Silent Film Tragedies

[Wisconsin Mark]

Bernard Durning (1893-1923), director, died of typhoid, it says on Wikipedia, although I recall seeing something else elsewhere (in William Wellman's memoirs?).

Florence Lawrence (1886-1938), suicide.

Billie Ritchie (1878-1921) really was kicked in the stomach by an ostrich while working on one of Pathe Lehrman's comedies (it was in a trade paper before he died). I believe I saw a later trade paper entry attributing his death to another cause.

Frank Urson (1887-1928) drowned after directing CHICAGO.

The ostrich kick may be the most unusual precipitating cause of death amongst all these cases! Apparently, Ritchie succumbed two years later to complications from the considerable internal injuries caused by the kick.

[Frederica]

Suicides are definitely under-reported, for a variety of reasons, among them the difficulty in determining the facts of the situation - was a overdose accidental or intentional, for example. Vehicular suicides without suicide notes are hard to prove, but I suspect quite common.

Euphemisms are common in reporting deaths generally. I wonder a little about the frequent appearance of "pneumonia" in these lists. Even if the description is accurate, there can be so much behind pneumonia. I imagine there are plenty of cases of untreated progressive venereal disease in these lists, but that would never have been given as the cause of death at that time.

I'm not trying to be awkward here, but I have a weird interest in mortality statistics (is there a public health gene? I may have it). The euphemisms are why you should not rely on news reportage to determine cause of death, you should get the death cert. Also, I have a death certificate where the cause of death is given as syphilis, although they used the Victorian wording of "exhaustion;" venereal disease was certainly reported, it was a major cause of infant mortality. The likelihood of mis-reporting on a death cert diminishes over time--laws became more stringent regarding both determining cause of death and reporting it, and physicians became more compliant with regulations...and not just because of the laws, but because they recognized the importance of accurate reporting for public health purposes. Again, no awkwardness intended, but the data on mortality is voluminous and it's not all that hard to find. The CDC has death stats dating back to around the 1900s and they're available online, there is abundant medical and public health reporting on causes of death (again, much of it available online). There's always a margin of error because of erroneous diagnostics/reporting, but statistically speaking that's not significant. Pneumonia/ tuberculosis/sepsis were huge killers before antibiotics and venereal diseases were rampant. You don't have to guess at this stuff.

And now, I'm off to re-peruse my dog-eared copy of A Statistical Survey of Three Thousand Autopsies From the Department of Pathology at the Stanford University Medical School, Stanford University Press, 1926. Yes, I do read stuff like this for fun.

[Frederica]

The ostrich kick may be the most unusual precipitating cause of death amongst all these cases! Apparently, Ritchie succumbed two years later to complications from the considerable internal injuries caused by the kick.

And it's also inaccurate. Ritchie died of stomach cancer--that's not only listed on his death cert, but his gr-niece told me that it had always been known in the family that he'd died of cancer. Again (and I cannot repeat this enough) that's why you shouldn't rely on news reportage for this kind of information.

[Wisconsin Mark]

If you read thru issue after issue of Variety, as I have, issue after issue is full of notices about extras or bit players attempting or succeeding in committing suicide.

Bernard Durning was married to Shirley Mason. Sticking to the Flugrath sisters, Shirley's sister Viola Dana was married to director John Collins (1889-1918) at the time of his death in the flu epidemic that year.

A couple of years later she was seeing aviator-turned-film-star Ormer Lockyear (1891-1920) when his plane crashed during a stunt. (She discusses this in the Brownlow series "Hollywood").

Also -- I haven't checked to see if it's already been listed, but the death of at least one film star, Harold Lockwood (1887-1918), is also attributed to the flu pandemic.

The footage of Locklear's crash is supposed to have been incorporated into the now-lost feature, The Skywayman (1920). That seems macabre, but all the reference sources I've seen agree on it. Apparently the stunt was originally intended for a serial which was canceled following Locklear's death, and the existing film was re-fashioned into the feature. Talk about making sure not to lose your investment!

