Esther Ralston
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Esther Ralston (September 17, 1902 – January 14, 1994) was an American movie actress who's greatest popularity came during the silent era. She was regarded at the time as one of cinema's most beautiful actresses.
Contents |
[edit] Early life and career
Born in Bar Harbor, Maine she started as a child actress in a family vaudeville act which was billed as "The Ralston Family with Baby Esther, America's Youngest Juliet." From this, she appeared in a few small silent film roles before gaining attention as Mrs. Darling in the 1924 version of Peter Pan.
She appeared mainly in comedies, often portraying spirited society girls, but she also received good reviews for her forays into dramatic roles.
In the late 1920s she appeared in many films for Paramount, at one point earning as much as $8000 a week, and garnering much popularity, especially in Britain. Despite making a successful transition to sound, she was reduced to appearing in B-movies by the mid-1930s, leading to her retirement from film in 1941. Ralston later resurfaced briefly in the 1960s on the short-live soap opera Our Five Daughters as Helen Lee, as a mother of five daughters whose husband was an invalid.
She is of no known relation to fellow silent film actress Jobyna Ralston.
Ms. Ralston is the aunt of television/stage/radio/recording artist Bob Ralston.
She was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (6664 Hollywood Boulevard) for her popular work in motion pictures.
Esther Ralston died in Ventura, California on January 14, 1994.
[edit] Selected filmography
- The Kid (1921)
- The Marriage Circle (1924)
- Peter Pan (1924)
- Old Ironsides (1926) with Wallace Beery and Charles Farrell
- The American Venus (1926)
- Children of Divorce (1927)
- The Case of Lena Smith (1929)
- Sadie McKee (1934)
- Reunion (1936)
[edit] Reference
Drew, William H. Speaking of Silents: First Ladies of the Screen. Vestal: New York, 1989.
