Alma Tell (March 27, 1898 – December 29, 1937) was an American stage and motion picture actress whose career in cinema began in 1915 and lasted into the sound films of the early 1930s.

Early years

Tell was born in New York City, the younger sister of stage and film actress

Olive Tell Olive Tell (September 27, 1894 – June 8, 1951) was a stage and screen actress from New York City. Biography Tell was educated in several cities in Europe. She and her younger actress sister Alma Tell, Alma graduated from the American Academy ...

. She attended schools in London and Paris and, with her sister, Olive, graduated from the

American Academy of Dramatic Arts The American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA) is a Private college, private drama school with two locations, one in New York City and one in Los Angeles. The academy offers an associate degree in occupational studies and teaches drama and related ...

in 1915.

Career

Tell began her career as an actress in Syracuse, working for 12 weeks in stock theater. She acted in Boston and headed a stock company in Newark. She made her screen debut in the

Edward José Edward José (5 July 1865 – 18 December 1930) was a Belgian film director and actor of the silent film, silent era. He directed 42 films between 1915 and 1925. He also performed in 12 films between 1910 and 1916.Mae Murray Mae Murray (born Marie Adrienne Koenig; May 10, 1885 – March 23, 1965) was an American actress, dancer, film producer, and screenwriter. Murray rose to fame during the silent film era and was known as "The Girl with the Bee-Stung Lips" and "Th ...

, Corinne Griffith and Madge Kennedy and then achieved leading lady status in 1923's '' The Silent Command'', opposite actors

Edmund Lowe Edmund Sherbourne Lowe (March 3, 1890 – April 21, 1971) was an American actor. His formative experience began in vaudeville and silent film. Biography Lowe's childhood home was at 314 North 1st Street, San Jose. He attended Santa Clara Coll ...

, Martha Mansfield and Béla Lugosi, in his first American film role. Tell made her last film appearance in the 1934 romantic-drama '' Imitation of Life'', which starred

Claudette Colbert Claudette Colbert (koʊlˈbɛər/ kohl-BAIR, born Émilie "Lily" Claudette Chauchoin (ʃoʃwɛ̃/ show-shwan); September 13, 1903 – July 30, 1996) was an American actress. Colbert began her career in Broadway theater, Broadway productions dur ...

Personal life and death

Tell was married to actor

Stanley Blystone William Stanley Blystone (August 1, 1894 – July 16, 1956) was an American film actor who made more than 500 films appearances from 1924 to 1956. He was sometimes billed as William Blystone or William Stanley. Early years Blystone was born in ...

from 1932 until her death. She died in 1937 and was buried at Pierce Brothers

Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery is a cemetery located at 10621 Victory Boulevard, straddling the border between the Los Angeles neighborhood of North Hollywood and Burbank, California. The cemetery's East entrance features the Portal of the Fo ...

North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California North Hollywood is a neighborhood and district in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, California. The neighborhood contains the NoHo Arts District, El Portal Theater, several art galleries, and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. The ...

Selected filmography

* '' The Smugglers'' (1916) * '' Nearly Married'' (1917) * ''

Right to Love ''The Right to Love'' is a 1920 American silent film, silent drama film directed by George Fitzmaurice. It stars Mae Murray, David Powell (actor), David Powell and Holmes Herbert. The film is based on the French novel ''L'Homme qui assassina'', ...

'' (1920) * '' On with the Dance'' (1920) * '' Paying the Piper'' (1921) * '' The Iron Trail'' (1921) * '' Broadway Rose'' (1922) * '' The Silent Command'' (1923) * '' San Francisco Nights'' (1928) * ''

Love Comes Along ''Love Comes Along'' is a 1930 American romantic film directed by Rupert Julian, written by Wallace Smith, based on the uncompleted play ''Conchita'' by Edward Knoblock. It was a vehicle specifically picked to highlight the vocal talents of Beb ...

'' (1930)

Theater appearances

*'' The Squab Farm'' (1918)

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Tell, Alma 1898 births 1937 deaths American film actresses American stage actresses American silent film actresses Actresses from New York City Burials at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery 20th-century American actresses