I've got Lockwood and several other Spanish flu deaths - True Boardman, William Courtleigh, Jr., Vera Kholodnaya.

[Wisconsin Mark]

Suicides are definitely under-reported, for a variety of reasons, among them the difficulty in determining the facts of the situation - was a overdose accidental or intentional, for example. Vehicular suicides without suicide notes are hard to prove, but I suspect quite common.

Euphemisms are common in reporting deaths generally. I wonder a little about the frequent appearance of "pneumonia" in these lists. Even if the description is accurate, there can be so much behind pneumonia. I imagine there are plenty of cases of untreated progressive venereal disease in these lists, but that would never have been given as the cause of death at that time.

I'm not trying to be awkward here, but I have a weird interest in mortality statistics (is there a public health gene? I may have it). The euphemisms are why you should not rely on news reportage to determine cause of death, you should get the death cert. Also, I have a death certificate where the cause of death is given as syphilis, although they used the Victorian wording of "exhaustion;" venereal disease was certainly reported, it was a major cause of infant mortality. The likelihood of mis-reporting on a death cert diminishes over time--laws became more stringent regarding both determining cause of death and reporting it, and physicians became more compliant with regulations...and not just because of the laws, but because they recognized the importance of accurate reporting for public health purposes. Again, no awkwardness intended, but the data on mortality is voluminous and it's not all that hard to find. The CDC has death stats dating back to around the 1900s and they're available online, there is abundant medical and public health reporting on causes of death (again, much of it available online). There's always a margin of error because of erroneous diagnostics/reporting, but statistically speaking that's not significant. Pneumonia/ tuberculosis/sepsis were huge killers before antibiotics and venereal diseases were rampant. You don't have to guess at this stuff.

And now, I'm off to re-peruse my dog-eared copy of A Statistical Survey of Three Thousand Autopsies From the Department of Pathology at the Stanford University Medical School, Stanford University Press, 1926. Yes, I do read stuff like this for fun.

I get it, you are the fountain of all knowledge.

What can you say about people who, instead of wanting to be generous with their knowledge, use it to score points and underline their own superiority? In case this has not been clear, I've been having some fun with this list, which is IN NO WAY intended as a scholarly effort. I truly appreciate input and even corrections, but not in a haughty tone, thank you. These are my first posts in this group, inevitably a kind of a test run, and I will have to consider whether I want to continue to participate in it. But I will try to proceed on the assumption that friendliness is the norm here, unfriendliness the exception.

[ejonestexas]

Not sure if you listed

Karl Dane - was a major star of silents and worked for MGM. Yes he did own a hot dog stand, no he didn't operate it in front of the MGM gates. That was a Kenneth Anger invention.

Days before his death Dane was returning to his apartment when he was pick-pocketed of all the money he had in the world: $18. On the eve of April 14th, 1934 Dane's friend (and possible girlfriend though the evidence is sketchy) Frances Leake arrived at his apartment to take him to a movie, hoping to lift his spirits. Unable to enter she had the landlady open the door. The duo discovered Dane slumped in his chair, a revolver at his side. He had left a note by a scrapbook of his publicity clippings, "To Frances and all my friends---Goodbye." He was 47.

Dane's body was held hoping his relatives could be found in Denmark. The Danish community of Hollywood was livid and insisted he be given a proper and dignified burial. At their urging MGM paid for a funeral. Dane was buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

[Wisconsin Mark]

Not sure if you listed

Karl Dane - was a major star of silents and worked for MGM. Yes he did own a hot dog stand, no he didn't operate it in front of the MGM gates. That was a Kenneth Anger invention.

Days before his death Dane was returning to his apartment when he was pick-pocketed of all the money he had in the world: $18. On the eve of April 14th, 1934 Dane's friend (and possible girlfriend though the evidence is sketchy) Frances Leake arrived at his apartment to take him to a movie, hoping to lift his spirits. Unable to enter she had the landlady open the door. The duo discovered Dane slumped in his chair, a revolver at his side. He had left a note by a scrapbook of his publicity clippings, "To Frances and all my friends---Goodbye." He was 47.

