Lillian Rich
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Lillian Rose Rich (1 January 1900 – 5 January 1954) was an English-born actress of the
silent era 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, wh ...
. She appeared in more than 60 films between 1919 and 1940.


Biography

Rich was born in
Herne Hill Herne Hill () is a district in South London, approximately four miles from Charing Cross and bordered by Brixton, Camberwell, Dulwich, and Tulse Hill. It sits to the north and east of Brockwell Park and straddles the boundary between the London ...
,
London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
, on 1 January 1900. In 1919, she married a young Canadian fighter pilot named Lionel Edward "Leo" Nicholson, and accompanied him back to his hometown of
Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Manitoba. It is centred on the confluence of the Red River of the North, Red and Assiniboine River, Assiniboine rivers. , Winnipeg h ...
. Rich's new father-in-law decided that she had a future in Hollywood, and he gave her $1000 of his own savings to fund her acting career. After making her film debut in ''The Day She Paid'' (1919), Rich quickly became highly sought, appearing in 18 films between 1920 and 1922. In 1923, Rich lost her financial support when her father-in-law became ill and died, and she did not produce any films until the following year. She soon divorced her husband, and Rich regained her stride in 1924, appearing in six new films, with roles in eight more in 1925. She gained critical attention for her role as a "man-eating, social-climbing" woman in
Cecil B. DeMille Cecil Blount DeMille (; August 12, 1881January 21, 1959) was an American filmmaker and actor. Between 1914 and 1958, he made 70 features, both silent and sound films. He is acknowledged as a founding father of American cinema and the most co ...
's '' The Golden Bed'', and a subsequent ''The New York Times'' review called her an "extraordinarily beautiful" woman. Her next – and final – notable role was in the 1926 railroad film ''Whispering Smith''. Her career declined in the early 1930s, possibly because Rich's voice was not well suited to the new "talkie" films that took hold as sound technology became normalized. During the 1930s she was under contract at MGM, where she played uncredited bit parts in several films. She was in very poor health during her last years. According to the 1950 census, she was "unable to work". According to her death certificate, she died of pharyngeal cancer, after an eight month battle, shortly after her 54th birthday at the Motion Picture Country House in
Woodland Hills, Los Angeles Woodland Hills is a neighborhood bordering the Santa Monica Mountains in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California, United States. History The area was inhabited for around 8,000 years by Native Americans in the United States, ...
. She is buried at the Valhalla Memorial Park in Los Angeles.


