Mildred Davis
Template:Short description Template:For Template:More citations needed Template:Infobox person Mildred Hillary Davis<ref name="Google Books">Template:Cite book</ref> (February 22, 1901<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Google Books" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Spaced ndashAugust 18, 1969) was an American actress who appeared in fifteen of Harold Lloyd's classic silent comedies and eventually married him.
Early life and career
The daughter of Howard Beckett Davis,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> she was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and educated at the Friends School in Philadelphia.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After spending several years studying, she traveled to Los Angeles in the hopes of securing a role in a film. After appearing in several small roles, she caught the attention of Hal Roach, who pointed her out to comedian Lloyd. Lloyd was looking for a leading lady to replace Bebe Daniels, and cast Davis in his comedy short From Hand to Mouth in 1919. It would be the first of fifteen films they would star in together.Template:Citation needed
Davis retired from acting in 1923. After much persuasion by Davis (and much grief) she received Lloyd's consent for her return to the screen in Too Many Crooks, which Lloyd produced through his production company.
Personal life
On February 10, 1923, Davis married film star Harold Lloyd and shortly thereafter retired from acting in films. Lloyd began construction on a home on his 14-acre Beverly Hills estate that year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The couple moved to a mansion in Benedict Canyon, Los Angeles, in 1929.<ref name="fb" />
Davis and Lloyd had two children together: Gloria Lloyd (1924–2012)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and Harold Clayton Lloyd Jr. (1931–1971).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> They also adopted Gloria Freeman (1924–1986) in September 1930, whom they renamed Marjorie Elizabeth Lloyd<ref name="The Harold Lloyd Encyclopedia">Template:Cite book</ref> but was known as Peggy for most of her life.<ref name="The Harold Lloyd Encyclopedia"/>
Davis and Lloyd remained married for 46 years, until Davis' death.
Death
On August 18, 1969, following a period of poor health, Davis suffered a heart attack and died in St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California.<ref name="fb">Template:Cite news</ref>
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1916 | Marriage à la Carte | |
| 1917 | What'll We Do with Uncle? | |
| Fighting Mad | Lily Sawyer | |
| 1918 | Bud's Recruit | Edith's sister |
| A Weaver of Dreams | Margery Gordon | |
| 1919 | All Wrong | Betty Thompson |
| Start Something | ||
| All at Sea | ||
| Call for Mr. Caveman | ||
| Giving the Bride Away | ||
| Looking for Trouble | ||
| Tough Luck | ||
| From Hand to Mouth | The Girl | |
| 1920 | Red Hot Hottentotts | |
| Why Go Home? | ||
| The Floor Below | ||
| His Royal Slyness | Princess Florelle | |
| Getting His Goat | ||
| Haunted Spooks | The Girl | |
| An Eastern Westerner | The Girl | |
| High and Dizzy | The Girl | |
| Get Out and Get Under | The Girl | |
| Number, Please? | The Girl | |
| 1921 | Humor Risk | |
| Now or Never | The Girl | |
| Among Those Present | Miss O'Brien, The Girl | |
| I Do | Wife | |
| Never Weaken | The Girl | |
| A Sailor-Made Man | The Girl | |
| 1922 | Grandma's Boy | His Girl |
| Dr. Jack | The Sick-Little-Well-Girl | |
| 1923 | Safety Last! | The Girl |
| Temporary Marriage | Hazel Manners | |
| Condemned | The Girl | |
| 1927 | Too Many Crooks | Ceia Mason |
References
External links
- Template:Commons category inline
- Template:IMDb name
- Mildred Davis at Virtual History