Priscilla Bonner
Priscilla Bonner | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | February 17, 1899 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Died | February 21, 1996 (aged 97) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills |
| Other names | Priscilla B. Woolfan |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1920–1929 |
| Spouses | Allen Wynes Alexander
(m. 1921–1926)Dr. E. Bertrand Woolfan
(m. 1928–1962) |
Priscilla Bonner (February 17, 1899 – February 21, 1996) was an American silent film actress.
Career
Priscilla Bonner was born in Washington, D.C. on February 17, 1899. Her father, John S. Bonner, was in the Army 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.[1] While her father was stationed in Chicago, assigned to the staff of General Leonard Wood, she received a call from someone connected with Chicago Photoplay, insisting she come to their studio for photographs. Although realizing it was likely a wrong number, Priscilla seized the opportunity to have her picture taken there. Intrigued by her bold initiative and photogenic charisma, the studio took portraits of her and sent them to film studios in California.[2] Her parents allowed her the opportunity to travel to Los Angeles. It was here that she met Charles Ray, and made her film debut in the 1920 film Homer Comes Home, after being signed to MGM that same year. She went on to co-star with Jack Pickford in The Man Who Had Everything (1920), Lon Chaney, Sr. in Shadows (1922), Colleen Moore in April Showers, and comedian Harry Langdon in The Strong Man. In 1925 she successfully sued Warner Bros. and won a substantial cash settlement when she was originally chosen and then dropped as leading lady from John Barrymore's The Sea Beast in favor of Barrymore's new real life love interest Dolores Costello.
That same year she starred in the controversial independent film The Red Kimono produced and directed by Dorothy Davenport, the widow of Wallace Reid. In 1927, Bonner was loaned to Paramount Pictures to co-star in the box office hit It, starring Clara Bow.[3]
Personal life
In 1921, she married writer and author Allen Wynes Alexander.[4] A little over a year later, he left her. She sued for divorce,[5] but later dismissed the case.[6]
In 1928, Bonner married Dr. E. Bertrand Woolfan. She retired from films the following year. The couple were popular hosts to the burgeoning Los Angeles literary and film community, and particularly befriended Preston Sturges, the writer and director. On February 21, 1996, Bonner died at the age of 97.[7]
Her younger sister was Marjorie Bonner, who also became an actress.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | Homer Comes Home | Rachel Prouty | |
| 1920 | Honest Hutch | Ellen | |
| 1920 | The Man Who Had Everything | Prue Winn | |
| 1920 | Officer 666 | Sadie | |
| 1921 | The Son of Wallingford | Mary Curtis | |
| 1921 | Bob Hampton of Placer | Schoolteacher | |
| 1921 | Home Stuff | Susan Deep | |
| 1922 | Shadows | Mary Brent | |
| 1923 | Galloping Thru | ||
| 1923 | The Purple Dawn | Ruth Ketchell | |
| 1923 | Where's My Wandering Boy This Evening? | ||
| 1923 | Pitfalls of a Big City | Alternative title: The Pitfalls of a Great City | |
| 1923 | April Showers | Shannon O'Rourke | |
| 1924 | A Desperate Adventure | ||
| 1924 | Hold Your Breath | The Sister | |
| 1924 | Tarnish | Aggie | |
| 1924 | Chalk Marks | Betty Towner | |
| 1925 | Charley's Aunt | Kitty | |
| 1925 | The Mansion of Aching Hearts | A City Girl | |
| 1925 | Proud Flesh | San Francisco Girl | |
| 1925 | The White Desert | Mrs. Foster | |
| 1925 | Drusilla with a Million | Sally May Ferris | |
| 1925 | Eyes of Hollywood | ||
| 1925 | The Red Kimono | Gabrielle Darley | |
| 1926 | The Earth Woman | Sally | |
| 1926 | 3 Bad Men | Millie Stanley | |
| 1926 | The Strong Man | Mary Brown | |
| 1926 | The False Alarm | Bessie Flannigan | |
| 1927 | It | Molly | |
| 1927 | Long Pants | His Bride (Priscilla) | |
| 1927 | Paying the Price | ||
| 1927 | The Prince of Headwaiters | Faith Cable | |
| 1927 | Broadway After Midnight | Queenie Morgan/Gloria Livingston | Alternative title: Gangsters on Broadway |
| 1928 | Outcast Souls | Alice Davis | |
| 1928 | Golden Shackles | Lucy Weston | |
| 1929 | Girls Who Dare | Sally Casey |
References
- Notes
- ^ Bean, Daisy (7 September 1920). "News Notes from Movie Land". The Rock Island Argus and Daily Union. Rock Island, Illinois. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
- ^ Eliot, Jean (1 August 1920). "Washington Society Girl Proves Star of Films". The Washington Times. Washington, D.C. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
- ^ Villecco 2001, pp. 22, 30
- ^ "Priscella Bonner to Wed; Plans Aerial Honeymoon". Evening Public Ledger. Philadelphia, PA. 18 May 1921. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
- ^ "Pretty Priscella Bonner Appeals to Los Angeles Judge". The Washington Times. Washington DC. 27 August 1922. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
- ^ "Movie Actress Sues Manager". The Fairmont West Virginian. Fairmont, WV. 2 September 1922. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
- ^ Villecco 2001, pp. 33, 34
- Bibliography
- Villecco, Tony (2001). Silent Stars Speak: Interviews With Twelve Cinema Pioneers. McFarland. ISBN 0-7864-0814-6.
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External links
- Priscilla Bonner at IMDb
- Priscilla Bonner at AllMovie
- Priscilla Bonner at the TCM Movie Database
- Priscilla Bonner at Find a Grave
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