Claire McDowell (born Claire MacDowell, November 2, 1877 – October 23, 1966) was an American actress of the silent era. She appeared in 350 films between 1908 and 1945.

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Wednesday, April 14, 2021, 08:27.PM.
 Claire McDowell - Actress.
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1. Profile :

Claire McDowell - Motion Picture Classic, February 1916.jpg

McDowell in 1916

Born Claire MacDowell, November 2, 1877, New York City, U.S.

Died October 23, 1966 (aged 88), Hollywood, California, U.S.

Occupation Actress

Years active 1908–1945

Spouse(s)

Charles Hill Mailes - ​(m. 1906; died 1937)​

Children 2

Relatives Melbourne MacDowell (uncle)

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2. Introduction :

Claire McDowell (born Claire MacDowell, November 2, 1877 – October 23, 1966) was an American actress of the silent era. She appeared in 350 films between 1908 and 1945.

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3. Early years :

Claire MacDowell was born in New York City on November 2, 1877, the daughter of Eugene A. MacDowell and Fanny Reeves. Her aunt, actress Fanny Davenport, gave her early training in acting. Fanny Davenport's second husband was Eugene's brother Melbourne MacDowell.

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4. Career :

When she was 17, she was an understudy in a theatrical company headed by Charles Frohman. Still something of a youthful beauty, McDowell appeared in numerous short, early feature films. She graduated to playing character and mother types. She appeared in Douglas Fairbanks' The Mark of Zorro (1920). McDowell costarred in two of the biggest films of the silent era, The Big Parade and Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, in which she played mothers both times. McDowell's Broadway credits included Herod (1909), To Have and to Hold (1901), and Hearts Are Trumps (1900).

When she was 38, McDowell retired, but later she returned to acting, particularly portraying mothers.

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5. Personal life and death :

She was married to silent screen character actor Charles Hill Mailes from 1906 until his death in 1937. The couple appeared in numerous silent films together, including The Mark of Zorro. They had two sons, Robert and Eugene. She died in Hollywood, California on October 23, 1966.

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6. Selected filmography :

The Devil (1908, Short) - Mrs. Harold Thornton

The Planter's Wife (1908, Short) - Mrs. John Holland

A Flash of Light (1910, Short) - At First Party

The Lucky Toothache (1910, Short) - A Cousin

A Mohawk's Way (1910) as Indian mother

His Trust (1911, Short) - Colonel Frazier's Wife

His Trust Fulfilled (1911, Short) - Mrs. Frazier

What Shall We Do with Our Old? (1911, Short) - The Old Carpenter's Wife

Fisher Folks (1911)

