Jane Cowl

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Jane Cowl (December 14, 1883 - June 22, 1950) was born Grace Bailey in Boston, Massachusetts. She was a successful early American film and stage actress and playwright.

She made her acting debut in New York City in Sweet Kitty Bellairs in 1903, her first leading role was Fanny Perry in 1909 in Leo Ditrichstein's Is Matrimony a Failure?, produced by David Belasco, and then she played stock. This was followed by The Gamblers, her first great success, and by Within the Law, Common Clay, and other successes ([1]). She was known for her interpretation of Shakespearean roles, playing Juliet, Cleopatra and Viola on Broadway.

In 1934 she created the role of Lael Wyngate in S. N. Behrman's Rain from Heaven opposite actor John Halliday. Noting the challenges posed by Behrman's heightened dialogue, critic Gilbert Gabriel noted approvingly that their scenes together were "models of aristocratic parlando." [1]

She was the lead in two silent films, Garden of Lies (1915) and The Spreading Dawn (1917). Then, after taking nearly 30 years off from films, Cowl returned for several supporting roles in the 1940s. Her final film was Payment on Demand (1951) with Bette Davis.

Jane Cowl died of cancer in Santa Monica, California on June 22, 1950, aged 66.

[edit] Works

Jane Cowl wrote the following plays:

  • Lilac Time - 1917 (under the pseudonym "Alan Langdon Martin")
  • Daybreak - 1917 (co-written with Jane Murfin)
  • Information Please - 1918
  • Smilin' Through - 1919 (co-written with Jane Murfin under the pseudonym "Alan Langdon Martin")
  • The Jealous Moon - 1928

[edit] References

  1. ^ Gilbert W. Gabriel, "Rain from Heaven—Theatre Guild's Yule Present in S. N. Behrman's Play". New York American: 26 December 1934.

[edit] External links

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