Dane's body was held hoping his relatives could be found in Denmark. The Danish community of Hollywood was livid and insisted he be given a proper and dignified burial. At their urging MGM paid for a funeral. Dane was buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

Yes, thank you, got that one, and I appreciate the additional information. An updated list is minutes away...

[George O'Brien]

Who knew that OC/Complex with a focus on morbidity could be so much fun!

For the record OP, Murnau's chaufeur was not 14, Mr. Garcia Stevenson was a grown man.
Kenneth Anger was ( or is, is his malignity still with us?) a sick pup who never let respect for the truth stand in the way of his degrading someone.

[Wisconsin Mark]

Who knew that OC/Complex with a focus on morbidity could be so much fun!

For the record OP, Murnau's chaufeur was not 14, Mr. Garcia was a grown man.
Kenneth Anger was ( or is, is his malignity still with us?) a sick pup who never let respect for the truth stand in the way of his degrading someone.

Duly noted. A lot of reference sources give the 14-year-old info. Do you know if the chauffeur survived?

[Dee Deforest]

Wow interesting thread! I have always been quite captivated by the tragedies of early Hollywood .... The days before antibiotics and antidepressants...As a Pharmacist I have always wondered if we had had the treatments for mental illnesses that we have today..would the finished product have been the same?...Great post thanks!

Dee Deforest

[Frederica]

I get it, you are the fountain of all knowledge.

What can you say about people who, instead of wanting to be generous with their knowledge, use it to score points and underline their own superiority? In case this has not been clear, I've been having some fun with this list, which is IN NO WAY intended as a scholarly effort. I truly appreciate input and even corrections, but not in a haughty tone, thank you. These are my first posts in this group, inevitably a kind of a test run, and I will have to consider whether I want to continue to participate in it. But I will try to proceed on the assumption that friendliness is the norm here, unfriendliness the exception.

*Sigh.* I was not intending to be "haughty" or to "score points." I assumed you'd want your list to be as accurate as possible, and I also assumed you might want to go look at some of the available information. I find it an interesting subject, but I've also learned that you can't rely on the usual suspects for accuracy. Carry on.

[Wisconsin Mark]

Wow interesting thread! I have always been quite captivated by the tragedies of early Hollywood .... The days before antibiotics and antidepressants...As a Pharmacist I have always wondered if we had had the treatments for mental illnesses that we have today..would the finished product have been the same?...Great post thanks!

Dee Deforest

My unscientific feeling is that an awful lot of these deaths would NOT occur today, because of advances in medicine for both physical and mental conditions, as well as improvements in automotive and aviational technology. Which is not to say that a fair number of entertainers still don't seem to find ways to pass on, prescription drug abuse being the latest much-discussed danger.

My impression has always been, too, that rich people in general take more risks, in part because they can afford to pursue various adrenalin-pumping excitements, and maybe in part because their wealth makes them feel more impregnable to danger. Just a hunch.

[Wisconsin Mark]

Here is the latest updated list, far more detailed, not that that will be enough to satisfy some people.

Directors

Yevgeni Bauer (1865-1917) – Complications from broken leg; pneumonia.
Paul Bern (1889-1932) – Suicide (gunshot). Mother was also a suicide (drowning).
Francis Boggs (1870-1911) – Murder (gunshot). Killed by Selig studio employee, Frank Minnimatsu, who “went postal”; studio head William Nicholas Selig was also wounded in attack.
John H. Collins (1889-1918) – Spanish flu.
Alan Crosland (1894-1936) – Car crash.
Bernard Durning (1893-1923) – Typhoid fever.
Louis Feuillade (1873-1925) – Peritonitis.
Thomas Ince (1882-1924) – Cause of death disputed; officially, heart attack (possibly related to overwork); rumors of murder.
F. Richard Jones (1893-1930) – Tuberculosis.
Paul Leni (1885-1929) – Blood poisoning from infected mosquito bite.
Willard Louis (1882-1926) – Typhoid fever, pneumonia.
F.W. Murnau (1888-1931) – Car crash (caused by chauffeur).
Lynn Reynolds (1899-1927) – Suicide (gunshot).
Albert Russell (1890-1929) – Pneumonia; died two weeks after brother William Russell, also a victim of pneumonia.
Lowell Sherman (1885-1934) – Pneumonia.
William Desmond Taylor (1872-1922) – Murder (gunshot). Unsolved.
Frank Urson (1887-1928) – Accidental drowning.
John Griffith Wray (1896-1929) – Complications from appendectomy.