A Decree of Destiny (1911, Short) - A Nun

The Spanish Gypsy (1911, Short) - Paula

The Broken Cross (1911, Short) - Kate's Mother

The Crooked Road (1911, Short) - A Neighbor

The Primal Call (1911, Short) - The Woman

A Country Cupid (1911, Short) - The Half-Wit's Mother

The Making of a Man (1911, Short) - Actress

The Long Road (1911, Short) - Ned's Wife

A Woman Scorned (1911, Short) - The Doctor's Wife

As in a Looking Glass (1911) - The Wife

Under Burning Skies (1912, Short) - A Friend

A Temporary Truce (1912, Short) - Mexican Jim's Wife

The Sands of Dee (1912, Short) - The Artist's Fiancée

Two Daughters of Eve (1912, Short) - The Mother

So Near, yet So Far (1912, Short) - Rich Woman in Other Town

In the Aisles of the Wild (1912, Short) - The Elder Daughter

A Sailor's Heart (1912, Short) - The Sailor's Third Sweetheart

The New York Hat (1912, Short) - First Gossip

A Cry for Help (1912, Short) - The Thief's Wife - the Charity Patient

The God Within (1912, Short) - The Woodsman's Wife

The Telephone Girl and the Lady (1913, Short) - The Lady

A Misappropriated Turkey (1913, Short) - Mrs. Fallon

The Wrong Bottle (1913, Short) - The Blind Sister

The Unwelcome Guest (1913, Short) - The Wife

A Welcome Intruder (1913, Short) - A Widow

The Stolen Bride (1913, Short) - The Wife

The Wanderer (1913, Short) - The Female Lover

The Tenderfoot's Money (1913, Short) - The Prospector's Wife

The Stolen Loaf (1913, Short) - The Rich Woman

The House of Darkness (1913, Short) - The Doctor's Wife

Olaf—An Atom (1913, Short) - A Parent

The Ranchero's Revenge (1913, Short) - The Schemer's Associate

The Well (1913, Short) - The Farmer's Wife

The Switch Tower (1913, Short) - The Switchman's Wife

A Gamble with Death (1913, Short) - Kate

The Enemy's Baby (1913, Short) - Miller's Wife

A Gambler's Honor (1913, Short) - Beth

The Mirror (1913, Short) - Daisy

The Vengeance of Galora (1913, Short) - Galora

Under the Shadow of the Law (1913, Short) - John Haywood's Sister

I Was Meant for You (1913, Short) - Lavina

The Crook and the Girl (1913, Short) - The Uncle's Adopted Daughter

The Strong Man's Burden (1913, Short) - Ida Glynn, The Nurse

The Stolen Treaty (1913, Short) - Olga

The Law and His Son (1913, Short) - Marguerite, Manning's Sister

A Tender-Hearted Crook (1913, Short) - Edith

The Van Nostrand Tiara (1913, Short) - Kate

The Stopped Clock (1913, Short) - The Antique Dealer's Daughter

The Detective's Stratagem (1913, Short) - Kate, the Bank Clerk's Sweetheart

All for Science (1913, Short) - Detective

A Nest Unfeathered (1914, Short) - Kate

Her Father's Silent Partner (1914, Short)

The Cracksman's Gratitude (1914, Short)

The Heart of a Bandit (1915, Short)

The Sheriff's Dilemma (1915, Short) - Molly

The Miser's Legacy (1915, Short) - The Crook's Wife

The Gambler's I.O.U. (1915, Short) - Nell - Daddy Wilson's Daughter

A Day's Adventure (1915, Short) - Hogan's Moll

The Canceled Mortgage (1915, Short) - The Widowed Mother

Truth Stranger Than Fiction (1915, Short) - Crook

Her Dormant Love (1915, Short) - The Discontented Wife

The Way Out (1915, Short) - The Young School Teacher

Her Convert (1915, Short) - The Old Inventor's Daughter

Old Offenders (1915, Short) - Joe's Wife

As It Happened (1915, Short) - The Ranchman's Daughter

A Stranger from Somewhere (1916) - Olga

Mixed Blood (1916) - Nita Valyez

The Right to Be Happy (1916) - Mrs. Cratchit

The White Raven (1917) - Daisy

The Gates of Doom (1917) - Indore / Agatha

The Bronze Bride (1917) - A-Che-Chee

The Clean-Up (1917) - Vera Vincent

The Empty Gun (1917, Short) - Mary

Fighting Back (1917) - The Fury

The Ship of Doom (1917) - Clara Gove

The Man Above the Law (1918) - Natchah

Captain of His Soul (1918) - Annette De Searcy

You Can't Believe Everything (1918) - Grace Dardley

Closin' In (1918)

The Return of Mary (1918) - Mrs. John Denby Sr.

