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 Jersey City is the List of municipalities in New Jersey, second-most populous

. 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

Glasgow Glasgow is the Cities of Scotland, most populous city in Scotland, located on the banks of the River Clyde in Strathclyde, west central Scotland. It is the List of cities in the United Kingdom, third-most-populous city in the United Kingdom ...

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 '' Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm'' and in 1917 she found success playing Marguerite in ''A Successful Calamity'' at Broadway’s

Booth Theatre The Booth Theatre is a Broadway theater at 222 West 45th Street ( George Abbott Way) in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City, New York, U.S. Opened in 1913, the theater was designed by Henry Beaumont Herts in the It ...

. In November 1920 the diminutive 5'2" actress began a seven-month run at the

playing the dual roles of Tom Canty and Prince Edward in Amélie Rives' stage adaptation of

Mark Twain Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910), known by the pen name Mark Twain, was an American writer, humorist, and essayist. He was praised as the "greatest humorist the United States has produced," with William Fau ...

's ''

The Prince and the Pauper ''The Prince and the Pauper'' is a novel by American author Mark Twain. It was first published in 1881 in Canada, before its 1882 publication in the United States. The novel represents Twain's first attempt at historical fiction. The plot conce ...

''. Findlay’s last Broadway performances were playing Deborah Hawks in the 1941 production of '' The Land Is Bright'' at the

Music Box Theatre The Music Box Theatre is a Broadway theatre, Broadway theater at 239 West 45th Street (George Abbott Way) in the Theater District, Manhattan, Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City, New York, U.S. Opened in 1921, the Music Box ...

. 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 Hooker Gillette (July 24, 1853 – April 29, 1937) was an American actor-manager, playwright, and stage manager in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He is best remembered for portraying Sherlock Holmes on stage and in a 191 ...

, William Farnum, Eugene Obrien,

Lionel Barrymore Lionel Barrymore (born Lionel Herbert Blyth; April 28, 1878 – November 15, 1954) was an American actor of stage, screen and radio as well as a film director. He won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in '' A Free Soul'' (1931) ...

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 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), '' Cima ...

. Ruth Findlay Lamb died in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

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