Eugenia Gilbert (November 18, 1902 – December 9, 1978) was an American

film actress An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), lit ...

of the

silent era A silent film is a film with no synchronized Sound recording and reproduction, recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) ...

. She appeared as a

leading lady A leading actor, leading actress, or simply lead (), plays the role of the protagonist of a film, television show or play. The word ''lead'' may also refer to the largest role in the piece, and ''leading actor'' may refer to a person who typica ...

in a number of

westerns The Western is a genre set in the American frontier and commonly associated with folk tales of the Western United States, particularly the Southwestern United States, as well as Northern Mexico and Western Canada. It is commonly referred ...

. In at least three films, she was billed as Eugenie Gilbert.

Biography

Gilbert was the daughter of W.B. and Eugenia Gilbert. She attended schools in

South Orange, New Jersey South Orange, officially the Township of South Orange Village, is a suburban township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the village's population was 16,198, reflecting a decline of 766 (4.5%) fr ...

, and New York City and the Marlborough School in Los Angeles. She won 14 beauty contests, one of which was a national contest sponsored by

Rudolph Valentino Rodolfo Pietro Filiberto Raffaello Guglielmi di Valentina d'Antonguolla (May 6, 1895 – August 23, 1926), known professionally as Rudolph Valentino and nicknamed The Latin Lover, was an Italian actor based in the United States who starred ...

, which led him to consider her "the most beautiful girl in America." In 1924, Gilbert had her first role as leading lady in a film, after having smaller parts in westerns and comedies. In 1925, she signed a contract with

Mack Sennett Mack Sennett (born Michael Sinnott; January 17, 1880 – November 5, 1960) was a Canadian-American film actor, director, and producer, and studio head, known as the 'King of Comedy'. Born in Danville, Quebec, in 1880, he started in films in th ...

to act exclusively in his comedy films "for the next several years."

Filmography

* '' A Certain Rich Man'' (1921) * '' The Man of the Forest'' (1921) * '' The Man from Downing Street'' (1922) * '' The Half Breed'' (1922) * ''

Wildcat Jordan ''Wildcat Jordan'' is a 1922 American silent comedy action film directed by Alfred Santell and starring Richard Talmadge, Eugenia Gilbert and Harry von Meter.Rainey p.330 Plot Cast * Richard Talmadge as Dick Jordan * Eugenia Gilbert as Syl ...

'' (1922) * ''

Souls in Bondage ''Souls in Bondage'' is a lost 1916 silent film drama directed by Edgar Lewis and produced by the Lubin Manufacturing Company The Lubin Manufacturing Company was an American motion picture production company that produced silent films from ...

'' (1923) * ''

Sinners in Silk ''Sinners in Silk'' is a 1924 silent romantic drama film directed by Hobart Henley. The film stars Eleanor Boardman, Adolphe Menjou, Hedda Hopper, Conrad Nagel, and Jean Hersholt. It was written by Benjamin Glazer and Carey Wilson. The film a ...

'' (1924) * '' Great Diamond Mystery'' (1924) * '' The Back Trail'' (1924) * '' So This Is Marriage'' (1924) * ''

Flames of Desire ''Flames of Desire'' (; lit. ''Flames of Ambition'') is a South Korean television series starring Shin Eun-kyung, Seo Woo, Yoo Seung-ho, Jo Min-ki, and Lee Soon-jae. It aired on MBC from October 2, 2010 to March 27, 2011 on Saturdays and ...

'' (1924) * ''

A Broadway Butterfly ''A Broadway Butterfly'' is a 1925 American silent comedy film directed by William Beaudine. Plot As described in a film magazine review, Irene Astaire is befriended by Cookie Dale and gets a job in the chorus, although Cookie is dismissed t ...

'' (1925) * '' The Scarlet Honeymoon'' (1925) * ''

The Dressmaker from Paris ''The Dressmaker from Paris'' is a 1925 American silent romantic comedy drama film directed by Paul Bern. The story was written by Howard Hawks and Adelaide Heilbron. Heilbron also wrote the screenplay. The film starred Leatrice Joy and was he ...

'' (1925) * ''

Seven Chances ''Seven Chances'' is a 1925 American silent comedy film directed by and starring Buster Keaton, based on the play of the same name by Roi Cooper Megrue, produced in 1916 by David Belasco. Additional cast members include T. Roy Barnes, Snitz ...

'' (1925) * ''

The Man from the West Man from the West may refer to: *The Man from the West (1912 film) *The Man from the West (1914 film) *The Man from the West (1926 film) ''The Man from the West'' is a 1926 American silent Western film directed by Albert S. Rogell and starring ...

'' (1926) * '' Obey The Law'' (1926) * ''

Hair-Trigger Baxter ''Hair-Trigger Baxter'' is a 1926 American silent Western film directed by Jack Nelson and starring Bob Custer, Eugenia Gilbert and Lew Meehan. Cast * Bob Custer as Baxter Brant * Eugenia Gilbert as Rose Moss * Lew Meehan as Mont Blake * M ...

'' (1926) * ''

Wild to Go ''Wild to Go'' is a 1926 American silent Western film directed by Robert De Lacey and starring Tom Tyler, Frankie Darro and Eugenia Gilbert.Munden, p. 1045. Cast * Tom Tyler as Tom Blake * Frankie Darro as Frankie Blake * Fred Burns ...

'' (1926) * ''

The Valley of Bravery ''The Valley of Bravery'' is a 1926 American silent Western film directed by Jack Nelson and starring Bob Custer, Eugenia Gilbert and Artie Ortego.Munden, p. 853 Synopsis Two veterans of World War I return home and help a young woman fend of ...

'' (1926) * '' Laddie'' (1926) * '' Transcontinental Limited'' (1926) * '' Beyond the Rockies'' (1926) * '' The Test of Donald Norton'' (1926) * '' The Crimson Flash'' (1927) * ''

Border Blackbirds ''Border Blackbirds'' is a 1927 American silent Western film directed by Leo D. Maloney and starring Maloney, Eugenia Gilbert and Nelson McDowell. Cast * Leo D. Maloney as Bart Evans * Eugenia Gilbert as Marion Kingsley * Nelson McDowe ...

'' (1927) * '' The Long Loop on the Pecos'' (1927) * '' The Man from Hard Pan'' (1927) * '' Don Desperado'' (1927) * '' By Whose Hand?'' (1927) * '' Melting Millions'' (1927) * '' The Swell-Head'' (1927) * '' The Danger Rider'' (1928) * '' The Apache Raider'' (1928) * '' The Boss of Rustler's Roost'' (1928) * '' The Phantom City'' (1928) * '' The Mysterious Airman'' (1928) * '' The Bronc Stomper'' (1928) * '' After the Storm'' (1928) * '' Courtin' Wildcats'' (1929)

References

Bibliography

* Buck Rainey. ''Sweethearts of the Sage: Biographies and Filmographies of 258 Actresses Appearing in Western Movies''. McFarland & Company, 1992.

External links

* 1902 births 1978 deaths American film actresses People from East Orange, New Jersey 20th-century American actresses {{US-film-actor-1900s-stub