Martha Mansfield facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Martha Mansfield
Mansfield in 1922
Born	Martha Ehrlich (1899-07-14)July 14, 1899 New York City, New York, U.S.
Died	November 30, 1923(1923-11-30) (aged 24) San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Cause of death	Toxemia and burns of the extremities
Resting place	Woodlawn Cemetery
Nationality	American
Other names	Martha Early
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1912–1923

Martha Mansfield was an American actress. She was famous for her roles in silent films and on the vaudeville stage. She was born Martha Ehrlich on July 14, 1899, and sadly passed away on November 30, 1923.

Martha's Early Life

Martha was born in New York City to Maurice and Harriett Gibson Ehrlich. She had a younger sister named Edith. Many stories say Martha was born in Mansfield, Ohio. However, her birth and death records show she was born in New York City. Her mother, Harriett, was from Mansfield, Ohio. Martha later chose "Mansfield" as her stage name. By the early 1910s, Martha and her mother lived in the Bronx.

Martha's Acting Career

When Martha was 14, she decided to become an actress. In 1912, she got a part in the Broadway play Little Women. She also started working as a model and dancer. In 1913, she danced in a musical called Hop o' My Thumb. She used her birth name, Martha Ehrlich, then. She also acted in other shows before changing her name. As a model, she posed for famous artists. She was in over 300 photos by Alfred Cheney Johnston.

Early Film Roles

Martha signed a six-month contract with Essanay Studios in 1917. She used the name Martha Early for these roles. She appeared in three short films with French actor Max Linder. In 1918, she performed in the Ziegfeld Follies. Later that year, she made her first full-length movie, Broadway Bill. She acted alongside Harold Lockwood in this film.

Martha Mansfield and John Barrymore in a scene from Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, 1920.

In early 1919, Martha decided to focus on films full-time. She moved to Hollywood. Her first Hollywood movie was Civilian Clothes in 1920. She became well-known for her role in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. In this movie, she starred with John Barrymore. She then signed with Selznick Pictures. She acted with Eugene O'Brien in The Perfect Lover. In 1921, Martha went back to performing on stage. She also appeared in two independent films in 1922. These were Queen of the Moulin Rouge and Till We Meet Again.

Later Films

In 1923, Martha finished her contract with Selznick. She then signed with Fox Film Corporation. Her first movie for Fox was The Silent Command. In this film, she acted with Edmund Lowe and Béla Lugosi. Her last completed movies were Potash and Perlmutter and The Leavenworth Case. Both of these films were released in 1923.

Martha's Tragic Death

Mansfield in an undated photo

On November 29, 1923, Martha was filming The Warrens of Virginia in San Antonio, Texas. She was wearing a Civil War costume. It had hoop skirts and thin ruffles. A tossed match accidentally set her costume on fire. Martha had just finished her scenes and was in a car. Her clothes suddenly burst into flames.

Her co-star, Wilfred Lytell, quickly threw his heavy coat over her. This saved her neck and face from the fire. The driver of Martha's car also got badly burned trying to remove her burning clothes. The fire was put out, but Martha had severe burns on her body. She was rushed to a hospital. She sadly died the next day. She was 24 years old. Doctors said she died from "burns of all extremities" and infection.

Martha's body was taken back to New York City. She was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx. It was never known who threw the match. Some people said a match came through the car window. Another idea was that Martha might have lit a cigarette. However, her mother said Martha did not like smoking.

After Her Death

When The Warrens of Virginia was released in late 1924, Martha's role was much smaller. Another actress, Rosemary Hill, was promoted as the main female star. Martha left her mother money from her savings and life insurance policies.

Filmography