Actors

Art Acord (1890-1931) – Suicide (poison).
Renee Adoree (1898-1933) – Tuberculosis.
Fatty Arbuckle (1887-1933) – Heart attack.
Marion Aye (1903-1951) – Suicide (poison).
Agnes Ayres (1898-1940) – Mental illness, cerebral hemorrhage.
Florence Barker (1891-1913) – Pneumonia.
Anita Berber (1899-1928) – Tuberculosis, following on alcoholism and drug addiction.
Vedah Bertram (1891-1912) – Appendicitis.
Francelia Billington (1895-1934) – Tuberculosis.
True Boardman (1882-1918) – Spanish flu.
Elmer Booth (1882-1915) – Car crash (caused by driver Tod Browning, who crashed car at full speed into a moving train).
Olive Borden (1906-1947) – Pneumonia.
John Bowers (1885-1936) – Suicide (drowning).
Sylvia Breamer (1897-1943) – Cause of death not listed in reference sources.
Gladys Brockwell (1894-1929) – Car crash.
Eric Campbell (1879-1917) – Car crash.
June Caprice (1895-1936) – Cancer, heart attack.
Frank Carter (1889-1920) – Car crash.
Helene Chadwick (1897-1940) – Injuries from fall, reportedly exacerbated by her “highly nervous state.”
Lon Chaney (1883-1930) – Lung cancer.
Rex Cherryman (1896-1928) – Septic poisoning.
Lew Cody (1884-1934) – Heart disease.
Bobby Connelly (1909-1922) – Endocarditis, bronchitis.
Virginia Lee Corbin (1910-1942) – Tuberculosis.
William Courtleigh, Jr. (1892-1918) – Spanish flu.
Ward Crane (1890-1928) – Pneumonia.
Lester Cuneo (1888-1925) – Suicide (gunshot).
Karl Dane (1886-1934) – Suicide (gunshot).
Lya De Putti (1897-1931) – Pneumonia following accidental ingestion of chicken bone.
Florence Deshon (1893-1922) – Poisoning from gas jet; possible suicide.
Gaby Deslys (1881-1920) – Complications from influenza-related throat infection.
Patterson Dial (1902-1945) – Barbiturate overdose, disputed as to whether accidental or suicidal.
Jenny Dolly (1892-1941) – Suicide (hanging).
Lucille McVey Drew (1890-1925) – Died “after a lingering illness.”
Jeanne Eagels (1890-1929) – Drug overdose.
B. Reeves Eason, Jr. (1914-1921) – Hit by truck.
Mary Eaton (1901-1948) – Cirrhosis.
Diane Ellis (1909-1930) – Infection while traveling in India.
Frank Farrington (1873-1924) – Choked to death.
Casson Ferguson (1891-1929) – Pneumonia.
Vladmir Fogel (1902-1929) – Suicide (gunshot).
Tom Forman (1895-1926) – Suicide (gunshot).
John Gilbert (1899-1936) – Heart attack.
Myrtle Gonzalez (1891-1918) – Spanish flu.
Fred Goodwins (1891-1923) – Bronchitis.
Joseph Graybill (1887-1913) – Cause of death variously given; possibly spinal meningitis.
James Hall (1900-1940) – Cirrhosis.
Lillian Hall-Davis (1898-1933) – Suicide (gas).
Einar Hanson (1899-1927) – Car crash.
Mildred Harris (1901-1944) – Pneumonia following abdominal operation.
John Harron (1903-1939) – Spinal meningitis.
Robert Harron (1893-1920) – Gunshot, disputed as to whether accidental or suicidal.
Ullrich Haupt, Sr. (1887-1931) – Hunting accident.
Walter Hiers (1893-1933) – Pneumonia.
Thelma Hill (1906-1938) – Alcoholism.
Helen Howard (1899-1927) – Car crash.
Arthur V. Johnson (1876-1916) – Tuberculosis.
Lamar Johnstone (1884-1918) – Heart disease.
Merna Kennedy (1906-1944) – Heart attack.
Vera Kholodnaya (1893-1919) – Spanish flu.
Allyn King (1901-1930) – Suicide (jump).
Florence La Badie (1888-1917) – Car crash.
Barbara La Marr (1896-1926) – Drug addiction and alcoholism.
Dee Lampton (1898-1919) – Appendicitis.
Florence Lawrence (1886-1938) – Suicide (poison).
Pepi Lederer (1910-1935) – Suicide (jump).
Max Linder (1883-1925) – Double suicide with wife (sleeping pills, morphine, cutting of veins).
Ruan Lingyu (1910-1935) – Suicide (barbiturate overdose).
