Agnes Ayres facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Agnes Ayres
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Ayres, 1921
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| Born |
Agnes Henkel
April 4, 1892 Carbondale, Illinois, U.S.
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| Died | December 25, 1940 (aged 48) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Resting place | Hollywood Forever Cemetery |
| Other names | Agnes Eyre Agnes Rendleman |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1914–1929, 1936–1937 |
| Spouse(s) |
Frank Schuker
(m. 1918; div. 1921)S. Manuel Reachi
(m. 1924; div. 1927) |
| Children | 1 |
Agnes Ayres (born Agnes Henkel; April 4, 1892 – December 25, 1940) was a famous American actress. She became very well known during the time of silent films, which were movies without spoken dialogue. She is most remembered for playing Lady Diana Mayo in the movie The Sheik, where she starred alongside Rudolph Valentino.
Contents
Agnes Ayres' Acting Journey
Agnes Ayres started her acting career in 1914. She was first noticed by a director from Essanay Studios and appeared as an extra in a crowd scene. An extra is someone who appears in the background of a movie.
Starting in New York
After this, Agnes moved to Manhattan, New York, with her mother. She wanted to become a full-time actress. There, another actress named Alice Joyce saw her. Alice noticed that Agnes looked a lot like her. This led to Agnes being cast in the 1917 film Richard the Brazen, where she played Alice's character's sister.
Becoming a Star
Agnes's career really took off when Paramount Pictures founder Jesse Lasky became interested in her. He gave her a main role in the 1920 drama Held by the Enemy. He also helped her get parts in several movies directed by Cecil B. DeMille, a very famous director.
In 1921, Agnes Ayres became a huge star. She was chosen to play Lady Diana Mayo in The Sheik. Lady Diana was an English heiress, and Agnes starred opposite Rudolph Valentino, who was known as a "Latin lover" in movies. This movie was a big hit!
Agnes later played Lady Diana again in the 1926 sequel, The Son of the Sheik. After The Sheik became popular, she got many other important roles. These included films like The Affairs of Anatol (1921) with Wallace Reid, Forbidden Fruit (1921), and Cecil B. DeMille's epic The Ten Commandments (1923).
Challenges and Later Career
Around 1923, Agnes's career started to slow down. She married a Mexican diplomat named S. Manuel Reachi in 1924. They had a daughter together, but they divorced in 1927.
Agnes lost a lot of her money and properties during the Wall Street Crash of 1929. This was a time when the stock market crashed, and many people lost their savings. In the same year, 1929, she had her last big role in The Donovan Affair, starring Jack Holt.
To earn money, she stopped acting in movies for a while. Instead, she performed on the vaudeville circuit, which was a type of live stage show with different acts. She tried to make a comeback in movies in 1936. However, she mostly got small, uncredited parts and retired from acting for good in 1937.
Later Life and Passing
After she retired from acting, Agnes faced personal challenges. She struggled with her health and was cared for in a sanatorium. In 1939, her daughter went to live with her father, S. Manuel Reachi.
Agnes Ayres passed away on December 25, 1940, at her home in Hollywood, California. She was 48 years old and had been unwell for a few weeks. She is buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
In 1960, Agnes Ayres was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Her star is located at 6504 Hollywood Boulevard, recognizing her important contributions to the film industry.
Her daughter, Maria Reachi, also had a small role in the 1949 movie East Side, West Side.
Images for kids
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Agnes Ayres on a lobby card for The Sheik
See also
In Spanish: Agnes Ayres para niños
