Rhea Mitchell

Rhea Mitchell
Born	December 10, 1890(1890-12-10) Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Died	October 16, 1957(1957-10-16) (aged 66) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1912–1952

Rhea Mitchell (December 10, 1890 – September 16, 1957) was an American film actress who began her career during the silent film era. She earned the name of "the little stunt girl" because of her willingness to attempt thrilling scenes in motion pictures.

Career

Mitchell began her career in 1909 playing in stock theatre in her hometown of Portland, Oregon. She followed a season in vaudeville with a run at the Alcazar Theater in San Francisco. Mitchell made her film debut in 1912 and would eventually appear in over 100 films during her career. She appeared a number of times with Western star William S. Hart playing a leading role in those films. In 1916 she played in The Brink with Forrest Winant and Arthur Maude.

After 1917, her roles became smaller and she appeared in a handful of films through the mid-30s and in several bit parts during the early 1950s often which went uncredited.

Later years and death

After her retirement from films, Mitchell managed a large apartment house in Los Angeles. While managing a second apartment in 1957, the La Brea District Apartments, a disgruntled houseboy named Sonnie Hartford, Jr., strangled her with the sash-cord of her blue silk dressing gown.

Mitchell is buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles.

Selected filmography

Year	Film	Role	Notes
1912	The Hidden Trail
	His Squaw
1913	An Indian's Gratitude
	An Indian's Honor
1914	The Fires of Ambition	Mrs. Patton
	In the Southern Hills	Nan Hopkins
1915	The Scourge of the Desert	Ellen Holt	Alternative title: Reformed Outlaw
	The Diamond from the Sky
1916	Sequel to the Diamond from the Sky	Esther Stanley
	The Three Musketeers	Constance Bonacieux
1917	The Gilded Youth	Mary
	Whither Thou Goest	Maizie
1918	Honor's Cross	Jane Cabot
	The Goat	Bijou Lamour
1919	The Money Corral	Janet Collins
	The Hawk's Trail	Jean Drake
1920	The Devil's Claim	Virginia Crosby
	The Scoffer	Alice Porn
1921	A Ridin' Romeo	Mabel Brentwood
	The Innocent Cheat	Peggy Adair
1923	The Greatest Menace	Mary Lewis
1924	The Other Kind of Love	The Chorus Girl
1926	Modern Youth
1927	The Home Trail
1928	Danger Patrol	Gladys Lawlor
1933	The Big Bluff
1934	Behold My Wife	Reporter	Uncredited
	One Hour Late	Stage mother	Uncredited
1936	San Francisco		Uncredited
	Mysterious Crossing	Hall clerk	Uncredited
1938	The Ship That Died
1940	I Take This Woman	Decker's Secretary	Uncredited
1943	Harrigan's Kid	Woman at Race Track	Uncredited
	The Cross of Lorraine	Mother	Uncredited
1944	Marriage Is a Private Affair	Nurse	Uncredited
	Mrs. Parkington	Mrs. Humphrey	Uncredited
1945	The Hidden Eye	Pedestrian	Uncredited
1946	The Hoodlum Saint	Reporter	Uncredited
1947	The Mighty McGurk	Woman at Children's Society	Uncredited
	Green Dolphin Street	Emily	Uncredited
1948	The Bride Goes Wild	Wedding Guest	Uncredited
	State of the Union	Jeny	Alternative title: The World and His Wife
1949	In the Good Old Summertime	Woman at window	Uncredited
1950	Stars In My Crown	Mrs. Backett	Uncredited
	The Next Voice You Hear...	Woman in church	Uncredited
1951	The Unknown Man	Maid	Uncredited
	It's a Big Country	School teacher	Uncredited
1952	My Man and I	Nurse	Uncredited
	The Member of the Wedding	Townswoman	Uncredited

References

• Janesville, Wisconsin Daily Gazette, "News Notes From Movieland", Wednesday, October 4, 1916, Page 6.
• Long Beach, California Press-Telegram, "Find Actress Strangled In Home In L.A.", September 17, 1957, Page 1.
• Los Angeles Times, "Ex-Actress Strangled", September 17, 1957, Page 38.
• Marshfield, Wisconsin Times, "Unique Theater", April 26, 1916, Page 4.

External links

• Rhea Mitchell at the Internet Movie Database
• Rhea Mitchell at Find a Grave