Ormer Locklear (1891-1920) – Plane crash while performing stunt (footage incorporated into 1920 feature The Skywayman).
Harold Lockwood (1887-1918) – Spanish flu.
Jeanette Loff (1906-1942) – Ammonia poisoning, disputed as to whether accidental or suicidal.
Lottie Lyell (1890-1925) – Consumption.
Fred Mace (1878-1917) – Stroke.
Charles Emmett Mack (1900-1927) – Car crash.
Elsie Mackay (1893-1928) – Plane crash at sea; plane never recovered.
Martha Mansfield (1899-1923) – Accidental burning.
Otto Matieson (1893-1932) – Car crash.
Eva May (1902-1924) – Suicide (gunshot).
Marc McDermott (1881-1929) – Cirrhosis.
Paddy McGuire (1884-1923) – Complications from syphilis? Had been institutionalized for insanity two years prior to death.
Sunny Jim McKeen (1924-1933) – Measles, blood poisoning.
Earl Metcalfe (1889-1928) – Fell out of plane.
James Murray (1901-1936) – Drowning (accidental?).
Evelyn Nelson (1899-1923) – Suicide (gas).
Mary Nolan (1902-1948) – Barbiturate overdose, disputed as to whether accidental or suicidal.
Mabel Normand (1892-1930) – Tuberculosis.
Jack Pickford (1896-1933) – Drug addiction, alcoholism, and syphilis.
Lottie Pickford (1895-1936) – Heart attack.
Vitold Polonsky (1879-1919) – Food poisoning.
David Powell (1883-1925) – Pneumonia.
Evelyn Preer (1896-1932) – Pneumonia following childbirth.
Marie Prevost (1898-1937) – Alcoholism.
Valdemar Psilander (1884-1917) – Cause of death disputed; officially, heart attack; possible suicide (prescription drug overdose).
Rae Randall (Sigrun Solvason) (1897-1934) – Suicide (poison).
Virginia Rappe (1891-1921) – Peritonitis.
Marvel Rea (1901-1937) – Suicide (poison), several months after she was kidnapped and gang-raped.
Wallace Reid (1891-1923) – Drug addiction.
Lucille Ricksen (1910-1925) – Tuberculosis.
Billie Ritchie (1878-1921) – Cause of death reported as complications from internal injuries caused by kick in the stomach by ostrich on set; may have been stomach cancer in actuality.
Edith Roberts (1899-1935) – Septicemia following childbirth.
Earle Rodney (1888-1932) – Pneumonia.
Alma Rubens (1897-1931) – Drug addiction.
William Russell (1884-1929) – Pneumonia; brother of director Albert Russell, who also died of pneumonia two weeks later.
Dorothy Seastrom (1903-1930) – Tuberculosis.
Larry Semon (1889-1928) – Pneumonia, tuberculosis.
Clarine Seymour (1898-1920) – Strangulation of the intestines.
George Siegmann (1882-1928) – Pernicious anemia. Had been badly hurt in Tod Browning-Elmer Booth car crash years earlier.
Milton Sills (1882-1930) - Heart attack.
Jack Standing (1886-1917) – Pneumonia.
Emily Stevens (1882-1928) – Pneumonia.
William Stowell (1885-1919) – Train crash.
Lilyan Tashman (1896-1934) – Cancer, complications from surgery.
Lou Tellegen (1881-1952) – Suicide (stabbing hara-kiri style).
Olive Thomas (1894-1920) – Mercury bichloride ingestion; disputed as to whether accident or suicide.
Fred Thomson (1890-1928) – Tetanus.
Mary Thurman (1895-1925) – Pneumonia.
Thelma Todd (1906-1935) – Carbon monoxide poisoning (car in garage); disputed as to whether accident, suicide, or murder.
Hugh Trevor (1903-1933) – Complications from appendectomy.
Norman Trevor (1877-1929) – Brain malady.
Rudolph Valentino (1895-1926) – Peritonitis.
Conrad Veidt (1893-1943) – Heart attack.
Marie Walcamp (1894-1936) – Suicide (prescription drug overdose).
Dorrit Weixler (1892-1916) – Suicide (hanging); suffered from morphine addiction.
Pearl White (1889-1938) – Cirrhosis.
Robert Williams (1894-1931) - Peritonitis following two appendicitis operations.
Helen Lee Worthing (1905-1948) – Suicide (barbiturate overdose).
Valentina Zimina (1899-1928) – Influenza.

