Julia Swayne Gordon (born Sarah Victoria Smith; October 29, 1878 – May 28, 1933)
was an American actress who appeared in at least 228 films between 1908 and 1933.
Early years
Gordon was born in
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus (, ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities in Ohio, most populous city of the U.S. state of Ohio. With a 2020 United States census, 2020 census population of 905,748, it is the List of United States ...
to Louis and Anna Smith and was educated there.
She went to Denver to study dramatics under
Jessie Bonstelle.
Career
Gordon moved to New York and acted in stock theater, performing with
Henrietta Crosman
Henrietta Foster Crosman (September 2, 1861 – October 31, 1944) was an American stage and film actress.
Early years
Crosman was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, Wheeling, Virginia, to George Crosman Jr. a Civil War Major, and Mary B. Wick, ...
and
James A. Herne.
Gordon's work in film began in 1905
with the
Edison Company, and in 1908 she moved to
Vitagraph Studios
Vitagraph Studios, also known as the Vitagraph Company of America, was a United States motion picture studio. It was founded by J. Stuart Blackton and Albert E. Smith in 1897 in Brooklyn, New York, as the American Vitagraph Company. By 1907 ...
.
In 1911 she starred in Vitagraph's
screen portrayal of the
Lady Godiva legend. Perhaps her most memorable performance, however, is as
Richard Arlen's mother in the
World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
silent film ''
Wings'' (1927), which won the first
Academy Award
The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in film. They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States in recognition of excellence ...
for
Best Picture. In a highly dramatic scene in that acclaimed production, Gordon bids farewell to Arlen as he departs for combat flight training in France, tearfully packing him off with his favorite childhood toy.
Personal life and death
Gordon was married to Hugh T. Swayne.
Gordon continued to act until her death.
On May 28, 1933, she died of cancer at her Hollywood home, aged 54. Her ashes are buried at Green Lawn Cemetery in Columbus, Ohio.
Partial filmography
* ''
A Midsummer Night's Dream
''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' is a Comedy (drama), comedy play written by William Shakespeare in about 1595 or 1596. The play is set in Athens, and consists of several subplots that revolve around the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta. One s ...
'' (1909)*short
* ''
Twelfth Night
''Twelfth Night, or What You Will'' is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written around 1601–1602 as a Twelfth Night entertainment for the close of the Christmas season. The play centres on the twins Viola an ...
'' (1910*short
* ''Uncle Tom's Cabin'' (1910)*short
* ''
A Tale of Two Cities
''A Tale of Two Cities'' is a historical novel published in 1859 by English author Charles Dickens, set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. The novel tells the story of the French Doctor Manette, his 18-year-long impr ...
'' (1911)*short
* ''
Lady Godiva
Lady Godiva (; died between 1066 and 1086), in Old English , was a late Anglo-Saxon noblewoman who is relatively well documented as the wife of Leofric, Earl of Mercia, and a patron of various churches and monasteries.
She is mainly remembere ...
'' (1911)*short
* ''
Captain Jenks' Dilemma'' (1912)*short
* ''Playmates'' (1912)
* ''
Beau Brummel'' (1913)*short
* ''
Red and White Roses'' (1913)*short
* ''
The Lion's Bride'' (1913)*short
* ''
The Battle Cry of Peace'' (1915)
* ''
My Lady's Slipper'' (1916)
* ''
The Suspect'' (1916)
* ''
The Enemy'' (1916)
* ''
Her Right to Live'' (1917)
* ''
Arsene Lupin'' (1917)
* ''
The Maelstrom'' (1917)
*''
The Message of the Mouse'' (1917)
* ''
Love Watches'' (1918)
* ''
Over the Top'' (1918)
* ''
Greater Than Fame'' (1920)
* ''
Lifting Shadows'' (1920)
* ''
A Child for Sale'' (1920)
* ''
For Love or Money'' (1920)
* ''
The Silver Lining'' (1921)
* ''
The Passionate Pilgrim'' (1921)
* ''
Behind Masks'' (1921)
* ''
Burn 'Em Up Barnes'' (1921)
* ''
Why Girls Leave Home'' (1921)
* ''
Handcuffs or Kisses'' (1921)
* ''
How Women Love'' (1922)
* ''
When the Desert Calls'' (1922)
* ''
My Old Kentucky Home
"My Old Kentucky Home, Good-Night!", typically shortened to "My Old Kentucky Home", is a sentimental ballad and regional anthem of Kentucky. It was written by Stephen Foster, probably composed in 1852. It was published in January 1853 by Firt ...
'' (1922)
* ''
Till We Meet Again'' (1922)
* ''
What's Wrong With the Women?'' (1922)
* ''
Women Men Marry'' (1922)
* ''
The Darling of the Rich'' (1922)
* ''
The Tie That Binds'' (1923)
* ''
Scaramouche'' (1923)
* ''
Dark Secrets'' (1923)
* ''
The Wheel'' (1925)
* ''
Lights of Old Broadway'' (1925)
* ''
The Far Cry'' (1926)
* ''
Early to Wed'' (1926)
* ''
Bride of the Storm'' (1926)
* ''
Diplomacy
Diplomacy is the communication by representatives of State (polity), state, International organization, intergovernmental, or Non-governmental organization, non-governmental institutions intended to influence events in the international syste ...
'' (1926)
* ''
It'' (1927)
* ''
Wings'' (1927)
* ''
Children of Divorce'' (1927)
* ''
The Smart Set
''The Smart Set'' was an American monthly literary magazine, founded by Colonel William d'Alton Mann and published from March 1900 to June 1930. Its headquarters was in New York City. During its Jazz Age heyday under the editorship of H. L. Men ...
'' (1928)
* ''
Three Weekends'' (1928)
* ''
Hearts of Men'' (1928)
* ''
Road House'' (1928)
* ''
The Younger Generation'' (1929)
* ''
The Eternal Woman'' (1929)
* ''
Gold Diggers of Broadway'' (1929)
* ''
Is Everybody Happy?'' (1929)
* ''
Today'' (1930)
* ''
Primrose Path'' (1931)
* ''
The Common Law'' (1931)
* ''
The Drums of Jeopardy'' (1931)
* ''
Misbehaving Ladies'' (1931)
* ''
Secrets of the French Police'' (1932)
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Swayne Gordon, Julia
1878 births
1933 deaths
American stage actresses
American film actresses
American silent film actresses
Actresses from Columbus, Ohio
20th-century American actresses