Claire McDowell
Claire McDowell was an American actress of the silent era. She appeared in 350 films between 1908 and 1945.
Early years
Claire MacDowell was born in New York City on November 2, 1877, the daughter of Eugene A. MacDowell and Fanny Reeves. Her aunt, actress Fanny Davenport, gave her early training in acting. Fanny Davenport's second husband was Eugene's brother Melbourne MacDowell.
Career
When she was 17, she was an understudy in a theatrical company headed by Charles Frohman. Still something of a youthful beauty, McDowell appeared in numerous short, early feature films. She graduated to playing character and mother types. She appeared in Douglas Fairbanks' The Mark of Zorro. McDowell costarred in two of the biggest films of the silent era, The Big Parade and Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, in which she played mothers both times. McDowell's Broadway credits included Herod, To Have and to Hold, and Hearts Are Trumps.
When she was 38, McDowell retired, but later she returned to acting, particularly portraying mothers.
She was married to silent screen character actor Charles Hill Mailes from 1906 until his death in 1937. The couple appeared in numerous silent films together, including The Mark of Zorro. They had two sons, Robert and Eugene. She died in Hollywood, California, on October 23, 1966, ten days before her 89th birthday.
Selected filmography
The Devil – Mrs. Harold ThorntonThe Planter's Wife – Mrs. John HollandA Flash of Light – At First PartyThe Lucky Toothache – A CousinA Mohawk's Way as Indian motherHis Trust – Colonel Frazier's WifeHis Trust Fulfilled – Mrs. FrazierWhat Shall We Do with Our Old? – The Old Carpenter's WifeFisher Folks A Decree of Destiny – A NunThe Spanish Gypsy – PaulaThe Broken Cross – Kate's MotherThe Crooked Road – A NeighborThe Primal Call – The WomanA Country Cupid – The Half-Wit's MotherThe Making of a Man – ActressThe Long Road – Ned's WifeA Woman Scorned – The Doctor's WifeAs in a Looking Glass – The WifeThe School Teacher and the Waif - Huckster's girlfriendUnder Burning Skies – A FriendA Temporary Truce – Mexican Jim's WifeThe Sands of Dee – The Artist's FiancéeTwo Daughters of Eve – The MotherSo Near, yet So Far – Rich Woman in Other TownIn the Aisles of the Wild – The Elder DaughterA Sailor's Heart – The Sailor's Third SweetheartThe New York Hat – First GossipA Cry for Help – The Thief's Wife – the Charity PatientThe God Within – The Woodsman's WifeThe Telephone Girl and the Lady – The LadyA Misappropriated Turkey – Mrs. FallonThe Wrong Bottle – The Blind SisterThe Unwelcome Guest – The WifeA Welcome Intruder – A WidowThe Stolen Bride – The WifeThe Wanderer – The Female LoverThe Tenderfoot's Money – The Prospector's WifeThe Stolen Loaf – The Rich WomanThe House of Darkness – The Doctor's WifeOlaf—An Atom – A ParentThe Ranchero's Revenge – The Schemer's AssociateThe Well – The Farmer's WifeThe Switch Tower – The Switchman's WifeA Gamble with Death – KateThe Enemy's Baby – Miller's WifeA Gambler's Honor – BethThe Mirror – DaisyThe Vengeance of Galora – GaloraUnder the Shadow of the Law – John Haywood's SisterI Was Meant for You – LavinaThe Crook and the Girl – The Uncle's Adopted DaughterThe Strong Man's Burden – Ida Glynn, The NurseThe Stolen Treaty – OlgaThe Law and His Son – Marguerite, Manning's SisterA Tender-Hearted Crook – EdithThe Van Nostrand Tiara – KateThe Stopped Clock – The Antique Dealer's DaughterThe Detective's Stratagem – Kate, the Bank Clerk's SweetheartAll for Science – DetectiveA Nest Unfeathered – KateHer Father's Silent Partner The Cracksman's Gratitude The Heart of a Bandit The Sheriff's Dilemma – MollyThe Miser's Legacy – The Crook's WifeThe Gambler's I.O.U. – Nell – Daddy Wilson's DaughterA Day's Adventure – Hogan's MollThe Canceled Mortgage – The Widowed Mother Truth Stranger Than Fiction – Crook Her Dormant Love – The Discontented WifeThe Way Out – The Young School TeacherHer Convert – The Old Inventor's DaughterOld Offenders – Joe's WifeAs It Happened – The Ranchman's DaughterA Stranger from Somewhere – OlgaMixed Blood – Nita ValyezThe Right to Be Happy – Mrs. CratchitThe White Raven – DaisyThe Gates of Doom – Indore / AgathaThe Bronze Bride – A-Che-CheeThe Clean-Up – Vera VincentThe Empty Gun – MaryFighting Back – The FuryThe Ship of Doom – Clara GoveThe Man Above the Law – NatchahCaptain of His Soul – Annette De SearcyYou Can't Believe Everything – Grace DardleyClosin' In The Return of Mary – Mrs. John Denby Sr.The Follies Girl – NinaPrudence on Broadway – Miss GraysonChasing Rainbows – Mrs. WaltersHeart o' the Hills – Martha HawnThe Feud – Mary