Mary Philbin


Mary Loretta Philbin was an American film actress of the silent film era, who played Christine Daaé in the 1925 film The Phantom of the Opera opposite Lon Chaney, and Dea in The Man Who Laughs alongside Conrad Veidt.

Early life

Philbin was born on July 16, 1902 in Chicago, Illinois, into a middle-class, Irish-American family and raised Catholic. She was an only child, and was named after her mother, Mary. Her father, John Philbin, was born in Ballinrobe, County Mayo, Ireland, and had emigrated to America in 1900.

Career

Philbin began her acting career after winning a beauty contest sponsored by Universal Pictures in Chicago. After she moved to California, Erich von Stroheim signed her to a contract with Universal, deeming her a "Universal Super Jewel."
She made her screen debut in 1921, and the following year was honored at the first WAMPAS Baby Stars awards, a promotional campaign sponsored by the Western Association of Motion Picture Advertisers in the United States.
During the 1920s, Philbin starred in a number of high-profile films, most notably in D. W. Griffith's 1928 film Drums of Love. In 1927, she appeared in Edward Sloman's Surrender with Ivan Mosjoukine, though her most celebrated role was in the Universal horror film The Phantom of the Opera in 1925. Philbin's ethereal screen presence was noted in a 1924 edition of Motion Picture Classic, in which she was referred to as "one of the astonishing anomalies of motion pictures. Pat O'Malley once said of her: 'If I were superstitious I would think that the spirit of some great tragedienne of a forgotten past slipped into Mary's soul when she heard the camera begin to click.
File:PhantomOp.jpg|thumb|right|With Lon Chaney in The Phantom of the Opera
Philbin played a few parts during the early talkie era and most notably dubbed her own voice when The Phantom of the Opera was given sound and re-released. She retired from the screen in 1930.

Later life and death

Philbin spent the remainder of her life after leaving the film industry as a recluse, living in the same home in Huntington Beach, California.
In 1988, she attended a memorial service for Rudolph Valentino, her first public appearance since 1931. Her final public appearance was at Los Angeles opening of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical The Phantom of the Opera in 1989.
She died of pneumonia at age 90 in 1993, and was buried at the Calvary Cemetery in east Los Angeles, California.

Personal life

From 1923 to 1927, Philbin was in a relationship with Paul Kohner. They had been introduced to each other by Erich von Stroheim. They secretly became engaged in 1926, but never married due to the disapproval of both Kohner’s mother and Philbin's parents. In 1929, they were rumored to be going to marry in June of that year, but it never happened. During their relationship, Philbin had a short-lived affair with Western star Guinn "Big Boy" Williams.
Ultimately, Philbin chose to not marry anyone and Kohner went on to marry Lupita Tovar in 1932. However, when Kohner died, he was found to still have the love letters Philbin had written to him in his possession. She, in turn, had also kept his, and was heartbroken at his death.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1921The Blazing TrailTalithy Millicuddy
1921Danger AheadTressie HarloowLost film
1921Twelve Hours to LiveShort subject
1921No Clothes to Guide HimShort subject
1921Red CourageEliza FayLost film
1921Sure FireLost film
1921False KissesMaryLost film
1922Foolish WivesCrippled girlUncredited
1922The WAMPAS Baby Stars of 1922HerselfShort subject
1922The TrouperMary LeeLost film
1922Human HeartsRuth
1922His First JobJimmy's SweetheartShort subject
1922Once to Every BoyJimmy's SweetheartShort subject
1923Penrod and SamMargaret Schofield
1923Merry-Go-RoundAgnes Urban
1923Where is This West?Sallie Summers
1923The Age of DesireMargy Lost film
1923The Temple of VenusMoiraLost film
1923The Thrill ChaserHerselfCameo appearance
Lost film
1924Fools HighwayMamie RoseLost film
1924The Gaiety GirlIrene TudorLost film
1924The Rose of ParisMitsi
1925The Phantom of the OperaChristine Daaé
1925Fifth Avenue ModelsIsoel Ludant
1925Stella MarisStella Maris / Unity Blake
1927Life in Hollywood No.3HerselfShort subject
1927Love Me and the World Is MineHannerl
1927Surrender!Lea Lyon
1928Drums of LovePrincess Emanuella
1928The Man Who LaughsDea
1929Girl OverboardJoanLost film
1929The Last PerformanceJulie Fergeron
1929The Shannons of BroadwayTessie SwanzeyLost film
1929After the FogFaith Barker