Mabel Van Buren (born Mabel Brown Southard; July 17, 1878 – November 4, 1947) was an American stage and screen actress.

Biography

As a theatrical performer she played the leading lady in both ''The Virginian'' and ''The Squaw Man'' (1909). Van Buren became prominent in motion pictures at the time of the development of feature-length movies in 1914. She starred in '' The Girl of the Golden West'' (1915) under the direction of Cecil B. Demille. It was Demille who brought Mabel west to

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywoo ...

. Mabel was the first leading lady of the

Famous Players-Lasky Famous Players-Lasky Corporation was an American motion picture and distribution company formed on June 28, 1916, from the merger of Adolph Zukor's Famous Players Film Company—originally formed by Zukor as Famous Players in Famous Plays—and ...

studio on Vine Street in

Hollywood, California Hollywood is a neighborhood in the central region of Los Angeles, California. Its name has come to be a shorthand reference for the U.S. film industry and the people associated with it. Many notable film studios, such as Columbia Picture ...

. Her final role of note was in ''Neighbor's Wives'' (1933) in which she played ''Mrs. Lee''. She continued acting in movies until the death of her husband, James Gordon. He was a Shakesperian actor who died in 1941. Other films in which she played prominent parts are '' The Warrens of Virginia'' (1915), ''The Man From Home'' (1914), and ''Craig's Wife'' (1928). Van Buren's residence was 4351 Kingswell Avenue,

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...

. She died of pneumonia in 1947, age 69, at St. Vincent's Hospital. Her daughter, Katherine Charlton, was also an actress.

Partial filmography

* ''

The House with Closed Shutters ''The House with Closed Shutters'' is a 1910 American silent drama film directed by D. W. Griffith and released by the Biograph Company. Prints of ''The House with Closed Shutters'' exist in the film archives of the Museum of Modern Art, George ...

'' (1910, Short) - On Porch / At Farewell * ''

Brewster's Millions ''Brewster's Millions'' is a comedic novel written by George Barr McCutcheon in 1902, originally under the pseudonym of Richard Greaves. The plot concerns a young man whose grandfather leaves him $1 million in a will, but a competing will from a ...

'' (1914) - Mrs. Gray * '' The Dishonored Medal'' (1914) - Anitra * '' The Master Mind'' (1914) - Lucine, ''Three-Arm Fanny'' * '' The Man on the Box'' (1914) - Kit Warburton * '' The Man from Home'' (1914) - Ethel Granger Simpson * '' The Circus Man'' (1914) - Mary Braddock * '' The Ghost Breaker'' (1914) - Delores * '' The Girl of the Golden West'' (1915) - The Girl * '' The Warrens of Virginia'' (1915) - Mrs. Warren * '' The Woman'' (1915) - Grace Robertson * '' Should a Wife Forgive?'' (1915) - Mary Holmes * ''

The Sowers ''The Sowers'' is a surviving 1916 silent film drama produced by Jesse Lasky, released through Paramount Pictures and directed by William C. deMille. The feature stars Blanche Sweet and Thomas Meighan and is based on the 1896 novel ''The Sowers' ...

'' (1916) - Princess Tanya * '' Ramona'' (1916) - Ramona (in the prologue) * '' The House with the Golden Windows'' (1916) - Mrs. Peabody * ''

The Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...

'' (1916) - Princess Adala * '' Lost and Won'' (1917) - Minor Role * '' Those Without Sin'' (1917) - Estelle Wallace * '' A School for Husbands'' (1917) - Mrs. Airlie * '' The Silent Partner'' (1917) - Edith Preston * ''

Unconquered Unconquered or The Unconquered may refer to: Films * ''Unconquered'' (1917 film), a drama film by Frank Reicher * ''Unconquered'' (1947 film), an adventure film by Cecil B. DeMille * ''The Unconquered'' (documentary) or ''Helen Keller in Her Sto ...

