Clarine Seymour

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Clarine Seymour (December 9, 1898 – April 25, 1920) was an American silent film actress.

Clarine Seymour

circa 1917-1919
Born (1898-12-09)December 9, 1898
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Died April 25, 1920(1920-04-25) (aged 21)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation Actress
Years active 1917–1920

Early life

Clarine Seymour was born to Albert V. and Florence Seymour in Brooklyn, New York,[1] where her father ran a prosperous ribbon manufacturing business.[2] Seymour's only sibling was her brother, Harry, who was born in 1916. By the time she was eighteen years of age, the family relocated to New Rochelle, New York,[2] where her father became so ill that he had no choice but to close his successful business.[2] In an effort to preserve the Seymour family fortune, she secured work through the Thanhouser Film Company, which was located in New Rochelle.[2] As a result of her work through that company, she obtained work through Pathé in a Pearl White serial.[2]

Career

In 1917 she began her film career in Mystery of the Double Cross opposite actress Mollie King.[2] Soon Pathé offered her work at film studios in the West Coast and Seymour gladly accepted.[2] She was soon doing work in the Toto the Clown film serials for the Robin Company and in time she was also doing comedic sketches with Al Christie Comedies.[2] Soon, however, she no longer enjoyed her serial work and desperately wanted to branch out into meatier roles.[2]

In 1918 she meet film director D.W. Griffith and soon took a screen test for him.[2] Her first real one was in The Girl Who Stayed at Home (1919)[2] Although the film may not have opened to rave reviews, Seymour's performance did,[2] and in time interest began to grow in her. Soon she found herself doing a film entitled True Heart Susie (1919) opposite Lillian Gish and Robert Harron. After that she had another role in Scarlet Days (1919) opposite Richard Barthelmess and Carol Dempster and the film was directed by Griffith, the man who discovered her.[2]

Death

In 1920 Seymour cemented her fame in The Idol Dancer and the public was beginning to fall in love with her. Shortly after that film's release she signed a four year contract[2] and went on to star in Way Down East (1920). However, half way through production Seymour died from an intestinal ailment following an operation at Misericordia Hospital in New York City[3] at the age of 21. Mary Hay took over her role, and the film was a box office success.

Seymour was buried in Greenwood Union Cemetery in Rye, New York[3] in the section known as Hedgemont Acre. She is interred in an unmarked grave that is adjacent to the marked graves of Albert and Florence Seymour.

Sources

  1. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0786810/
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 http://www.silentsaregolden.com/photos2/clainreseymourphoto.html
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=20983
  • 1900 United States Federal Census, Brooklyn, Ward 24, Kings, New York; Roll T623_1062; Page: 13A; Enumeration District: 429.
  • 1910 United States Federal Census, Brooklyn Ward 24, Kings, New York; Roll T624_975; Page: 14A; Enumeration District: 655; Image: 655.
  • 1920 United States Federal Census,New Rochelle Ward 3, Westchester, New York; Roll T625_1278; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 131; Image: 328.

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