[bobfells]

Excellent list WI Mark, if "excellent" is the best term under these morbid circumstances. I noticed a typo for Lou Tellegen, 1934 not 1952. I still have a feeling we're missing a couple of people:

Norman Trevor (1877-1929) "Brain malady." He's over age 40 (52) but was memorable in BEAU GESTE (1926), DANCING MOTHERS (1926), and Frank Capra's part-talkie THE LOVE TRAP (1929).

Marc McDermott (1881-1929) cirrhosis. Age 47, memorable in BLIND HUSBANDS (1919), HE WHO GET SLAPPED (1924), and FLESH AND THE DEVIL (1927).

[Wisconsin Mark]

Excellent list WI Mark, if "excellent" is the best term under these morbid circumstances. I noticed a typo for Lou Tellegen, 1934 not 1952. I still have a feeling we're missing a couple of people:

Norman Trevor (1877-1929) "Brain malady." He's over age 40 (52) but was memorable in BEAU GESTE (1926), DANCING MOTHERS (1926), and Frank Capra's part-talkie THE LOVE TRAP (1929).

Marc McDermott (1881-1929) cirrhosis. Age 47, memorable in BLIND HUSBANDS (1919), HE WHO GET SLAPPED (1924), and FLESH AND THE DEVIL (1927).

Thanks! The Tellegen date was a brain fart - corrected. I'll add these two additional names.

[Changsham]

Legendary Russian Director Yevgeni Bauer died of complications from a broken leg suffered on the set of his last film in 1917. He had only been making his landmark films for a few years.
Vitold Polonsky who frequently co-starred with Vera Kholodnaya died only a few weeks before her of alleged food poisoning in 1919. It has been speculated that Vera Kholodnaya had been poisoned also.

[Wisconsin Mark]

Legendary Russian Director Yevgeni Bauer died of complications from a broken leg suffered on the set of his last film in 1917. He had only been making his landmark films for a few years.
Vitold Polonsky who frequently co-starred with Vera Kholodnaya died only a few weeks after her of alleged food poisoning in 1919.

I forgot Bauer! I saw a program of his films once - he was a great director!

I'll add both of these.

[bobfells]

Wait, there's more!

F. Richard Jones, director (1893-1930) tuberculosis. THE EXTRA GIRL (1923), THE GAUCHO (1927), BULLDOG DRUMMOND (1929).

Alan Crosland, director (1894-1936) road accident. DON JUAN (1926), THE BELOVED ROGUE, THE JAZZ SINGER, WHEN A MAN LOVES (all 1927).