The Follies Girl (1919) - Nina

Prudence on Broadway (1919) - Miss Grayson

Chasing Rainbows (1919) - Mrs. Walters

Heart o' the Hills (1919) - Martha Hawn

The Feud (1919) - Mary Lynch

The Woman in the Suitcase (1920) - Mrs. James B. Moreland

The Gift Supreme (1920) - Lalia Graun

The Devil's Riddle (1920) - Mrs. Potts

Blind Youth (1920) - Elizabeth Monnier

Through Eyes of Men (1920) - Mrs. Virginia All

The Jack-Knife Man (1920) - Lize Merdin

Something to Think About (1920) - Housekeeper

The Mark of Zorro (1920) - Doña Catalina Pulido

Midsummer Madness (1920) - Mrs. Osborne

Prisoners of Love (1921) - Her Mother

Chickens (1921) - Aunt Rebecca

What Every Woman Knows (1921) - Comtesse de la Brière

Mother o' Mine (1921) - Mrs. Sheldon

Wealth (1921) - Mrs. Dominick

Love Never Dies (1921) - Liz Trott

Rent Free (1922) - Countess de Mourney

The Gray Dawn (1922) - Mrs. Bennett

Penrod (1922) - Mrs. Schofield

The Ragged Heiress (1922) - Sylvia Moreton

The Lying Truth (1922) - Mrs. Sam Clairborne

Nice People (1922) - Margaret Rainsford

In the Name of the Law (1922) - Mrs. O'Hara

Heart's Haven (1922) - May Caroline

Quincy Adams Sawyer (1922) - Mrs. Putnam

The West~Bound Limited (1923) - Mrs. Bill Buckley

Michael O'Halloran (1923) - Nancy Harding

Human Wreckage (1923) - Mrs. Brown

Circus Days (1923) - Martha

Ashes of Vengeance (1923) - Margot's Aunt

Ponjola (1923) - Mrs. Hope

Enemies of Children (1923)

Black Oxen (1923) - Agnes Trevor

Judgment of the Storm (1924) - Mrs. Heath

Leave It to Gerry (1924) - Mrs. Brent

Thy Name Is Woman (1924) - Juan's Mother

Secrets (1924) - Elizabeth Channing

A Fight for Honor (1924) - Mrs. Hill

Those Who Dare (1924) - Mrs. Rollins

The Reckless Sex (1925) - Concha

Waking Up the Town (1925) - Mrs. Joyce

Dollar Down (1925) - Mrs. Meadows - Ruth's Sister

The Tower of Lies (1925) - Katrina

One of the Bravest (1925) - Mrs. Kelly

The Big Parade (1925) - Mrs. Apperson

The Midnight Flyer (1925) - Liza Slater

Ben-Hur (1925) - Princess of Hur

The Devil's Circus (1926) - Mrs. Peterson

The Dixie Merchant (1926) - Josephine Fippany

The Shamrock Handicap (1926) - Molly O'Shea

The Unknown Soldier (1926) - John Phillips' sister

The Show Off (1926) - Mom Fisher

The Flaming Forest (1926) - Mrs. McTavish

A Little Journey (1927) - Aunt Louise

The Auctioneer (1927) - Mrs. Tim Eagan

Cheaters (1927) - Mrs. Robin Carter

The Taxi Dancer (1927) - Aunt Mary

The Black Diamond Express (1927) - Martha Foster

Tillie the Toiler (1927) - Ma Jones

Winds of the Pampas (1927) - Doña Maria Casandos

The Shield of Honor (1927) - Mrs. MacDowell

Almost Human (1927) - Mrs. Livingston

The Tragedy of Youth (1928) - Mother

Don't Marry (1928) - Aunt Abigail Bowen

4 Devils (1928) - Woman

The Viking (1928) - Lady Editha

Marriage by Contract (1928) - Mother

When Dreams Come True (1929) - Martha Shelby

The Flying Fleet (1929) - Mrs. Hastings - Anita's Mother (uncredited)

Silks and Saddles (1929) - Mrs. Calhoun

The Quitter (1929) - Mrs. Abbott

Whispering Winds (1929) - Mrs. Benton

Redemption (1930) - Anna Pavlovna

The Second Floor Mystery (1930) - Aunt Hattie

Young Desire (1930) - Mrs. Spencer

The Big House (1930) - Mrs. Marlowe

Wild Company (1930) - Mrs. Laura Grayson

Brothers (1930) - Mrs. Bess Naughton

Mothers Cry (1930) - Mary's Mother (uncredited)