LynchThe Woman in the Suitcase – Mrs. James B. MorelandThe Gift Supreme – Lalia GraunThe Devil's Riddle – Mrs. PottsBlind Youth – Elizabeth MonnierThrough Eyes of Men – Mrs. Virginia AllThe Jack-Knife Man – Lize MerdinSomething to Think About – HousekeeperThe Mark of Zorro – Doña Catalina PulidoMidsummer Madness – Mrs. OsbornePrisoners of Love – Her MotherChickens – Aunt RebeccaWhat Every Woman Knows – Comtesse de la BrièreMother o' Mine – Mrs. SheldonWealth – Mrs. DominickLove Never Dies – Liz TrottRent Free – Countess de MourneyThe Gray Dawn – Mrs. BennettPenrod – Mrs. SchofieldThe Ragged Heiress – Sylvia MoretonThe Lying Truth – Mrs. Sam ClairborneNice People – Margaret RainsfordIn the Name of the Law – Mrs. O'HaraHeart's Haven – May CarolineQuincy Adams Sawyer – Mrs. PutnamThe West~Bound Limited – Mrs. Bill BuckleyMichael O'Halloran – Nancy HardingHuman Wreckage – Mrs. BrownCircus Days – MarthaAshes of Vengeance – Margot's AuntPonjola – Mrs. HopeEnemies of Children Black Oxen – Agnes TrevorJudgment of the Storm – Mrs. HeathLeave It to Gerry – Mrs. BrentThy Name Is Woman – Juan's MotherSecrets – Elizabeth ChanningA Fight for Honor – Mrs. HillThose Who Dare – Mrs. RollinsThe Reckless Sex – ConchaWaking Up the Town – Mrs. JoyceDollar Down – Mrs. Meadows – Ruth's SisterThe Tower of Lies – KatrinaOne of the Bravest – Mrs. KellyThe Big Parade – Mrs. AppersonThe Midnight Flyer – Liza SlaterBen-Hur – Princess of HurThe Devil's Circus – Mrs. PetersonThe Dixie Merchant – Josephine FippanyThe Shamrock Handicap – Molly O'SheaThe Unknown Soldier – John Phillips' sisterThe Show Off – Mom FisherThe Flaming Forest – Mrs. McTavishA Little Journey – Aunt LouiseThe Auctioneer – Mrs. Tim EaganCheaters – Mrs. Robin CarterThe Taxi Dancer – Aunt MaryThe Black Diamond Express – Martha FosterTillie the Toiler – Ma JonesWinds of the Pampas – Doña Maria CasandosThe Shield of Honor – Mrs. MacDowellAlmost Human – Mrs. LivingstonThe Tragedy of Youth – MotherDon't Marry – Aunt Abigail Bowen4 Devils – WomanThe Viking – Lady EdithaMarriage by Contract – MotherWhen Dreams Come True – Martha ShelbyThe Flying Fleet – Mrs. Hastings – Anita's Mother Silks and Saddles – Mrs. CalhounThe Quitter – Mrs. AbbottWhispering Winds – Mrs. BentonRedemption – Anna PavlovnaThe Second Floor Mystery – Aunt HattieYoung Desire – Mrs. SpencerThe Big House – Mrs. MarloweWild Company – Mrs. Laura GraysonBrothers – Mrs. Bess NaughtonMothers Cry – Mary's Mother An American Tragedy – Mrs. Samuel GriffithsUnder Eighteen – Seamstress Manhattan Parade – Nancy – the Maid Union Depot – Little Boy's Mother The Famous Ferguson Case – The Brookses' Landlady Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm – Mrs. Randall Cornered – Jane's AuntThe Phantom Express – Ma NolanA Successful Calamity – Struthers' Secretary Lawyer Man – Gilmurry's Secretary Central Airport – Mrs. BlaineThe Working Man – Benjamin's SecretaryBy Appointment Only – Mrs. Mary CarrollPaddy the Next Best Thing – Miss Breen Wild Boys of the Road – Mrs. SmithBedside – Nurse It Happened One Night – Mother on Bus Journal of a Crime – Sister at Hospital Dr. Monica – Miss Bryerly British Agent – Woman Saying 'Lenin will Live' Two Heads on a Pillow – Mrs. Helen GormanImitation of Life – Teacher Outside Classroom Black Fury – Nurse Murder by Television – Mrs. HoughlandAugust Week End – Alma WashburneSmall Town Girl – Woman in Bed Criminal Lawyer – Night Court Judge Two-Fisted Sheriff – Miss Herrick – Molly's AuntHigh, Wide, and Handsome – Seamstress Test Pilot – Funeral Home Associate Three Comrades – Landlady Frau Zalewski Boys Town – Catholic Nun Stand Up and Fight – Woman Idiot's Delight – Crying Mother Miracles for Sale – Jack of Diamonds Woman Thunder Afloat – Nurse Those High Grey Walls – Mother Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President – Gossiper Young Tom Edison – Woman at Station The Captain Is a Lady – Old Lady The Golden Fleecing – Pedestrian Dr. Kildare Goes Home – Nurse for Mr. Winslow Third Finger, Left Hand – Witness at wedding Lady Scarface – Mrs. Tuckerman Reap the Wild Wind – Ettie Keeper of the Flame – Mourner The Youngest Profession – Woman The Human Comedy – Woman on Street Hangmen Also Die! – Counterwoman Presenting Lily Mars – Dowager This Land Is Mine – Woman in Bathroom Du Barry Was a Lady – Subway Passenger Black Market Rustlers – Mrs. Prescott Teen Age – Mrs. Mary AbbottMen on Her Mind – Mother GoodwinAndy Hardy's Blonde Trouble – Dr. Standish's Servant Are These Our Parents – Miss WinfieldThe Thin Man Goes Home – Train Passenger in Passageway Having Wonderful Crime – Guest Adventure – Woman in Library