Does Conrad Veidt count (for purposes of this list)? Actor (1893-1943) heart attack. THE CABINET OF DR, CALIGARI (1919), WAXWORKS (1924), THE STUDENT OF PRAGUE (1926), THE HANDS OF ORLAC (1926), THE MAN WHO LAUGHS (1928).

[Danny Burk]

I don't think anyone has mentioned Paul Leni - director of THE MAN WHO LAUGHS, CAT AND THE CANARY, and others - died at 44 from an infected mosquito bite.

[Wisconsin Mark]

I don't think anyone has mentioned Paul Leni - director of THE MAN WHO LAUGHS, CAT AND THE CANARY, and others - died at 44 from an infected mosquito bite.

That will teach me not to scratch mine!

[Wisconsin Mark]

Wait, there's more!

F. Richard Jones, director (1893-1930) tuberculosis. THE EXTRA GIRL (1923), THE GAUCHO (1927), BULLDOG DRUMMOND (1929).

Alan Crosland, director (1894-1936) road accident. DON JUAN (1926), THE BELOVED ROGUE, THE JAZZ SINGER, WHEN A MAN LOVES (all 1927).

Does Conrad Veidt count (for purposes of this list)? Actor (1893-1943) heart attack. THE CABINET OF DR, CALIGARI (1919), WAXWORKS (1924), THE STUDENT OF PRAGUE (1926), THE HANDS OF ORLAC (1926), THE MAN WHO LAUGHS (1928).

All added! Veidt was just 50, I'll count him.

The Wikipedia article on Jones say that tuberculosis "ravaged Los Angeles in the early 1930s," which certainly looks to have been the case.

[Mike Gebert]

Speaking of Capra performers, there's also Robert Williams, who died of peritonitis right after the premiere of Platinum Blonde in 1931 and is, to me, a leading candidate for "would have been a major star from that era if he had lived as long as, say, Ronald Colman."

[FrankFay]

Vladimir Fogel (1902-1929) popular Russian film star who took his own life at 26 in a fit of depression.

I consider the death of Milton Sills a tragedy. At 48 he was younger than he appeared and was at the peak of his career and had successfully made the transition to sound films.

[Wisconsin Mark]

Speaking of Capra performers, there's also Robert Williams, who died of peritonitis right after the premiere of Platinum Blonde in 1931 and is, to me, a leading candidate for "would have been a major star from that era if he had lived as long as, say, Ronald Colman."

He did some work in silents, so he's in.

[Wisconsin Mark]

Vladimir Fogel (1902-1929) popular Russian film star who took his own life at 26 in a fit of depression.

I consider the death of Milton Sills a tragedy. At 48 he was younger than he appeared and was at the peak of his career and had successfully made the transition to sound films.

Fogel is there. Sills is a good catch.

[David Denton]

Dick Hatton (1888-1931)
Marcel Perez (1885-1929)
Wayland Trask (1887-1918)
Stellan Rye (1880-1914)
Primo Cuttica (played 'Bidoni') 1876-1921
Dan Leno (1860-1904)
Henry Fragson (1869-1913)
Amleto Novelli (1885-1924)
Alan (Albert) Roscoe (1886-1933)
Ralph Yearsley (1896-1928)
Duke Worne (1888-1933)
William Wolbert (1883-1918)
Harry (Hal) Solter (1873-1920)
John Cumpson (1868-1913)
Allen Holubar (1888-1923)
George Field (1877-1925)
Edwin R. Phillips (1872-1915)
William Sherwood (1896-1918)
S. Rankin Drew (1892-1918)

[Changsham]

As an example of what I mean about venereal disease, take the case of Chaplin co-player Paddy McGuire (1884-1923). Syphilis is only a guess, but not an unreasonable one.

http://alt.movies.chaplin.narkive.com/W ... dy-mcguire

Paddy McGuire appears in most of the Chaplin Essanays, perhaps most
memorably as the farmhand Charlie deals with for about half of THE
TRAMP's running time.

