Priscilla Bonner (February 17, 1899 – February 21, 1996) was an American

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 who specialized in portraying virginal, innocent heroines.

Early years

Priscilla Bonner was born in

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

on February 17, 1899. Her father, John S. Bonner, worked for Page Fence and served as an officer in Company B of the local National Guard Unit. At the start of World War I the company was activated for service, and her father started his career as an Army officer. The family often moved, and she spent much of her life in different places. She often play-acted to amuse herself, playing all the parts and shifting the sets. While her father was stationed in Chicago, assigned to the staff of General

Leonard Wood Leonard Wood (October 9, 1860 – August 7, 1927) was a United States Army major general, physician, and public official. He served as the Chief of Staff of the United States Army, List of colonial governors of Cuba, Military Governor of Cuba, ...

, she received a call from someone connected with ''Chicago Photoplay'', insisting she come to their studio for photographs. Although she realized it was likely a wrong number, Bonner went. Intrigued by her bold initiative and photogenic charisma, the studio took portraits of her and sent them to film studios in California.

Career

In 1916, when living in

Adrian, Michigan Adrian is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Lenawee County, Michigan, Lenawee County. The population was 20,645 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Adrian lies in Michigan's 5th congressional district. The c ...

, Bonner answered an open call to audition for the movie ''The Romance of Miss Adrian''. Using her dance skills, she won a part in the picture. In Los Angeles, she met Charles Ray, and appeared in the 1920 film ''Homer Comes Home'', after being signed by

MGM Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, commonly shortened to MGM or MGM Studios) is an American Film production, film and television production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered ...

that year. She went on to co-star with

Jack Pickford Jack Pickford (born John Charles Smith, August 18, 1896 – January 3, 1933), was a Canadian-American actor, film director and producer. He was the younger brother of actresses Mary and Lottie Pickford. After their father deserted the famil ...

in ''The Man Who Had Everything'' (1920),

Lon Chaney, Sr. Leonidas Frank "Lon" Chaney (April 1, 1883 – August 26, 1930) was an American actor and makeup artist. He is regarded as one of the most versatile and powerful actors of cinema, renowned for his characterizations of tortured, often gr ...

in ''

Shadows A shadow is a dark area on a surface where light from a light source is blocked by an object. In contrast, shade occupies the three-dimensional volume behind an object with light in front of it. The cross-section of a shadow is a two-dimensiona ...

'' (1922),

Colleen Moore Colleen Moore (born Kathleen Morrison; August 19, 1899 – January 25, 1988) was an American film actress who began her career during the silent film era. Moore became one of the most fashionable (and highly-paid) stars of the era and helped po ...

in '' April Showers'', and comedian

Harry Langdon Henry Philmore "Harry" Langdon (June 15, 1884 – December 22, 1944) was an American actor and comedian who appeared in vaudeville, silent films (where he had his greatest fame), and talkies.Obituary ''Variety Obituaries, Variety'', December 27 ...

in ''

The Strong Man ''The Strong Man'' is a 1926 American silent comedy film starring Harry Langdon, who produced the film. It was directed by Frank Capra in his feature debut. Along with '' Tramp, Tramp, Tramp'', ''The Strong Man'' is Langdon's best-known featur ...

''. In 1925, she successfully sued

Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (WBEI), commonly known as Warner Bros. (WB), is an American filmed entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California and the main namesake subsidiary of Warner Bro ...

and won a substantial cash settlement when she was originally chosen and then dropped as the leading lady from

John Barrymore John Barrymore (born John Sidney Blyth; February 14 or 15, 1882 – May 29, 1942) was an American actor on stage, screen, and radio. A member of the Drew and Barrymore theatrical families, he initially tried to avoid the stage, and briefly a ...

's '' The Sea Beast'' in favor of Barrymore's new real life love interest

Dolores Costello Dolores Costello (September 17, 1903Costello's obituary in ''The New York Times'' says that she was born on September 17, 1905. – March 1, 1979) was an American film actress who achieved her greatest success during the era of silent movies. ...

That same year, she starred in the controversial independent film '' The Red Kimono'' produced and directed by

Dorothy Davenport Fannie Dorothy Davenport (March 13, 1895 – October 12, 1977) was an American actress, screenwriter, film director, and producer. Born into a family of film performers, Davenport had her own independent career before her marriage to the film a ...

, the widow of

Wallace Reid William Wallace Halleck Reid (April 15, 1891 – January 18, 1923) was an American actor in silent film, referred to as "the screen's most perfect lover". He also had a brief career as a racing driver. Early life Reid was born in St. Lou ...

. In 1927, Bonner was loaned to

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation, commonly known as Paramount Pictures or simply Paramount, is an American film production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the flagship namesake subsidiary of Paramount ...

to co-star in the box office hit '' It'', starring

Clara Bow Clara Gordon Bow (; July 29, 1905 – September 27, 1965) was an American actress who rose to stardom during the silent film era of the 1920s and successfully made the transition to "talkies" in 1929. Her appearance as a plucky shopgirl in the ...

Personal life

In 1921, she married writer and author Allen Wynes Alexander. A little over a year later, he left her. She filed for divorce but later dismissed the case. In 1928, Bonner married Dr. E. Bertrand Woolfan. She retired from film the following year. The couple were popular hosts to the burgeoning Los Angeles literary and film community, and particularly befriended

Preston Sturges Preston Sturges (; born Edmund Preston Biden; August 29, 1898 – August 6, 1959) was an American playwright, screenwriter, and film director. He is credited as being the first screenwriter to find success as a director. Prior to Sturges, other ...

, the writer and director. On February 21, 1996, Bonner died at the age of 97. Her younger sister was actress and writer

Margerie Bonner Margerie Bonner (February 17, 1905 – September 28, 1988) was an American actress, scriptwriter, and novelist. She is best known as the wife of Malcolm Lowry and for her support of the author while he wrote his best known novel, ''Under the Volc ...

Filmography

References

;Notes ;Bibliography *

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Bonner, Priscilla Actresses from Washington, D.C. American film actresses American silent film actresses 1899 births 1996 deaths 20th-century American actresses