Eleanor Boardman

Eleanor Boardman
Eleanor Boardman in 1924
Born (1898-08-19)August 19, 1898
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died December 12, 1991(1991-12-12) (aged 93)
Santa Barbara, California, U.S.
Occupation Actress
Years active 1922–1935
Spouse(s)
King Vidor
(m. 1926; div. 1931)

Harry d'Abbadie d'Arrast
(m. 1940; d. 1968)

Eleanor Boardman (August 19, 1898 – December 12, 1991) was an American film actress of the silent era, married to film director King Vidor.

Arnold Genthe's 1918 portrait of Eleanor Boardman recreates the "Rokeby Venus"
Eleanor Boardman in 1929

Early life and career

Born in Philadelphia, Boardman was originally on stage; but after temporarily losing her voice in 1922, she entered silent films. There followed months of fruitless effort until one day Rupert Hughes saw her riding a horse and gave her a part in a film, and she quickly began to attract audiences. She was chosen by Goldwyn Pictures as their "New Face of 1922," through which she signed a contract with the company. After several successful supporting roles, she played the lead in Souls for Sale in 1923. That same year, Boardman's growing popularity was reflected by her inclusion on the list of WAMPAS Baby Stars.

She appeared in more than 30 films during her career, achieving her greatest success in director King Vidor's The Crowd (1928). Her performance in that film is widely recognized as one of the outstanding performances in American silent films. In 1932, after some success in sound films, she parted ways with MGM. Her final film was The Three Cornered Hat, which was made in Spain in 1935. After that production, she retired from acting and retreated from Hollywood. Her only subsequent appearance was in an interview filmed for Kevin Brownlow and David Gill's British documentary series Hollywood (1980).

Personal life

Boardman was married to the film director King Vidor, with whom she had two daughters, Antonia (1927-2012) and Belinda (born 1930). Their marriage lasted from 1926 until 1931. Fellow actors John Gilbert and Greta Garbo had planned a double wedding with them, but Garbo broke off the plans at the last minute.

Boardman's second husband was Harry d'Abbadie d'Arrast to whom she was married from 1940. She divided her time between the United States and their chateau in the Pyrenees Mountains. After her husband's death in 1968, she permanently relocated back to the United States, where she settled into Montecito, California, living in a house she designed herself.

Death

Boardman died in her sleep at her Santa Barbara home on December 12, 1991, at the age of 93. Her ashes were scattered in Santa Barbara near her home.

For her contributions to the film industry, Boardman has a motion pictures star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Her star is located at 6928 Hollywood Boulevard.[1]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1922 The Strangers' Banquet Jean McPherson
1923 Gimme Clothilde Kingsley
Vanity Fair Amelia Sedley
Souls for Sale Miss Remember Steddon
Three Wise Fools Rena Fairchild / Sydney Fairfield
The Day of Faith Jane Maynard
1924 True As Steel Ethel Parry
Wine of Youth Mary Hollister
Sinners in Silk Penelope Stevens
The Turmoil Mary Vertrees
The Silent Accuser Barbara Jane
So This Is Marriage? Beth Marsh
The Wife of the Centaur Joan Converse
1925 The Way of a Girl Rosamond
Proud Flesh Fernanda
The Circle Elizabeth Cheney
Exchange of Wives Margaret Rathburn
The Only Thing Thyra, Princess of Svendborg
The Auction Block Lorelei Knight
1926 Memory Lane Mary
Bardelys the Magnificent Roxalanne de Lavedan
Tell It to the Marines Nurse Norma Dale
1928 The Crowd Mary
Diamond Handcuffs Tillie
1929 She Goes to War Joan
1930 Mamba Helen von Linden
Redemption Lisa
1931 The Great Meadow Diony Hall
The Flood Joan Marshall
Women Love Once Helen Fields
The Squaw Man Lady Diana Kerhill
1935 The Three Cornered Hat The Miller's Wife

References

  1. ↑ Hollywood Walk of Fame - Eleanor Boardman
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