Olga Grey

Olga Grey (born Anushka Zacsek[1][2] or Anna Zacsek, November 10, 1896 – April 25, 1973[3]) was an American silent film actress, sometimes billed with the alternate spelling of her last name, Olga Gray.[4]

Olga Grey
From The Photo-Play Journal, 1916.
Born	Anna Zacsek November 10, 1896 New York city
Died	April 25, 1973 (aged 76) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other names	Olga Gray
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1915 - 1920

She was born in New York city[5] to Hungarian immigrants. Her father wanted her to become a violinist, so she studied music while harboring dreams of being an actress. She appeared in some amateur productions before joining a Little Theatre in Los Angeles. Her success there paved the way for her work in films.[1]

By her late teens, she was pursuing an acting career in Hollywood. She began working as an extra.[1] Her first film appearance was in the 1915 film His Lesson, in which she had the lead role. She would have twelve film roles that year, including a role (as the actress Laura Keene) in the now classic film The Birth of a Nation, starring Lillian Gish, Mae Marsh, and directed by D. W. Griffith.

In 1916 she appeared in seven films, including the role of "Lady Agnes" in Macbeth. She would have another eleven roles between 1917 and 1920, with a steady decline of quality roles.

She left the business in 1920, and became an attorney under her original name, Anna Zacsek. In 1942 she was one of the defense attorneys in the "Sleepy Lagoon" trials, defending gang members Henry Leyvas, Victor Segobia, and Edward Grandpré.[6] She was the only woman attorney in the courtroom for these trials.[7]

Anna Zacsek was residing in Los Angeles at the time of her death on April 25, 1973, aged 76.