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Jean Darnell

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Jean Darnell
Born
Jean Darnell Matthews

1889
DiedJanuary 20, 1961
OccupationActress
Years active1912–1913

Jean Darnell Matthews[1][2] (1889 – January 20, 1961) was an American silent film actress who had a brief career between 1912 and 1913.

Career

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A native of Sherman, Texas,[3] Darnell was the eldest of two daughters born to George William Matthews and Brancie Daniel Matthews.[1] Her younger sister Mary would become better known by her stage name, Beatrice "Billie" Allen,[3][1] as Vernon Castle's onetime dancing partner,[4][5] while one of Darnell's cousins was Senator Joseph W. Bailey.[6]

Largely home schooled,[7] Darnell was performing onstage from age five through thirteen, before attending Roanoke College.[6][7]

In 1913, Darnell was a leading woman for the Thanhouser studio.[8] She also acted for the Kalem Company. By November 1920, she was working in the publicity department of Goldwyn Distributing Corporation.[9]

Personal life and death

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Darnell died on January 20, 1961, in Dallas, Texas, survived by her adopted daughter.[2]

Filmography

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Year Film Role
1912 Baby Hands The wife
Conductor 786 The Conductor's Son's Wife
The Voice of Conscience
His Father's Son
Put Yourself in His Place Edith Raby, the Squire's Sister
The Truant's Doom Tim's Teacher
The Thunderbolt The Poor Man's Wife
The Forest Rose Young Pioneer Mother
The Race The Inventor's Mother
1913 A Poor Relation The Widow
His Uncle's Wives
Some Fools There Were The Aunt
The Pretty Girl in Lower Five
The Two Sisters The Older Sister
Cymbeline The Queen
The Woman Who Did Not Care The Witch
The Widow's Stratagem
The Other Girl The Sister
Carmen
The Farmer's Daughters (1913 film) Grace, the Farmer's Other Daughter

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Jean Darnell Matthews [with gravestone image]". Find a Grave. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Obituaries: Jean D. Matthews". Variety. February 8, 1961. p. 103. ProQuest 1017084761. Jean Darnell Matthews, former actress, publicist, and schoolteacher, died Jan. 20 in Dallas. She had appeared in N.Y. musicals, was a publicity agent and acted in films before going to Dallas in 1918. There she became publicity director for Interstate Theatres and for the defunct Dallas Little Theatre. Lately she had been a teacher.
  3. ^ a b "Texas Girl Is Star of Many Big Thanhouser Films: Jean Darnell". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. June 14, 1914. p.. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
  4. ^ "No Death Fears; But Vern Castle Hoped to Die in Action—for His Country; Dead Aviator Frequently Imparted Views to Friend". The Topeka State Journal. February 16, 1918. p. 7. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
  5. ^ "'Billie' Allen's Very Singular Three Year Courtship". Nashville Tennessean Sunday Magazine. August 13, 1916. p. 8. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Thanhouser Star Popular". The Calumet News. . p.. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Jean Darnell of the Thanhouser Company". Stockton Daily Evening Record. July 5, 1913. p. 8. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
  8. ^ "Jean Darnell Ill". Moving Picture World. December 13, 1913. p. 1270. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  9. ^ "Miss Jean Darnell, Press Agent Deluxe, Visits Corsicana". Corsicana Daily Sun. November 13, 1920. p. 11. Retrieved January 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
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