'' (1917) - Mrs. Lenning * ''

The Jaguar's Claws ''The Jaguar's Claws'' is a 1917 American Western silent film directed by Marshall Neilan and written by William M. McCoy, Beatrice DeMille and Leighton Osmun. The film stars Sessue Hayakawa, Fritzi Brunette, Tom Moore, Marjorie Daw, Tom For ...

'' (1917) - Marie * ''

The Squaw Man's Son ''The Squaw Man's Son'' is a 1917 American Western silent film directed by Edward LeSaint, written by Charles Maigne and Edwin Milton Royle, and starring Wallace Reid, Anita King, Dorothy Davenport, Donald Bowles, Clarence Geldart and Frank L ...

'' (1917) - Lady Stuckley * ''

Hashimura Togo ''Hashimura Togo'' is a 1917 American silent comedy film directed by William C. deMille and written by Marion Fairfax and Wallace Irwin. The film stars Sessue Hayakawa, Florence Vidor, Mabel Van Buren, Walter Long, Tom Forman, and Raymond ...

'' (1917) - Mrs. Reynolds * ''

The Countess Charming ''The Countess Charming'' is a lost 1917 American silent comedy film directed by Donald Crisp and written by Gelett Burgess, Carolyn Wells, and Gardner Hunting. The film stars Julian Eltinge, Florence Vidor, Tully Marshall, George Kuwa, Edythe ...

'' (1917) - Mrs. Vandergraft * ''

The Devil-Stone ''The Devil-Stone'' is a 1917 American silent romance film directed by Cecil B. DeMille, co-written by his mother Beatrice deMille and Jeanie MacPherson, and starring Geraldine Farrar. The film had sequences filmed in the Handschiegl Color ...

'' (1917) - Mrs. Rogers * '' The Winding Trail'' (1918) - Lou * '' Breakers Ahead'' (1918) - Aunt Agatha Pixley * '' Riders of the Night'' (1918) - Sally's Aunt * ''Hearts of Men'' (1919) - Tina Ferronni * ''

Young Mrs. Winthrop ''Young Mrs. Winthrop'' is a lost 1920 American silent drama film starring Ethel Clayton. It is based on the 1882 Victorian era Broadway play by Bronson Howard. The film was produced by Famous Players–Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictur ...

'' (1920) - Mrs. Dunbar * '' The Sins of Rosanne'' (1920) - Mrs. Ozanne * '' Conrad in Quest of His Youth'' (1920) - Nina * '' The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse'' (1921) - Elena * '' A Wise Fool'' (1921) - Madame Langlois * ''

Moonlight and Honeysuckle ''Moonlight and Honeysuckle'' is a 1921 American silent romantic comedy film directed by Joseph Henabery and starring Mary Miles Minter and Monte Blue. It was adapted by Barbara Kent from the 1919 stage play of the same name by George Scarboro ...

'' (1921) - Mrs. Langley * '' Miss Lulu Bett'' (1921) - Ina Deacon * '' Beyond the Rocks'' (1922) - Jane McBride * '' For the Defense'' (1922) - Cousin Selma * '' The Woman Who Walked Alone'' (1922) - Hannah Schriemann * ''

While Satan Sleeps ''While Satan Sleeps'' is a 1922 American silent Western film directed by Joseph Henabery and written by Albert S. Le Vino based upon a story by Peter B. Kyne. It stars Jack Holt, Wade Boteler, Mabel Van Buren, Fritzi Brunette, Will Walling ...

'' (1922) - Sunflower Sadie * ''

Manslaughter Manslaughter is a common law legal term for homicide considered by law as less culpable than murder. The distinction between murder and manslaughter is sometimes said to have first been made by the ancient Athenian lawmaker Draco in the 7th ce ...

'' (1922) - Prisoner * '' Youth to Youth'' (1922) - Mrs. Brookins * '' Pawned'' (1922) - Mrs. Veniza * ''Fighting Blood'' (1923) - Mrs. Wilcox - Judy's Mother * ''

Wandering Daughters ''Wandering Daughters'' is a 1923 American comedy drama film directed by James Young and written by James Young and Lenore Coffee. The film stars Marguerite De La Motte, William V. Mong, Mabel Van Buren, Marjorie Daw, Noah Beery Sr., and Pat ...

