Evelyn Greeley (1888–1975) was a prominent actress in

silent film A silent film is a film without synchronized 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) or key lines of dialogue may, w ...

s. She appeared in approximately 30 films from 1915 to 1922.

Early life and education

Evelyn Greeley was born on November 3, 1888, in Austria.1900 U.S. Census - Emily Mahorko Chicago, Illinois She was the daughter of Stefan Mahorko (Marko, Marquo) born in Nondorf, AustriaPassport Application Fannie Huber Mahorko 1923 and Fannie Huber born in Csaktornya, Hungary. Contemporary publicity incorrectly called her the granddaughter of

Horace Greeley Horace Greeley (February 3, 1811 – November 29, 1872) was an American newspaper editor and publisher who was the founder and newspaper editor, editor of the ''New-York Tribune''. Long active in politics, he served briefly as a congres ...

, and gave her place of birth as Lexington, Kentucky; she actually immigrated from Bremen, Germany to Baltimore, Maryland under the name Emilie MahorkoPassenger List S.S. Munchen 1 Sep 1897 on the S.S. Munchen on September 1, 1897, with her mother and five siblings: Adeline, William, Frances, Lucille and Frank. Later, three more siblings, Marion, Audrey and Juanita were born in Chicago. Her death certificate reverses her parents' surnames to Stephen Huber and Frances Marko. Greeley is said to have attended the Frances Shimer Academy, now known as

Shimer College Shimer Great Books School ( ) is a Classic_book#University_programs, Great Books college that is part of North Central College in Naperville, Illinois. Prior to 2017, Shimer was an independent, accredited college on the south side of Chicago, or ...

, and the University School for Girls in Chicago, but some researchers have regarded this account of her education as simply another part of her "fictional life story".

Acting career

Greeley began her acting career on the stage, touring with the "Poli Players" stock company of

Sylvester Z. Poli Sylvester Zefferino Poli (December 31, 1858 – May 31, 1937) was an Italian immigrant to the USA who became a theatre magnate during the late 19th-century and early decades of the 20th century. By 1916 he controlled 30 theatres, and was heral ...

. She began working in film in 1914, for the Chicago-based

Essanay Studios Essanay Studios, officially the Essanay Film Manufacturing Company, was an early American motion picture studio. The studio was founded in 1907 in Chicago by George Kirke Spoor and Gilbert M. Anderson, originally as the Peerless Film Manufactu ...

, doing bit parts. It was only after more than a year that she obtained her first credit line, in the Quality Pictures production ''The Second in Command''. Greeley's career peaked in the years 1917–19, when she was under contract to the World Film Corporation, and starred opposite

Carlyle Blackwell Carlyle Blackwell (January 20, 1884 – June 17, 1955) was an American silent film actor, film director, director and film producer, producer. Early years Blackwell was born in Troy, Pennsylvania. He studied at Cornell University before J. Stewa ...

in numerous films. Her contract with World Film ended in 1920, and in the ensuing years she appeared in pictures produced by several different companies.

Filmography

*'' The Fable of One Samaritan Who Got Paralysis of the Helping Hand'' (1914) *short *'' The Second in Command'' (1915) *'' A Daughter of the Sea'' (1915) *'' Tempest and Sunshine (1916)'' *'' Just a Song at Twilight'' (1916) *''

The Social Leper ''The Social Leper'' is a 1917 American silent drama film directed by Harley Knoles and starring Carlyle Blackwell, Arthur Ashley and June Elvidge.Beauchamp p.444 Cast * Carlyle Blackwell Carlyle Blackwell (January 20, 1884 – June 17, 1955) ...

'' (1917) *'' The Price of Pride'' (1917) *''

The Brand of Satan ''The Brand of Satan'' is a 1917 American silent horror film directed by George Archainbaud and starring Montagu Love, Gerda Holmes and Evelyn Greeley.Parish & Pitts p.7 Cast * Montagu Love as Jacques Cordet * Gerda Holmes Gerda Holmes, n� ...

'' (1917) * '' The Burglar'' (1917) * '' The Good for Nothing'' (1917) *'' The Beautiful Mrs. Reynolds'' (1918) *'' His Royal Highness (1918)'' *''

Leap to Fame Leap To Fame (foaled 5 November 2018) is an Australian Standardbred racehorse, notable for winning multiple Group 1 races including the 2023 Inter Dominion Pacing Championship and the 2024 A G Hunter Cup and Miracle Mile Pace. Background Ow ...

'' (1918) *'' The Golden Wall'' (1918) *'' The Beloved Blackmailer'' (1918) *'' By Hook or Crook'' (1918) *''

The Road to France ''The Road to France'' is a 1918 American silent war drama film directed by Dell Henderson and starring Carlyle Blackwell, Evelyn Greeley and Jack Drumier. Cast * Carlyle Blackwell as Tom Whitney * Evelyn Greeley as Helen Bemis * Jack Drumi ...

'' (''The Allies'') (1918) *'' Hitting the Trail'' (1918) *'' Love in a Hurry'' (1919) *'' Courage for Two'' (1919) *'' Hit or Miss (1919 film)'' *'' Three Green Eyes'' (1919) *'' Phil for Short'' (1919) *'' Bringing Up Betty'' (1919) *''

The Oakdale Affair ''The Oakdale Affair'' is a short contemporary mystery novel by American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs. It was written in 1917 under the working title of "Bridge and the Oskaloosa Kid", and is a partial sequel to '' The Mucker'' (1914/1916). It wa ...

'' (1919) *'' Me and Captain Kidd'' (1919) *'' His Greatest Sacrifice'' (1921) *''

Diane of Star Hollow Diane may refer to: People *Diane (given name) Film * ''Diane'' (1929 film), a German silent film * ''Diane'' (1956 film), a historical drama film starring Lana Turner * ''Diane'' (2017 film), a mystery film directed by Michael Mongillo * ''D ...

'' (1921) *'' A Pasteboard Crown'' (1922) *''

Bulldog Drummond Hugh "Bulldog" Drummond is a fictional character, created by H. C. McNeile and published under his pen name "Sapper". Following McNeile's death in 1937, the novels were continued by Gerard Fairlie. Drummond is a First World War veteran who ...

'' (1922)

Personal life and death

Greeley, who had been billed in the newspapers as the "most proposed-to woman in America", married for the first time to John Smiley on October 25, 1922. Smiley is variously identified as a fellow actor or a steel company executive. On November 5, 1928, Greeley became the wife of businessman James Henry Rand.Marriage Record Rand and Greeley divorced in September 1960, charging one another with cruelty. She married Harold Charles Heermann in January 1962, and Morgan Smith Laity after 1965. Greeley died in West Palm Beach, Florida on March 25, 1975. She was survived by her husband Morgan.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Greeley, Evelyn 1888 births 1975 deaths American film actresses American silent film actresses American stage actresses Shimer College alumni 20th-century American actresses Emigrants from Austria-Hungary to the United States