May Kitson (1866 – 1945), born Mary Ann Morrell, was an American silent film character actor active between 1917 and 1925, known to close family as "De-ah."
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Kitson was born in London, England on 29 October 1864 to Tom Morrell and Elizabeth Chandler[1]. Her family moved to New Jersey 1873. Her father died prior to immigration. Beginning in 1910 until her passing Kitson continually claimed much younger ages in all census reports, altering even her eldest child's age in 1910 to support her younger claimed age.
May and John William Kitson were married in 1882 and their first child Howard Waldo was born in March 1883; a daughter Velma May followed in 1887. Kitson was widowed in February 1888 (see New York Times Feb 8, 1888 "Death of Mr. Kitson"). Robert Ellin and Kitson were co-executors of (John) William Kitson's estate until their son reached maturity.
Kitson was widowed again following a brief marriage in 1896 and again her third husband William J. Swan widowed her about 1909. She applied to the NY Court to change her name back to Mary Morrell Kitson.
In November 1914 her son Waldo married Lela Cole Kitson a short story writer of western romances. In 1910 her daughter Velma married Commodore Byron McCandless a 1905 Naval Academy graduate.
According to family oral history, Kitson was approached by a New York movie agent while selling "War Bonds" in a New York bank with "Have you ever thought of working in the movies?"
Kitson died on 17 June 1945 on the U. S. Naval Repair Base[1] in San Diego, California at her daughter's home, the Commanding Officer's Quarters. Her ashes are near her son Waldo's in Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Los Angeles formerly The Hollywood Cemetery, located opposite Paramount Studios, not to be confused with the one on the east coast.
She was also in a film with Lionel Barrymore, whose title has been lost.