Violet Wilkey
Encyclopedia
Violet Wilkey was an American child actor
who appeared in films over a four year period during the early silent film
era.
Violet Wilkey was born in St. Louis, Missouri
to an English
father named Arthur Wilkey and an American
mother named Anna Dora (Winter) Wilkey. Violet made her motion picture debut at age ten in a 1913 dramatic short entitled The Little Mother opposite actress Ruth Stonehouse
. Her follow up film would be 1914 release The Old Maid opposite such popular stars of the era as Blanche Sweet, Spottiswoode Aitken
, Mary Alden
and Jack Conway.
She is possibly best recalled today for her appearance as 'young Flora' in director D.W. Griffith's controversial 1915 classic The Birth of a Nation
. Wilkey portrayed the character 'Flora Cameron' as a child in flashback scenes; the character of 'Flora' as an adult in the film was portrayed by actress Mae Marsh
.
Wilkey spent the next few years in relatively minor roles; including one of actor/director Tod Browning
's early efforts The Burned Hand
from 1915. Other notable films of the period were the Lloyd Ingraham directed and Anita Loos
penned drama The Children Pay
(1916), opposite Lillian Gish
and Alma Rubens
and the 1917 drama Cheerful Givers opposite Bessie Love
, Spottiswoode Aitken, Kenneth Harlan
and Pauline Starke
.
Wilkey's final film performance was the role of 'Minnie Smellie' in the 1917 comedy-drama Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm
. The film was directed by Marshall Neilan
and starred Mary Pickford
in the title role.
Wilkey subsequently retired from the screen at the age of fifteen in 1917.
Child actor
The term child actor or child actress is generally applied to a child acting in motion pictures or television, but also to an adult who began his or her acting career as a child; to avoid confusion, the latter is also called a former child actor...
who appeared in films over a four year period during the early silent film
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...
era.
Violet Wilkey was born in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
to an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
father named Arthur Wilkey and an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
mother named Anna Dora (Winter) Wilkey. Violet made her motion picture debut at age ten in a 1913 dramatic short entitled The Little Mother opposite actress Ruth Stonehouse
Ruth Stonehouse
Ruth Stonehouse was an actress and film director during the silent film era.-Early life and career:Ruth Stonehouse was born to James Wesley Stonehouse and Georgia C. Worster on September 28, 1892 in Denver, Colorado...
. Her follow up film would be 1914 release The Old Maid opposite such popular stars of the era as Blanche Sweet, Spottiswoode Aitken
Spottiswoode Aitken
Frank Spottiswoode Aitken was a Scottish- American actor of the silent era.Aitken was one of the first actors to settle in Los Angeles when the film industry was still at its strongest in New York...
, Mary Alden
Mary Alden
Mary Maguire Alden was an American motion picture and stage actress. She was one of the first Broadway actresses to work in Hollywood.-Career:Born in New York City, Alden began her career on the Broadway stage...
and Jack Conway.
She is possibly best recalled today for her appearance as 'young Flora' in director D.W. Griffith's controversial 1915 classic The Birth of a Nation
The Birth of a Nation
The Birth of a Nation is a 1915 American silent film directed by D. W. Griffith and based on the novel and play The Clansman, both by Thomas Dixon, Jr. Griffith also co-wrote the screenplay , and co-produced the film . It was released on February 8, 1915...
. Wilkey portrayed the character 'Flora Cameron' as a child in flashback scenes; the character of 'Flora' as an adult in the film was portrayed by actress Mae Marsh
Mae Marsh
Mae Marsh was an American film actress with a career spanning over 50 years.-Early life:...
.
Wilkey spent the next few years in relatively minor roles; including one of actor/director Tod Browning
Tod Browning
Tod Browning was an American motion picture actor, director and screenwriter.Browning's career spanned the silent and talkie eras...
