Mary Charleson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mary Charleson
Charleson in 1923
Born	(1890-05-18)18 May 1890 Dungannon, Ireland
Died	3 December 1961(1961-12-03) (aged 71) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting place	Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1912–1920
Spouse(s)	Henry B. Walthall ​ ​ (m. 1918; died 1936)​
Relatives	Kate Price (aunt)

Mary Charleson (born May 18, 1890 – died December 3, 1961) was an Irish actress who starred in about 80 movies in the United States. She was famous during the time of silent films, which were movies without spoken dialogue. Actors had to use their expressions and body language to tell the story, and music or sound effects were added separately. Mary Charleson acted in these films between 1912 and 1920.

Early Life and Dreams

Mary Charleson was born in a town called Dungannon in Ireland. Her father, George Charleson, was a hairdresser. Mary came from a family that loved theater and acting. Her aunt, Kate Price, was also an actress.

When Mary was still a student, her family moved all the way to California in the U.S. After she finished school, Mary decided to follow her family's acting tradition. She started performing on stage with a group called the Grand Opera Stock Company. She played many different roles and worked with several theater groups along the Pacific coast. Soon after, she began her exciting career in silent films.

Becoming a Silent Film Star

Mary Charleson in 1919

Mary Charleson's first movie was The Ancient Bow in 1912. It was made by a company called the Vitagraph Company of America. She quickly became a busy actress, appearing in many films. Some of her most notable movies include The Strange Story of Sylvia Gray (1914), The Road o'Strife (1915), Satan's Private Door (1917), and Upstairs and Down (1919).

During her career, Mary worked with famous directors like Rex Ingram and Rollin S. Sturgeon. In 1918, she married her co-star, Henry B. Walthall. They had a daughter named Patricia Walthall that same year. Patricia later had a few small acting roles, but she eventually left the movie business.

After starring in the Western film Human Stuff in 1920, Mary Charleson decided to stop acting. She chose to focus on her husband's work and her family. Because of this, she became one of the "forgotten stars" of the silent movie era, even though she made many films.

Mary Charleson passed away in Los Angeles, California, on December 3, 1961. She was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Hollywood.

Her Films

Mary Charleson appeared in many silent films. Here are some of them:

• The Road to Yesterday; or, Patio Memories of Days, directed by Rollin S. Sturgeon (1912)
• The Smoke from Lone Bill's Cabin, directed by Rollin S. Sturgeon (1913)
• The Intruder, directed by Maurice Costello and Wilfrid North (1913)
• The Education of Aunt Georgiana, directed by Maurice Costello and Robert Gaillard (1913)
• The Acid Test, directed by Maurice Costello and Robert Gaillard (1914)
• Mr. Barnes of New York, directed by Maurice Costello and Robert Gaillard (1914)
• The Strange Story of Sylvia Gray (1914)
• What Happened to Jones, directed by Fred Mace (1915)
• The Silent Accuser, directed by Joseph Kaufman (1915)
• The Country That God Forgot, directed by Marshall Neilan (1916)
• Passers By (1916)
• The Truant Soul, directed by Harry Beaumont (1916)
• The Little Shoes, directed by Arthur Berthelet (1917)
• Burning the Candle, directed by Harry Beaumont (1917)
• Satan's Private Door, directed by J. Charles Haydon (1917)
• The Saint's Adventure, directed by Arthur Berthelet (1917)
• His Robe of Honor, directed by Rex Ingram (1918)
• Humdrum Brown (1918)
• With Hoops of Steel (1918)
• The Long Lane's Turning
• Upstairs and Down, directed by Charles Giblyn (1919)
• Human stuff (1920)