Edythe Chapman
Encyclopedia
Edythe Chapman was an American stage and silent film
actress from Rochester, New York
. As early as 1898 she appeared in New York, New York in the Charity Ball. Edythe performed at the Shubert Theater in Brooklyn, New York in a production of The Light Eternal in 1907. The play was a romantic drama of early Rome which was supported by a cast of approximately 100 people.
Mrs. Chapman played maternal roles in numerous silent motion pictures and became known in the 1920s as Hollywood's Mother.
She played Ma Jones in the film version of Lightnin'
(1925), a screen production which featured Will Rogers
. Edythe was Grandmother Janeway in Man Crazy (1927). The film starred Dorothy Mackaill
and Jack Mulhall
. Chapman was praised by reviewers for her performance.
Miss Chapman came to Hollywood around 1909 with her husband, screen and stage actor, James Neill
. The couple met in Cincinnati, Ohio
when Miss Chapman was working in Mr. Neill's stock company. They were married in 1897. The two began making movies with Cecil B. Demille
and other noteworthy directors and producers. They had leading roles in The Ten Commandments
(1923), The King of Kings (1927), Manslaughter (1922), The Little American, and other silent motion pictures. Mr. Neill died in 1931.
The final movie in which Edythe appeared was Double Crossroads in 1930. Prior to this, she had a large role in Navy Blues
(1929).
Edythe Chapman Neill died in Glendale, California
in 1948 after a brief illness and was interred at the Bonaventure Cemetery
in Savannah, Georgia
, USA. She was 85 years old.
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
actress from Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
. As early as 1898 she appeared in New York, New York in the Charity Ball. Edythe performed at the Shubert Theater in Brooklyn, New York in a production of The Light Eternal in 1907. The play was a romantic drama of early Rome which was supported by a cast of approximately 100 people.
Mrs. Chapman played maternal roles in numerous silent motion pictures and became known in the 1920s as Hollywood's Mother.
She played Ma Jones in the film version of Lightnin'
Lightnin'
Lightnin' is a 1925 comedy film directed by John Ford. It was based on a successful play that played 1,291 performances starting in 1918 at the Gaiety Theatre...
(1925), a screen production which featured Will Rogers
Will Rogers
William "Will" Penn Adair Rogers was an American cowboy, comedian, humorist, social commentator, vaudeville performer, film actor, and one of the world's best-known celebrities in the 1920s and 1930s....
. Edythe was Grandmother Janeway in Man Crazy (1927). The film starred Dorothy Mackaill
Dorothy Mackaill
Dorothy Mackaill was an English-born American actress, most notably of the silent film era and into the early 1930s.-Early life:...
and Jack Mulhall
Jack Mulhall
Jack Mulhall, born John Joseph Francis Mulhall, was a film actor since the silent film era and appeared in over 430 films....
. Chapman was praised by reviewers for her performance.
Miss Chapman came to Hollywood around 1909 with her husband, screen and stage actor, James Neill
James Neill
James Neill was an American actor of the silent era. He appeared in 113 films between 1913 and 1930. He was buried in Savannah's Bonaventure Cemetery. His wife, and frequent costar on stage and screen, was Edythe Chapman. In 1902 the couple starred on Broadway in the play The Red Knight...
. The couple met in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
when Miss Chapman was working in Mr. Neill's stock company. They were married in 1897. The two began making movies with Cecil B. Demille
Cecil B. DeMille
Cecil Blount DeMille was an American film director and Academy Award-winning film producer in both silent and sound films. He was renowned for the flamboyance and showmanship of his movies...
and other noteworthy directors and producers. They had leading roles in The Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments (1923 film)
The Ten Commandments is a 1923 American epic silent film directed by Cecil B. DeMille, starring Theodore Roberts as Moses, Charles de Rochefort as Pharaoh Ramesses, Estelle Taylor as Miriam the sister of Moses, and James Neill as Aaron, the brother of Moses...
(1923), The King of Kings (1927), Manslaughter (1922), The Little American, and other silent motion pictures. Mr. Neill died in 1931.
The final movie in which Edythe appeared was Double Crossroads in 1930. Prior to this, she had a large role in Navy Blues
Navy Blues (1929 film)
Navy Blues is a 1929 romance film starring William Haines as a sailor and Anita Page as the girl he romances and leaves. This was Haines' first talking picture.-Cast:*William Haines as Jack Kelly*Anita Page as Alice Brown* Karl Dane as Sven Swanson...
(1929).
Edythe Chapman Neill died in Glendale, California
Glendale, California
Glendale is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the city population is 191,719, down from 194,973 at the 2000 census. making it the third largest city in Los Angeles County and the 22nd largest city in the state of California...
in 1948 after a brief illness and was interred at the Bonaventure Cemetery
Bonaventure Cemetery
Bonaventure Cemetery is a public cemetery located on a scenic bluff of the Wilmington River, east of Savannah, Georgia. The cemetery became famous when it was featured in the 1994 novel Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt, and in the movie, directed by Clint Eastwood, based on...
in Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
, USA. She was 85 years old.