Martha Mansfield
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Martha Mansfield (born July 14, 1899 in Mansfield, Ohio - died November 30, 1923 in Texas) was an American actress in silent films and vaudeville stage plays. She was raised in New York. Martha was left in her mother's care at the age of twelve after her father deserted the family in 1912.
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[edit] Dancer and Actress
At the age of 18 Mansfield showed an aptitude for acting and began a stage career. Her advancement as a performer came quickly. For a time she was a dancer performing with the Ziegfeld Follies.
Before she relocated to the west coast Martha played leads in films produced by Famous Players-Lasky. Her first Hollywood movie was Civilian Clothes (1920) directed by Hugh Ford. Miss Mansfield gained prominence as Millicent Carew in the film adaptation of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920 film), which starred John Barrymore and Charles Lane. She appeared with Eugene O'Brien in The Perfect Lover (1919). The final completed features in her short film career were Potash and Permutter and The Leavenworth Case, both from 1923.
[edit] Tragic & Untimely Death
Martha Mansfield died from burns suffered when a smoker's match, tossed by a cast member, ignited her Civil War costume of hoopskirts and flimsy ruffles. This occurred during filming of The Warrens of Virginia on Thanksgiving 1923. The actress was playing the role of Agatha Warren. She had just finished her scenes and retired to a car, when her clothing burst into flames. Her neck and face were saved when leading man, Wilfred Lytell, threw his heavy overcoat over her. The chauffeur of Mansfield's car was burned badly on his hands while trying to remove the burning clothing from the actress. The fire was put out but she sustained heavy burns to her body.
The actress was rushed to a hospital where she died in less than twenty-four hours. Martha was 23 years old. Accompanied by actor Phillip Shorey, Mansfield's body was flown to her home in New York City. Her mother resided there at 142 West Fifty-seventh Street. She was interred at the Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, New York, USA.
[edit] Estate
Miss Mansfield left an estate valued at only $2,473. However she gave $22,000 in Liberty Bonds to her mother, Mrs. Harriet G. Ehrlich. Ehrlich said her daughter saved $40,000 in the last three years of her life which was invested in the bonds. Her estate included a platinum solitaire ring, cash, and $600 due from the Fox Film Company on her contract.
[edit] References
- Los Angeles Times, Follies Beauty Coming, January 24, 1920, Page II7.
- Los Angeles Times, Burns Fatal To Actress, December 1, 1923, Page II1.
- New York Times, Martha Mansfield, Film Star, Dies of Burns Caused by Costume Fired by Smoker's Match, December 1, 1923, Page 1.
- New York Times, Martha Mansfield Left All To Her Mother In Partial Return for Care Given Her, September 26, 1924, Page 1.
