Lucille La Verne facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lucille La Verne
La Verne in 1915
Born	Lucille La Verne Mitchum (1872-11-07)November 7, 1872 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Died	March 4, 1945(1945-03-04) (aged 72) Culver City, California, U.S.
Resting place	Inglewood Park Cemetery, U.S.
Other names	Lucille LaVerne, Lucille La Varney, Lucille Lavarney
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1888–1937
Notable work	Original voice of the Evil Queen in Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

Lucille La Verne Mitchum (born November 7, 1872 – died March 4, 1945) was an American actress. She was famous for acting in early movies with sound. She also had many big successes on stage in America. Most people remember her as the voice of the first Disney villain. She voiced the Evil Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). This was Walt Disney's very first full-length animated movie.

Early Life and Stage Career

Lucille La Verne Mitchum was born on November 7, 1872. Her birthplace was near Nashville, Tennessee. She started acting as a child in local summer plays. These were plays put on by a group of actors during the summer.

Becoming a Broadway Star

As a teenager, Lucille performed with small traveling theater groups. When she was just 14, she played two very famous roles. She acted as both Juliet and Lady Macbeth in different plays. Her amazing ability to play many different characters quickly got attention.

She made her first appearance on Broadway in 1888. Broadway is a famous theater district in New York City. She then became a main actress with some of America's best theater companies. She had big successes in cities like San Francisco and Boston. Later, she even ran her own successful theater company.

Big Stage Hits

On the New York stage, Lucille was known for her wide range of acting skills. She could play many different types of characters. Some of her popular Broadway shows included Uncle Tom's Cabin and Way Down East.

Her biggest stage success happened in 1923. She created the role of Widow Caggle in the popular play Sun Up. Lucille performed this play over 3,000 times. This included her time on Broadway, a tour across the U.S., and a tour in Europe. She also worked on Broadway as a writer and director for plays. For a short time in the late 1920s, a Broadway theater was even named after her!

Film Career and Famous Voice Role

Lucille La Verne started acting in movies in 1915. Her first movie was Over Night, directed by James Young. She also had small parts in other films. These included Polly of the Circus and Orphans of the Storm. The famous director D.W. Griffith directed Orphans of the Storm.

Her most famous role came in 1937. She was the voice of the Evil Queen in Disney's animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. She also voiced the Queen's other form, the old hag. This was her very last movie performance.

Later Life and Legacy

Lucille La Verne passed away on March 4, 1945. She was 72 years old. She died in Culver City, California, after having cancer. She was buried at Inglewood Park Cemetery. For almost 75 years, Lucille La Verne's grave did not have a headstone. Fans collected money to make sure she finally got a proper stone.

Filmography