Vilma Bánky facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Vilma Bánky
Bánky in 1929
Born	(1901-01-09)9 January 1901 Nagydorog, Tolna County, Austria-Hungary (present-day Nagydorog, Republic of Hungary)
Died	18 March 1991(1991-03-18) (aged 90) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1919–1933
Spouse(s)	Rod La Rocque ​ ​ (m. 1927; his death 1969)​

Vilma Bánky (born Vilma Koncsics on January 9, 1901 – died March 18, 1991) was a famous Hungarian-American actress. She starred in movies when films had no sound, known as silent films.

Vilma started her acting career in Budapest. She also worked in France, Austria, and Germany. However, she became most famous for her roles in American movies. She starred in The Eagle and The Son of the Sheik with the legendary actor Rudolph Valentino. She also appeared in many romantic films with Ronald Colman.

Early Life and First Steps in Acting

Vilma Bánky was born on January 9, 1901, in Nagydorog, which was part of Austria-Hungary at the time. Her father, János Bánky Koncsics, worked for the government. Her mother was Katalin Ulbert.

Soon after Vilma was born, her family moved to Budapest because her father, a police sergeant, was transferred. She had an older brother, Gyula, and a younger sister, Gizella. After finishing high school, Vilma took classes to become a stenographer, which is someone who types notes quickly. But then, she was offered a role in a movie!

Her very first movie was Im Letzten Augenblick (In the last moment). It was filmed in Germany in 1919 and is now lost. In 1925, a Hollywood film producer named Samuel Goldwyn discovered Vilma during a trip to Budapest. He signed her to a contract, meaning she would work for him. Even though her parents and fiancé did not want her to be an actress, she moved to the United States in March 1925. She arrived to a lot of excitement and attention.

A Star in Silent Films

Vilma Bánky was called "The Hungarian Rhapsody" by the public. American audiences loved her right away. The New York Times newspaper praised her first American film, The Dark Angel (1925). They wrote that she was "a young person of rare beauty."

Vilma Bánky in the 1920s

She starred alongside the famous silent film actor Rudolph Valentino in two popular movies: The Eagle (1925) and The Son of the Sheik (1926). It is said that Valentino was very impressed by Vilma and chose her to be his leading lady in these films.

Vilma also made several romantic movies with Ronald Colman. These included The Dark Angel and The Winning of Barbara Worth. People often thought her career ended because of her Hungarian accent when sound movies became popular. However, Vilma was also starting to lose interest in acting. She wanted to settle down with her husband, Rod La Rocque, and focus on her family life. By 1928, she had already started talking about retiring from films in a few years.

Out of her 24 movies, eight still exist completely today. These include Hotel Potemkin, Der Zirkuskönig (The King of the Circus), The Son of the Sheik, The Eagle, The Winning of Barbara Worth, The Night of Love, A Lady to Love, and The Rebel. Some other films only exist in small parts.

Life After Acting

After her acting career, Vilma Bánky spent her time selling real estate with her husband. She also enjoyed playing golf, which was her favorite sport. In 1981, Vilma created an educational fund called the Banky–La Rocque Foundation. This foundation helps support education.

Personal Life and Legacy

Vilma Bánky and her husband Rod La Rocque in 1927

Vilma Bánky married actor Rod La Rocque in 1927. They were married for a long time, until he passed away in 1969. The couple did not have any children.

Vilma Bánky passed away on March 18, 1991, when she was 90 years old. News of her death was not shared with the public until the next year. She had asked her lawyer not to announce her death. Her ashes were scattered at sea, just like her husband's had been.

For her important work in movies, Vilma Bánky received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960. Her star can be found at 7021 Hollywood Boulevard.

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Vilma Bánky para niños