Mildred Davis


Mildred Hillary Davis was an American actress who appeared in fifteen of Harold Lloyd's classic silent comedies and eventually married him.

Early life and career

The daughter of Howard Beckett Davis, she was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and educated at the Friends School in Philadelphia. After spending several years studying, she traveled to Los Angeles in the hopes of securing a role in a film. After appearing in several small roles, she caught the attention of Hal Roach, who pointed her out to comedian Lloyd. Lloyd was looking for a leading lady to replace Bebe Daniels, and cast Davis in his comedy short From Hand to Mouth in 1919. It would be the first of fifteen films they would star in together.
Davis retired from acting in 1923. After much persuasion by Davis she received Lloyd's consent for her return to the screen in Too Many Crooks, which Lloyd produced through his production company.

Personal life

On February 10, 1923, Davis married film star Harold Lloyd and shortly thereafter retired from acting in films. Lloyd began construction on a home on his 14-acre Beverly Hills estate that year. The couple moved to a mansion in Benedict Canyon, Los Angeles, in 1929.
Davis and Lloyd had two children together: Gloria Lloyd and Harold Clayton Lloyd Jr.. They also adopted Gloria Freeman in September 1930, whom they renamed Marjorie Elizabeth Lloyd but was known as Peggy for most of her life.
Davis and Lloyd remained married for 46 years, until Davis' death.

Death

On August 18, 1969, following a period of poor health, Davis suffered a heart attack and died in St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California.

Filmography

YearTitleRole
1916Marriage à la Carte
1917What'll We Do with Uncle?
1917Fighting MadLily Sawyer
1918Bud's RecruitEdith's sister
1918A Weaver of DreamsMargery Gordon
1919All WrongBetty Thompson
1919Start Something
1919All at Sea
1919Call for Mr. Caveman
1919Giving the Bride Away
1919Looking for Trouble
1919Tough Luck
1919From Hand to MouthThe Girl
1920Red Hot Hottentotts
1920Why Go Home?
1920The Floor Below
1920His Royal SlynessPrincess Florelle
1920Getting His Goat
1920Haunted SpooksThe Girl
1920An Eastern WesternerThe Girl
1920High and DizzyThe Girl
1920Get Out and Get UnderThe Girl
1920Number, Please?The Girl
1921Humor Risk
1921Now or NeverThe Girl
1921Among Those PresentMiss O'Brien, The Girl
1921I DoWife
1921Never WeakenThe Girl
1921A Sailor-Made ManThe Girl
1922Grandma's BoyHis Girl
1922Dr. JackThe Sick-Little-Well-Girl
1923Safety Last!The Girl
1923Temporary MarriageHazel Manners
1923CondemnedThe Girl
1927Too Many CrooksCeia Mason