Mabel Taliaferro

Mabel "Nell" Taliaferro (born Maybelle Evelyn Taliaferro; May 21, 1887 – January 24, 1979) was an American stage and silent-screen actress, known as "the Sweetheart of American Movies."[4]

Mabel Taliaferro
Born
Maybelle Evelyn Taliaferro

(1887-05-21)May 21, 1887
Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
DiedJanuary 24, 1979(1979-01-24) (aged 91)
Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
Other namesNell
OccupationActress
Years active1899–1956
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 1906; div. 1911)​

Thomas Carrigan
​
​
(m. 1913; div. 1919)​
[1]
Joseph O'Brien
​
​
(m. 1920; div. 1929)​
[2]
Robert Ober (died 1950)
ChildrenBill Taliaferro (b. 1924)[3]
RelativesEdith Taliaferro (sister)
Bessie Barriscale (cousin)

Biography

She was born as Maybelle Evelyn Taliaferro in Manhattan, New York City and raised in Richmond, Virginia. Taliaferro was descended on her father's side from one of the early families who settled in Virginia in the 17th century, the Taliaferros, whose roots are from a northern Italian immigrant to England in the 16th century.

Mabel Taliaferro began her stage-career with Chauncey Olcott. Later she appeared with James A. Hearne and with Sol Smith Russell in A Poor Relation. In 1899, she achieved distinction in the role of little Esther in Israel Zangwill's play, Children of the Ghetto. A year later she played the witching elf-child in Yeats's Gaelic fantasy, The Land of Heart's Desire. In 1902-3 Mabel Taliaferro appeared in An American Invasion with John E. Dodson and Miss Annie Irish. The following year she was seen in the support of Louis Mann in The Consul. Her greatest opportunity came when she was cast for Lovey Mary in Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch, a part she played continuously for two and one-half years. In 1905 she supported Arnold Daly in You Never Can Tell and later went on tour in The Bishop's Carriage. After a brief season in vaudeville she joined William Collier's company in a tour of Australia. In 1906 Mabel Taliaferro married (as her first husband) Frederic Thompson, creator of the Luna Park on Coney Island and the New York Hippodrome, under whose management she starred in the Broadway play Polly of the Circus.[5][6]

In 1907 she was injured in a car crash.[7] In 1912 her movie career began with the Selig Studios film version of Cinderella co-starring her then-husband Thomas Carrigan.[8] She continued performing in films through her retirement in 1921. In 1940, she appeared in her final picture, My Love Came Back. Taliaferro was a sister of film and stage actress Edith Taliaferro and the cousin of actress Bessie Barriscale.[9][10]

The Dawn of Love (1916)

She died on January 24, 1979.[4]

Filmography

Stage
Mabel Taliaferro in the play Polly of the Circus

TV
  • The De Santre Story (1956)
  • The Hat from Hangtown (1952)
  • Mistress Sims Inherits (1949)
  • You Can't Take It with You (1945)

References
  1. New York Times Mabel Taliaferro A Bride. Actress Married to Tom Carrigan, Her Leading Man. Thursday July 10, 1913
  2. New York Times Actress's Baby Wanders. Mabel Taliaferro's Child is Found in a Wood ... Thursday January 6, 1921
  3. https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19480326&id=tzAaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ICUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3382,5058927&hl=en
  4. "Mabel Taliaferro, 91, Star of Silent Screen Acted in 100 Plays". New York Times. February 3, 1979.
  5. "Fred Thompson Marries. Head of Thompson & Dundy Weds Miss Mabel Taliaferro". New York Times. December 1, 1906.
  6. "Mabel Taliaferro Sues. Charges Her Husband, Fred Thompson, with Cruelty in Divorce Action". New York Times.
  7. "Mabel Taliaferro Hurt In Car Crash. Badly Cut on Arm and Bruised When Brougham is Wrecked on Broadway". New York Times. December 27, 1907.
  8. Pictorial History of the Silent Screen by Daniel Blum c. 1953 page 25
  9. New York Times . Saturday December 1, 1906
  10. New York Times
  11. "Mabel Taliaferro Star in Play, "The Prince's Secret"". Evening Star. Washington DC. February 18, 1935. p. A-12.
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