's early efforts The Burned Hand
The Burned Hand
The Burned Hand is a 1915 short drama film directed by Tod Browning.-Cast:* Miriam Cooper - Marietta* Cora Drew - Marietta's mother* William Hinckley - Billy Rider* Jack Hull* William Lowery - Marietta's father* F. A. Turner...
from 1915. Other notable films of the period were the Lloyd Ingraham directed and Anita Loos
Anita Loos
Anita Loos was an American screenwriter, playwright and author.-Early life:Born Corinne Anita Loos in Sisson, California , where her father, R. Beers Loos, had opened a tabloid newspaper for which her mother, Minerva "Minnie" Smith did most of the work of a newspaper publisher...
penned drama The Children Pay
The Children Pay
The Children Pay is a 1916 drama film directed by Lloyd Ingraham and starring Lillian Gish.-Cast:* Lillian Gish - Millicent* Violet Wilkey - Jean, her sister* Keith Armour - Horace Craig* Ralph Lewis - Theodore Ainsley, the girls' father...
(1916), opposite Lillian Gish
Lillian Gish
Lillian Diana Gish was an American stage, screen and television actress whose film acting career spanned 75 years, from 1912 to 1987....
and Alma Rubens
Alma Rubens
Alma Rubens was an American silent film actress and stage performer.-Early life:Born to John B. and Theresa Hayes Rueben in San Francisco, California, she performed since youth and became a star at the age of 19. She was educated at the Sacred Heart Convent in San Francisco...
and the 1917 drama Cheerful Givers opposite Bessie Love
Bessie Love
Bessie Love was an American motion picture actress who achieved prominence mainly in the silent films and early talkies. With a small frame and delicate features, she played innocent young girls, flappers, and wholesome leading ladies. Her role in The Broadway Melody earned her a nomination for...
, Spottiswoode Aitken, Kenneth Harlan
Kenneth Harlan
Kenneth Harlan was an American leading man of the silent film era, playing mostly romantic leads or adventurer types.-Career:...
and Pauline Starke
Pauline Starke
Pauline Starke was an American silent-film actress born in Joplin, Missouri.She made her acting debut appearing as a dance extra in D.W. Griffith's film Intolerance...
.
Wilkey's final film performance was the role of 'Minnie Smellie' in the 1917 comedy-drama Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1917 film)
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm is a 1917 silent comedy-drama film directed by Marshall Neilan based upon the novel of the same name by Kate Douglas Wiggin. This version is notable for having been adapted by famed female screenwriter Frances Marion...
. The film was directed by Marshall Neilan
Marshall Neilan
Marshall Ambrose Neilan was an American motion picture actor, screenwriter, film director, and producer.-Early life:...
and starred Mary Pickford
Mary Pickford
Mary Pickford was a Canadian-born motion picture actress, co-founder of the film studio United Artists and one of the original 36 founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
in the title role.
Wilkey subsequently retired from the screen at the age of fifteen in 1917.
Later life
Wilkey married Russell Gilbert Kauffmann on January 27, 1927 and the couple had two children, Robert Russell and Patricia. The marriage ended in divorce.Filmography
- The Little Mother (1913)
- The Old Maid (1914)
- The Birth of a NationThe Birth of a NationThe Birth of a Nation is a 1915 American silent film directed by D. W. Griffith and based on the novel and play The Clansman, both by Thomas Dixon, Jr. Griffith also co-wrote the screenplay , and co-produced the film . It was released on February 8, 1915...
(1915) - The Little Mother (1915)
- Mike's Elopement (1915)
- Hearts United (1915)
- The Burned HandThe Burned HandThe Burned Hand is a 1915 short drama film directed by Tod Browning.-Cast:* Miriam Cooper - Marietta* Cora Drew - Marietta's mother* William Hinckley - Billy Rider* Jack Hull* William Lowery - Marietta's father* F. A. Turner...
(1915) - A Bad Man and Others (1915)
- The Healers (1915)
- Her Fairy Prince (1915)
- The Little Orphans (1915)
- The Wayward Son (1915)
- Little Miss Nobody (1916)
- The Children PayThe Children PayThe Children Pay is a 1916 drama film directed by Lloyd Ingraham and starring Lillian Gish.-Cast:* Lillian Gish - Millicent* Violet Wilkey - Jean, her sister* Keith Armour - Horace Craig* Ralph Lewis - Theodore Ainsley, the girls' father...
(1916) - Cheerful Givers (1917)
- Rebecca of Sunnybrook FarmRebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1917 film)Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm is a 1917 silent comedy-drama film directed by Marshall Neilan based upon the novel of the same name by Kate Douglas Wiggin. This version is notable for having been adapted by famed female screenwriter Frances Marion...
(1917)