Ruth Findlay (September 19, 1896 – July 13, 1949) was an American stage actress active over the early decades of the 20th century. She is not to be confused with the later film actress Ruth Findlay (1917–1976).

Biography

Findlay was born on September 19, 1896, in The Heights, a neighborhood of Jersey City, New Jersey. Her parents were John and Margaret Findlay,US Passport Application (Ruth Findlay) 29 May 1924 (Ancestry.com scan)
/ref>''Munsey's Magazine'', Volume 53; October, 1914 - January, 1915; pg 551 both originally from Scotland. Her father, a character actor known for his portrayal of butlers and priests, was born in

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with the surname Macpherson. Findlay was raised in New York City where she attended private schools and first appeared on stage at around the age of 12 in ''Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch'' and later '' Baby Mine'' at Daly’s Theatre.''The Moving Picture World'', Volume 27, 1916; pg. 392 Her first major role came a few years later in a road production of ''

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'' and in 1917 she found success playing Marguerite in ''A Successful Calamity'' at Broadway’s Booth Theatre. In November 1920 the diminutive 5'2" actress began a seven-month run at the Booth Theatre playing the dual roles of Tom Canty and Prince Edward in Amélie Rives' stage adaptation of

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's ''

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''. Findlay’s last Broadway performances were playing Deborah Hawks in the 1941 production of '' The Land Is Bright'' at the Music Box Theatre. During the early years of her acting career Findlay appeared in at least six silent films, all produced before 1920. Her most notable film performance may have been as Dora Baxter in ''The Salamander'' (1916), a film based on the 1913 novel by Owen Johnson.American film cycles: the silent era By Larry Langman pg. 140 A short list of artists she worked with over her career would include William Gillette, William Farnum, Eugene Obrien, Lionel Barrymore and William Faversham. Findlay left the stage within a year or so of her marriage to investment banker Donald W. Lamb in 1927. In 1941 she came out of retirement to appear in ''The Land Is Bright'', a play written by

George S. Kaufman George Simon Kaufman (November 16, 1889June 2, 1961) was an American playwright, theater director and producer, humorist, and drama critic. In addition to comedies and political satire, he wrote several musicals for the Marx Brothers and other ...

and

Edna Ferber Edna Ferber (August 15, 1885 – April 16, 1968) was an American novelist, short story writer and playwright. Her novels include the Pulitzer Prize-winning '' So Big'' (1924), '' Show Boat'' (1926; made into the celebrated 1927 musical), '' C ...

. Ruth Findlay Lamb died in

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on July 13, 1949. She was survived by her husband, three sisters and a brother.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Findlay, Ruth 1896 births 1949 deaths American stage actresses American silent film actresses American people of Scottish descent 20th-century American actresses Actresses from Jersey City, New Jersey