollywood. Her film debut came in the serial The Evil Eye.

After a marriage and divorce, Dwyer was married to actor and talent agent William Jackie until his death in 1954. They operated the Ruth Dwyer Agency in San Francisco, helping people obtain parts in films and television shows.

Dwyer died on March 2, 1978, at the Motion Picture Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California.

Selected filmography

The Evil Eye (1920) The Stealers (1920) Clay Dollars (1921) Second Hand Love (1923) His Mystery Girl (1923) After a Million (1924) Broadway or Bust (1924) Jack O'Clubs (1924) The Reckless Age (1924) Dark Stairways (1924) The Covered Trail (1924) Cornered (1924) The Gambling Fool (1925) Going the Limit (1925) Seven Chances (1925) The Fear Fighter (1925) Crack o' Dawn (1925) The Canvas Kisser (1925) White Fang (1925) The Patent Leather Pug (1926) Stepping Along (1926) The Brown Derby (1926) A Man of Quality (1926) A Hero for a Night (1927) The Lost Limited (1927) White Pants Willie (1927) The Racing Fool (1927) The Nest (1927) A Perfect Gentleman (1928) Sailors' Wives (1928) Alex the Great (1928)

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Important facts

People in Ruth Dwyer's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Ruth Dwyer's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Ruth Dwyer?

American actress (1898-1978)

When was Ruth Dwyer born?

Ruth Dwyer was born on 25 January 1898 in Brooklyn.

When did Ruth Dwyer die?

Ruth Dwyer died on 2 March 1978 in Los Angeles.

What was Ruth Dwyer's occupation?

Ruth Dwyer was an actor and film actor.

What nationality was Ruth Dwyer?

Ruth Dwyer was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Ruth Dwyer

· Wikidata: Q3453611

· DBpedia: Ruth Dwyer (actress)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Ruth Dwyer. https://biography.guide/ruth-dwyer-actor/

MLA: "Ruth Dwyer." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/ruth-dwyer-actor/.

Chicago: "Ruth Dwyer." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/ruth-dwyer-actor/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-25 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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