'' (1923) - Annie Bowden * '' The Light That Failed'' (1923) - Madame Binat * '' Lights Out'' (1923) - Mrs. Gallant * ''

In Search of a Thrill ''In Search of a Thrill'' is a 1923 American silent drama film directed by Oscar Apfel and starring Viola Dana, Warner Baxter, and Mabel Van Buren. Cast Preservation A complete print of ''In Search of a Thrill'' is held by Gosfilmofond Gosf ...

'' (1923) - Lila Lavender * '' The Dawn of a Tomorrow'' (1924) - Bet * '' The Top of the World'' (1925) - Mary Ann * '' Smooth as Satin'' (1925) - Mrs. Munson * '' His Secretary'' (1925) - Mrs. Sloden * ''

The King of Kings King of Kings; grc-gre, Βασιλεὺς Βασιλέων, Basileùs Basiléōn; hy, արքայից արքա, ark'ayits ark'a; sa, महाराजाधिराज, Mahārājadhirāja; ka, მეფეთ მეფე, ''Mepet mepe'' ...

'' (1927) - (uncredited) * ''

The Meddlin' Stranger ''The Meddlin' Stranger'' is a lost 1927 American silent Western film directed by Richard Thorpe and featuring Boris Karloff. Cast * Wally Wales as Wally Fraser * Nola Luxford as Mildred Crawford * Charles K. French as Her Father * Mabel Van ...

'' (1927) - Mrs. Crawford * ''

Craig's Wife ''Craig's Wife'' is a 1925 play written by American playwright George Kelly. It won the 1926 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and has been adapted for three feature films. Production ''Craig's Wife'' premiered on Broadway at the Morosco Theatre on O ...

'' (1928) - Mrs. Frazer * ''

The Flyin' Buckaroo ''The Flyin' Buckaroo'' is a 1928 American silent Western film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Hal Taliaferro, Jack D'Oise and J.P. Lockney.Quinlan, p. 342. Cast * Hal Taliaferro as Bill Mathews * Jack D'Oise as Henry Mathews * J ...

'' (1928) - Mrs. Brown * '' His First Command'' (1929) - Mrs. Sargent * ''

Neighbors' Wives ''Neighbors' Wives'' is a 1933 American pre-Code drama film directed by B. Reeves Eason and starring Dorothy Mackaill, Tom Moore and Mary Kornman.Dooley, p. 338 Cast * Dorothy Mackaill as Helen McGrath * Tom Moore as John McGrath * Mary Korn ...

'' (1933) - Mrs. Lee * ''

Mississippi Mississippi () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States, bordered to the north by Tennessee; to the east by Alabama; to the south by the Gulf of Mexico; to the southwest by Louisiana; and to the northwest by Arkansas. Miss ...

'' (1935) - Party Guest (uncredited) (final film role)

References

Lincoln, Nebraska Lincoln is the capital city of the U.S. state of Nebraska and the county seat of Lancaster County. The city covers with a population of 292,657 in 2021. It is the second-most populous city in Nebraska and the 73rd-largest in the United ...

Daily Star, ''Answers To Movie Fans'', September 30, 1917, Page 30. *

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the ...

, ''Lasky Lot, In Ruins, Recall Early Film History'', June 6, 1926, Page B10. *Los Angeles Times, ''Original Girl of the Golden West, 69, Dies''November 6, 1947, Page 2. *The

New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

, ''Mabel Van Buren'', November 6, 1947, Page 27. *

Washington Post ''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large na ...

, ''Notes About Plays And Players'', October 24, 1909, Page 94.

External links

*
Catherine Van Buren, Mabel's daughter
(University of Washington, Sayre collection) {{DEFAULTSORT:Van Buren, Mabel American film actresses American stage actresses American silent film actresses Actresses from Chicago 1878 births 1947 deaths Deaths from pneumonia in California 20th-century American actresses