Ethyle Cooke

Ethyle Cooke (4 August 1885 - 20 April 1949), was an American silent film actress of the 1910s. In 1915, she married another prominent silent film actor of the time, Harry Benham. Ethyle starred in many popular movies, such as A Small Town Girl, Stronger than Death, and The Fugitive.

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Background

Ethyle Cooke was born in Lynn, Massachusetts. She grew up in her hometown, and was educated at the Girls' Latin School in nearby Boston. Ethyle began her stage career early when, at the age of 12, she performed at the Boston Museum (even though she had been tap dancing since the age of 6).

Career at Thanhouser

Her film career began in 1911, when she joined the Thanhouser film company, and she remained there until 1917. In 1915, while producing a film, she married Harry Benham, another actor working at the Thanhouser. They lived a long, happily married life and had two children, Dorothy and Leland Benham, who were also prominent Thanhouser personalities, as they appeared in several films.

By mid-1914, she had over 200 screen appearances, and her nickname on the set came to be known as 'Cookie'. During this time at Thanhouser, she spent one year starring in lead roles with Florence LaBadie. In The Moving Picture World produced in 1916, it told of Ethyle's close association with LaBadie: "When you see Florence LaBadie's name in the cast of a photoplay, close by you will find Ethyle Cooke's. At the Thanhouser studios they wouldn't think of casting a Florence LaBadie feature without putting Ethyle Cook in it." In the movie The Fugitive, Ethyle's character committed a murder, while letting Florence's take the blame. Another film where they worked closely together was in The Fear of Poverty, where LaBadie's character ran off with Ethyle's fiance. Finally, in Saint, Devil, and Woman, Ethyle suffers at the mercy of a man who also has power over LaBadie.

Ethyle Cooke was also very active off the set. On September 7, 1912, Ethyle attended the Thanhouser family picnic and also played on the Thanhouser woman's softball team in the summer of 1915.

Ethyle Cooke died in Waukesha, Wisconsin, aged 63.

Filmography

References

External links