Peggy Cartwright (November 14, 1912 – June 12, 2001) was a Canadian

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 ...

actress and for a short time a leading lady of the ''

Our Gang ''Our Gang'' (also known as ''The Little Rascals'' or ''Hal Roach's Rascals'') is an American series of comedy short films chronicling a group of poor neighborhood children and their adventures. Created by film producer Hal Roach, who also pr ...

'' comedy series during the silent film era.

Early life and career

Peggy Cartwright was a child actress born on November 14, 1912, in

Vancouver, British Columbia Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the cit ...

. She appeared in several of the early ''Our Gang'' short films from the

era; although her appearances would solely be those released in 1922. As Cartwright's career was beginning to advance, her father—a doctor—insisted that his family return to Canada in order that his children receive decent scholarships. Subsequently, Cartwright continued her studies in Vancouver. She later became proficient in

Russian ballet Russian ballet () () is a form of ballet characteristic of or originating from Russia. Imperial Russian ballet Ballet had already dawned in Russia long before start of the 17th century as per the previous publications by certain authors. In this ...

. In 1927, Cartwright traveled with her mother to London, where she entered

RADA The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, also known by its abbreviation RADA (), is a drama school in London, England, which provides vocational conservatoire training for theatre, film, television, and radio. It is based in Bloomsbury, Central Lond ...

. Two years later, she worked on the London stage at the St. Martin's Theater. In 1931, she briefly returned to filming, first with a minor role in

Victor Saville Victor Saville (25 September 1895 – 8 May 1979) was an English film director, producer, and screenwriter. He directed 39 films between 1927 and 1954. He also produced 36 films between 1923 and 1962. Biography Saville produced his first f ...

's '' The Faithful Heart'' (which would be released in 1932). She also appeared as Greta, together with

Jack Buchanan Walter John Buchanan (2 April 1890 – 20 October 1957) was a Scottish theatre and film actor, singer, dancer, producer and director. He was known for three decades as the embodiment of the debonair man-about-town in the tradition of George Gr ...

and

Anna Neagle Dame Florence Marjorie Wilcox (''née'' Robertson; 20 October 1904 – 3 June 1986), known professionally as Anna Neagle, was an English stage and film actress, singer, and dancer. She was a successful box-office draw in British cinema for 2 ...

, in the musical film'' Goodnight, Vienna''. The same year, Cartwright performed in the British drama film Hindle Wakes, which would prove to be the final film in which she would appear. In late 1931 and 1932 she starred in the title role of "Mike" in the hit West End play with music '' For the Love of Mike'' at the

Saville Theatre The Saville Theatre building is a former West End theatre and cinema at 135 Shaftesbury Avenue in the London Borough of Camden. The theatre opened in 1931, and became a music venue during the 1960s. In 1970, it became a cinema, most recently a ...

. Shortly thereafter, Cartwright relocated to New York, where she married comedian Phil Baker, with whom she subsequently had four children: Margot, Stuart, Michael, and Susan. She divorced Baker in 1941, and later married actor William "Bill" Walker in 1962.

Later years

When her children reached adulthood, Cartwright obtained a job as a secretary in Los Angeles. Here, she became acquainted with William Walker, whom she later married. They remained married until his death in 1992. Cartwright made an appearance at the 12th International

Sons of the Desert ''Sons of the Desert'' is a 1933 American pre-Code comedy film starring Laurel and Hardy. Directed by William A. Seiter, it was released in the United States on December 29, 1933. In the United Kingdom, the film was originally released under ...

Convention in 2000. This was her first and only appearance at the convention, and she happily discussed her brief tenure in the ''Our Gang'' series. She was the last surviving member of the original ''Our Gang'' group of children.

Death

Cartwright died on June 12, 2001 in

Victoria, British Columbia Victoria is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of British Columbia, on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific Ocean, Pacific coast. The city has a population of 91,867, and the Gre ...

at the age of 88. She and Walker, a United States Army World War I veteran, are buried at

Riverside National Cemetery Riverside National Cemetery (RNC) is a cemetery located in Riverside, California, dedicated to the interment of United States military personnel. The cemetery covers . It has been the most active cemetery in the system since 2000, based on the n ...

Riverside, California Riverside is a city in and the county seat of Riverside County, California, United States. It is named for its location beside the Santa Ana River. As of the 2020 census, the city has a population of 314,998. It is the most populous city in th ...

Filmography

* ''

The Birth of a Nation ''The Birth of a Nation'' is a 1915 American Silent film, silent Epic film, epic Drama (film and television), drama film directed by D. W. Griffith and starring Lillian Gish. The screenplay is adapted from Thomas Dixon Jr.'s 1905 novel and ...

'' (1915) - Young Girl in Cabin (uncredited) * ''

Intolerance Intolerance may refer to: * Hypersensitivity or intolerance, undesirable reactions produced by the immune system * ''Intolerance'' (film), a 1916 film by D. W. Griffith * ''Intolerance'' (album), the first solo album from Grant Hart, formerly ...

'' (1916) - Little Girl (uncredited) * ''

A Kentucky Cinderella A Kentucky Cinderella is a 1917 American silent film, silent Drama film, drama directed by Rupert Julian and featured Rupert Julian and Ruth Clifford, and a cast including child actress Zoe Rae. It was released June 25, 1917 by Bluebird Photopl ...

'' (1917) * '' The Poor Boob'' (1919) - Little Girl (uncredited) * ''

From Hand to Mouth ''From Hand to Mouth'' is a 1919 American short comedy film featuring Harold Lloyd. This was the first film Lloyd made with frequent co-star (and future wife) Mildred Davis. A print of the film survives in the film archive of the British Fil ...

'' (1919, Short) - The Waif * ''The Third Generation'' (1920) - Nancy Jane * ''

Love Love is a feeling of strong attraction and emotional attachment (psychology), attachment to a person, animal, or thing. It is expressed in many forms, encompassing a range of strong and positive emotional and mental states, from the most su ...

'' (1920) - Beatrice Storm * ''

Penrod ''Penrod'' is a collection of comic sketches by Booth Tarkington that was first published in 1914. The book follows the misadventures of Penrod Schofield, an eleven-year-old boy growing up in the pre-World War I Midwestern United States, in a ...

'' (1922) - (uncredited) * '' Afraid to Fight'' (1922) - Sally Harper * ''Robin Hood, Jr.'' (1923) - The Girl, later Maid Marian * '' A Lady of Quality'' (1924) - Clorinda (age 6) * '' The Iron Horse'' (1924) - Miriam as a Girl (uncredited) * ''Hindle Wakes'' (1931) - (uncredited) * '' Goodnight, Vienna'' (1932) - Greta * ''The Faithful Heart'' (1932) - (final film role)

Our Gang

* '' One Terrible Day'' (1922, Short) - Girl At Estate * '' Fire Fighters'' (1922, Short) - Peggy * '' Young Sherlocks'' (1922, Short) - Mary Jane * ''

A Quiet Street ''A Quiet Street'' is the sixth ''Our Gang'' short subject comedy to be released. The ''Our Gang'' series (later known as "The Little Rascals") was created by Hal Roach in 1922, and continued production until 1944. Synopsis A new kid moves int ...

'' (1922, Short)''Motion Picture Series and Sequels: A Reference Guide'' p. 243 - Banty's Sister (uncredited)

References

External links

* * http://theluckycorner.com/rps/001.html
Peggy Cartwright in 2000
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cartwright, Peggy 1912 births 2001 deaths 20th-century Canadian actresses Actresses from Vancouver Burials at Riverside National Cemetery Canadian child actresses Canadian film actresses Canadian silent film actresses