An American Tragedy (1931) - Mrs. Samuel Griffiths

Under Eighteen (1931) - Seamstress (uncredited)

Manhattan Parade (1931) - Nancy - the Maid (uncredited)

Union Depot (1932) - Little Boy's Mother (uncredited)

The Famous Ferguson Case (1932) - The Brookses' Landlady (uncredited)

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1932) - Mrs. Randall (uncredited)

Cornered (1932) - Jane's Aunt

The Phantom Express (1932) - Ma Nolan

A Successful Calamity (1932) - Struthers' Secretary (uncredited)

Lawyer Man (1932) - Gilmurry's Secretary (uncredited)

Central Airport (1933) - Mrs. Blaine

The Working Man (1933) - Benjamin's Secretary

By Appointment Only (1933) - Mrs. Mary Carroll

Paddy the Next Best Thing (1933) - Miss Breen (uncredited)

Wild Boys of the Road (1933) - Mrs. Smith

Bedside (1934) - Nurse (uncredited)

It Happened One Night (1934) - Mother on Bus (uncredited)

Journal of a Crime (1934) - Sister at Hospital (uncredited)

Dr. Monica (1934) - Miss Bryerly (uncredited)

British Agent (1934) - Woman Saying 'Lenin will Live' (uncredited)

Two Heads on a Pillow (1934) - Mrs. Helen Gorman

Imitation of Life (1934) - Teacher Outside Classroom (uncredited)

Black Fury (1935) - Nurse (uncredited)

Murder by Television (1935) - Mrs. Houghland

August Week End (1936) - Alma Washburne

Small Town Girl (1936) - Woman in Bed (uncredited)

Criminal Lawyer (1937) - Night Court Judge (uncredited)

Two-Fisted Sheriff (1937) - Miss Herrick - Molly's Aunt

High, Wide, and Handsome (1937) - Seamstress (uncredited)

Test Pilot (1938) - Funeral Home Associate (uncredited)

Three Comrades (1938) - Landlady Frau Zalewski (uncredited)

Boys Town (1938) - Catholic Nun (uncredited)

Stand Up and Fight (1939) - Woman (uncredited)

Idiot's Delight (1939) - Crying Mother (uncredited)

Miracles for Sale (1939) - Jack of Diamonds Woman (uncredited)

Thunder Afloat (1939) - Nurse (uncredited)

Those High Grey Walls (1939) - Mother (uncredited)

Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President (1939) - Gossiper (uncredited)

Young Tom Edison (1940) - Woman at Station (uncredited)

The Captain Is a Lady (1940) - Old Lady (uncredited)

The Golden Fleecing (1940) - Pedestrian (uncredited)

Dr. Kildare Goes Home (1940) - Nurse for Mr. Winslow (uncredited)

Third Finger, Left Hand (1940) - Witness at wedding (uncredited)

Lady Scarface (1941) - Mrs. Tuckerman (uncredited)

Reap the Wild Wind (1942) - Ettie (uncredited)

Keeper of the Flame (1942) - Mourner (uncredited)

The Youngest Profession (1943) - Woman (uncredited)

The Human Comedy (1943) - Woman on Street (uncredited)

Hangmen Also Die! (1943) - Counterwoman (uncredited)

Presenting Lily Mars (1943) - Dowager (uncredited)

This Land Is Mine (1943) - Woman in Bathroom (uncredited)

Du Barry Was a Lady (1943) - Subway Passenger (uncredited)

Black Market Rustlers (1943) - Mrs. Prescott (uncredited)

Teen Age (1943) - Mrs. Mary Abbott

Men on Her Mind (1944) - Mother Goodwin

Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble (1944) - Dr. Standish's Servant (uncredited)

Are These Our Parents (1944) - Miss Winfield

The Thin Man Goes Home (1944) - Train Passenger in Passageway (uncredited)

Having Wonderful Crime (1945) - Guest (uncredited)

Adventure (1945) - Woman in Library (uncredited)

End.

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