Partial filmography

* '' The Day She Paid'' (1919) * '' One Hour Before Dawn'' (1920) * ''
Dice of Destiny ''Dice of Destiny'' is a 1920 American silent crime drama film directed by Henry King and starring H. B. Warner, Lillian Rich, and Howard Davies.''Guide to the Silent Years of American Cinema'', p. 166 Plot Cast * H. B. Warner as Jimmy Doyl ...
'' (1920) * '' Felix O'Day'' (1920) * '' Beyond'' (1921) * '' The Sage Hen'' (1921) * '' Go Straight'' (1921) * '' The Millionaire'' (1921) * '' The Blazing Trail'' (1921) * '' Man to Man'' (1922) * ''
The Bearcat ''The Bearcat'' is a 1922 American silent Western film, now considered lost. It was directed by Edward Sedgwick and featured Hoot Gibson in the lead role. Plot As described in a film magazine, The Singin' Kid rides into town after a brief so ...
'' (1922) * ''
Afraid to Fight ''Afraid to Fight'' is a 1922 silent American drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually ...
'' (1922) * ''
The Kentucky Derby The Kentucky Derby () is an American Grade I stakes race run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The race is run by three-year-old Thoroughbreds at a distance of . Colts and geldings carry and fillies . Held annually on the first ...
'' (1922) * '' One Wonderful Night'' (1922) * '' The Love Master'' (1924) * ''
The Man from Wyoming ''The Man from Wyoming'' is a 1924 American silent Western film directed by Robert N. Bradbury and starring Jack Hoxie, Lillian Rich, and William Welsh. Plot As described in a film magazine, Jack Halloway (Payton) covets the land of cattlema ...
'' (1924) * '' The Phantom Horseman'' (1924) * ''
Empty Hearts ''Empty Hearts'' is a 1924 American silent drama film directed by Alfred Santell. Adele Buffington wrote the scenario based on Evelyn Campbell's story published in ''Metropolitan''. Plot Milt Kimberlin marries a cabaret dancer who dies after he ...
'' (1924) * '' Never Say Die'' (1924) * ''
Soft Shoes ''Soft Shoes'' is a 1925 American drama film directed by Lloyd Ingraham and featuring Harry Carey. Plot As described in a film magazine review, Pat Halahan, Sheriff of Boulder, goes to San Francisco to see the sights. He meets Faith O’Day, ...
'' (1925) * '' The Golden Bed'' (1925) * '' Seven Days'' (1925) * ''
The Love Gamble ''The Love Gamble'' is a 1925 American silent drama film directed by Edward LeSaint and starring Lillian Rich, Robert Frazer and Pauline Garon. Cast * Lillian Rich as Peggy Mason * Robert Frazer as Douglas Wyman * Pauline Garon as Jennie Howar ...
'' (1925) * '' The Ship of Souls'' (1925) * '' On the Front Page'' (1926) * ''
Dancing Days "Dancing Days" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin. It appears on their 1973 album, '' Houses of the Holy'', and was released as a single in the US. It was recorded at Stargroves, England in 1972. It was inspired by an Indian tune tha ...
'' (1926) * ''
Exclusive Rights An exclusive right, or exclusivity, is a ''de facto'', non-tangible prerogative existing in law (that is, the power or, in a wider sense, right) to perform an action or acquire a benefit and to permit or deny others the right to perform the same ...
'' (1926) * '' The Isle of Retribution'' (1926) * '' The Golden Web'' (1926) * '' Snowbound'' (1927) * '' God's Great Wilderness'' (1927) * ''
Woman's Law ''Woman's Law'' is a 1927 American silent drama film directed by Dallas M. Fitzgerald and starring Pat O'Malley, Lillian Rich, and Audrey Ferris.Munden p. 922 Cast * Pat O'Malley as Trooper Bucky O'Hare * Lillian Rich Lillian Rose Ric ...
'' (1927) * ''
Web of Fate ''Web of Fate'' is a 1927 American silent drama film directed by Dallas M. Fitzgerald and starring Lillian Rich, Henry Sedley and Eugene Strong.Langman & Finn p.296 Cast * Lillian Rich as Gloria Gunther / Beverly Townsend * Henry Sedley as Li ...
'' (1927) * '' That's My Daddy'' (1928) * ''
The Old Code ''The Old Code'' is a 1928 American silent film, silent historical film, historical drama film directed by Ben F. Wilson and starring Walter McGrail, Lillian Rich and Cliff Lyons (actor), Cliff Lyons. It is based on a story by James Oliver Curwoo ...
'' (1928) * '' The Forger'' (1928) * ''
High Seas The terms international waters or transboundary waters apply where any of the following types of bodies of water (or their drainage basins) transcend international boundaries: oceans, large marine ecosystems, enclosed or semi-enclosed regiona ...
'' (1929) * '' Red Pearls'' (1930) * ''
The Devil Plays ''The Devil Plays'' is a 1931 American pre-Code mystery film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Jameson Thomas, Florence Britton and Thomas E. Jackson.Monaco, p. 533 It was given a British release under the alternative title of ''The Mur ...
'' (1931) * ''
Once a Lady ''Once a Lady'' is a 1931 American Pre-Code drama film directed by Guthrie McClintic and starring Ruth Chatterton, Ivor Novello and Jill Esmond. The film, produced and distributed by Paramount Pictures, is a remake of the Pola Negri silent f ...
'' (1931) * '' A Lad an' a Lamp'' (1932) * ''
Birthday Blues ''Birthday Blues'' is a 1932 ''Our Gang'' short comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan. It was the 118th ''Our Gang'' short to be released. Plot When their pennypinching father refuses to buy a birthday gift for their long-suffering mother ...
'' (1932) * ''
Mark of the Spur ''Mark of the Spur'' is a 1932 American pre-Code Western film directed by J.P. McGowan and starring Bob Custer, Lillian Rich and George Chesebro.Pitts, p. 63 Plot Cast * Bob Custer as The Kid * Lillian Rich as Alice - Beckett's Adopted Daug ...
'' (1932) * ''
Free Wheeling ''Free Wheeling'' is a 1932 ''Our Gang'' short comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan. It was the 117th ''Our Gang'' short to be released. Plot Confined to a neck brace, poor little rich boy Dickie would like to play with the neighborhood ...
'' (1932) * '' Sprucin' Up'' (1935) * ''
The Girl Friend ''The Girl Friend'' is a musical comedy with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Lorenz Hart and book by Herbert Fields. This was the longest running show for the trio to that date.Secrest, Meryle. ''Somewhere for me:a biography of Richard Rodge ...
'' (1935)


References


External links

*
Winnipeg's Silent Film Star (Manitoba History, Number 50, October 2005)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rich, Lillian 1900 births 1954 deaths English film actresses English silent film actresses English emigrants to the United States Actresses from London 20th-century English actresses Actors from the London Borough of Southwark Deaths from throat cancer in California People from Herne Hill