Vivian Rich (May 26, 1893 – November 17, 1957) was an American silent film actress.

Vivian Rich
Rich in 1916
Born(1893-05-26)May 26, 1893
DiedNovember 17, 1957(1957-11-17) (aged 64)
OccupationActress
Years active1912–1931
SpouseRalph W. Jesson (m. ?–1957)

Career

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Rich was born in Philadelphia and spent her early years there. Later the family moved to Boston and she completed her education at the Boston Latin High School. From high school she went to the stage and played in musical comedy before joining the American film company. She lived with her mother in Santa Barbara, California.[1]

She was signed by the Nestor Film Company in 1912[2] and starred in almost 200 films. Rich retired from films in 1931.

Who's Who in the Film World

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Who's Who in the Film World (1914)
 
Vivian Rich with flowers (1914)

Her entry in the 1914 book Who's Who in the Film World is as follows:

"Miss Vivian Rich, the talented young leading actress of Sidney Ayres Co., American Films, who has made such a wonderful success in such short a time, was born in Philadelphia. May 26. 1894. Her first appearance in the dramatic world was in the revival of the "Country Girl," then playing in Herald Square Theatre. New York; following this engagement she joined the Lux Company and came to the Pacific Coast. She left this company and joined the Nestor. This was her first appearance before the camera. After remaining with the Nestor for some time she attached herself to the fortunes of the American Film Company, and has been with them ever since. Both on the stage and with the silent drama Miss Vivian Rich has made a wonderful success in her calling, and her vivacious spirit, winsome manner and extreme beauty make her one of the most favorite leading actresses on the screen, Some of her most recent successes have been in "The Oath of Pierre," "The Lost Sermon," "Oil On Troubled Waters," "Truth in the Wilderness," etc. Address: American Film Company, Santa Barbara, Cal."[3]

Death

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On November 17, 1957, Rich was killed in a road accident in Los Angeles.[2]

Selected filmography

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The Gentle Conspiracy (1916)
Year Film Role
1913 At Midnight
The Ways of Fate
1914 Does It End Right?
Their Worldly Goods
The Taming of Sunnybrook Nell Sunnybrook Nell, his daughter
Old Enough to Be Her Grandpa Lora
1915 Competition Myra Stubbs - the Daughter
The Day of Reckoning Martha True
The Poet of the Peaks Lydia Lovell
A Good Business Deal
Mountain Mary Mountain Mary Turell
To Melody a Soul Responds Elsa Krieg - the Daughter
The Newer Way Betty
After the Storm Jane Roper
The Exile of Bar-K Ranch Millie Donald
The Assayer of Lone Gap
Drawing the Line Edith Latimer
The Spirit of Adventure The Mysterious Woman
A Question of Honor Nellie Fisher - Joe's Daughter
In Trust
The Little Lady Next Door
Hearts in Shadow Nan Raymond
Profit from Loss Nellie Carter
The Blot on the Shield
The Smuggler's Cave
The Wasp
To Rent Furnished Kate Proctor - an Artist
The Substitute Minister
The Bluffers Patty
The Silver Lining Nell Allen
The Solution to the Mystery Bessie Mitchell
1916 Matching Dreams
Viviana
A Sanitarium Scramble
Tangled Skeins Laura Doone
1917 The Man from Montana Meta Cooper
A Branded Soul Donna Sartoris
1925 Idaho Beth Cameron

References

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  1. ^ "Vivian Rich". Stars of the Photoplay. Chicago: Photoplay magazine. 1916. (Note: Not currently in copyright)
  2. ^ a b Katchmer, George A. (May 20, 2015). A Biographical Dictionary of Silent Film Western Actors and Actresses. McFarland. p. 321. ISBN 978-1-4766-0905-8. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  3. ^ Who in the Film World (1914) edited by Fred C. Justice, Tom R. Smith pg.1817 Google Free Book
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