I happened to see a copy of his death certificate yesterday. Sadly,
he passed away in late 1923 at a mental institution in Norwalk,
California, where he'd been confined for a couple of years. The
official cause of death was attributed to insanity, which raises more
questions than it answers.

According to his wife's testimony on the death certificate, his name
was really Paddy McGuire (not "McQuire"), and he was born in Ireland.
He only lived to be 39 years old.

After Essanay, he'd spent a year or so working in Ben Turpin
comedies at Vogue, and then joned Sennett for another year or so of
steady work. (He left Vogue for Sennett at just about the same time
Turpin did, come to think of it.) His film credits for 1919 are few,
and there's just one that I know of for 1920, so it's very possible
that the condition that ultimately killed him was underway by late
1918. Of course, insanity isn't a terminal illness, but it's hard to
say what the underlying problem was. (Syphilis?)

I worked for a brief period many years ago at what used to be called an "Insane asylum". A large proportion perhaps a majority of the older inmates were said to be syphillis sufferers. Many were labled as ex prostitutes or sailors as well as a mix of the rest of society.

[JFK]

Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins (1925-1945)
was a pilot in a mid-air collision

[poul]

I get it, you are the fountain of all knowledge.

What can you say about people who, instead of wanting to be generous with their knowledge, use it to score points and underline their own superiority? In case this has not been clear, I've been having some fun with this list, which is IN NO WAY intended as a scholarly effort. I truly appreciate input and even corrections, but not in a haughty tone, thank you. These are my first posts in this group, inevitably a kind of a test run, and I will have to consider whether I want to continue to participate in it. But I will try to proceed on the assumption that friendliness is the norm here, unfriendliness the exception.

*Sigh.* I was not intending to be "haughty" or to "score points." I assumed you'd want your list to be as accurate as possible, and I also assumed you might want to go look at some of the available information. I find it an interesting subject, but I've also learned that you can't rely on the usual suspects for accuracy. Carry on.

My Money is on Frederica!

Can´t wait till next week when Wismark will start a list of editors who died in child birth, camera men who snuffed it during sex-related mishaps, child stars who fell down a well, stunt men who perished whilst attaching bate on a fishing hook, wardrobe ladies who succumbed to bear-mauling, producers who died in their sleep, lighting crews that turned to cinders by spontaneous combustion, horses that were put to sleep because of venereal diseases, studio publishers who couldn´t hack it any longer, Rin Tin Tin look-a-likes with a broken heart, Disney characters who dried up during an ink shortage, alcoholic comedians pining for a drink of water and finally on-screen cinema-goers that were brutally killed by hatched-packing ushers.

Best, Poul

PS!
Here´s a fat bone to chew on:
The Worlds first female film aviator and general dare-devil in first Danish silents, later German and Italian.
Her name was Emilie Sannom (1886-1931). She plunged to her death (intentionally?) when her parachute didn´t open.

[Wisconsin Mark]

My Money is on Frederica!

Can´t wait till next week when Wismark will start a list of editors who died in child birth, camera men who snuffed it during sex-related mishaps, child stars who fell down a well, stunt men who perished whilst attaching bate on a fishing hook, wardrobe ladies who succumbed to bear-mauling, producers who died in their sleep, lighting crews that turned to cinders by spontaneous combustion, horses that were put to sleep because of venereal diseases, studio publishers who couldn´t hack it any longer, Rin Tin Tin look-a-likes with a broken heart, Disney characters who dried up during an ink shortage, alcoholic comedians pining for a drink of water and finally on-screen cinema-goers that were brutally killed by hatched-packing ushers.

Best, Poul

PS!
Here´s a fat bone to chew on:
The Worlds first female film aviator and general dare-devil in first Danish silents, later German and Italian.
Her name was Emilie Sannom (1886-1931). She plunged to her death (intentionally?) when her parachute didn´t open.

Confirm the welcoming attitude, why don 't you? Sheesh.