Lois Wilson

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Born: 28 June 1894 Died: 3 March 1988

Country of origin: United States

Height: 5' 5"

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156 votes

My Favourite Old Hollywood Hairstyles (519 items)
list by Blue Pineapple

Published 15 years, 11 months ago

15 comments

66 votes

The Beauty of Silence (500 items)
list by Sir Squash

Published 13 years, 1 month ago

2 comments

45 votes

Silent Actresses (507 items)
list by The Silent Era

Published 14 years, 10 months ago

3 comments

34 votes

♦ ♥ Card Crazy ♣ ♠ (52 items)
list by milica

Published 13 years, 11 months ago

6 comments

15 votes

AFI's Female Legends Nominations (250 items)
list by garfield2710

Published 13 years, 9 months ago

1 comment

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Description: Lois Wilson (June 28, 1894 - March 3, 1988) was an American actress best known for her work during the silent film era. She also directed two short films and was a scenario writer. Born in Pennsylvania, Wilson's family moved to Alabama when she was still very young. She earned a degree from Alabama Normal College (now the University of West Alabama), and became a school teacher. Wilson moved to California when she won a beauty contest put on by Universal Studios and the Birmingham News in 1915. This pageant was the predecessor to the Miss Alabama/Miss America pageant system, and Wilson is considered the first Miss Alabama. Up Lois Wilson (June 28, 1894 - March 3, 1988) was an American actress best known for her work during the silent film era. She also directed two short films and was a scenario writer.

Born in Pennsylvania, Wilson's family moved to Alabama when she was still very young. She earned a degree from Alabama Normal College (now the University of West Alabama), and became a school teacher. Wilson moved to California when she won a beauty contest put on by Universal Studios and the Birmingham News in 1915. This pageant was the predecessor to the Miss Alabama/Miss America pageant system, and Wilson is considered the first Miss Alabama. Upon arriving in Hollywood, she secured a small part in The Dumb Girl of Portici, which starred the ballerina Anna Pavlova.

After appearing in several films at various studios, Wilson settled in at Paramount Pictures in 1919, where she remained until 1927. She was a WAMPAS Baby Star of 1922, and all told, appeared in 150 movies. Her most recognized screen portrayals are Molly Wingate in The Covered Wagon (1923) and Daisy Buchanan in the silent film version of The Great Gatsby (1926). She acted opposite such leading male stars of her era as Rudolph Valentino and John Gilbert.

Wilson played both romantic leads and character parts. Despite making a successful transition to sound, Wilson was dissatisfied with the roles she received in the 1930s and she soon retired in 1941, making only three films after 1939. Lois ventured to Broadway and television following her final role in The Girl From Jones Beach (1949) with Ronald Reagan. Wilson played in the network soap operas The Guiding Light in (1952) and The Edge of Night. She portrayed featured character roles.

Wilson was also the model of the Philadelphia Sesquicentennial Celebration's official poster, "America Welcomes the World" in 1926.

She was once described as having a screen image of "the soft, marrying kind of woman"; in real life, however, she never married. She was chosen by Paramount Pictures to represent the motion picture industry at the British Empire Exposition of 1924. She was described as "a typical example of the American girl in character, culture and beauty".

Lois Wilson died of pneumonia at Riverside Hospital for Skilled Care in Reno, Nevada at the age of 93. She was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale. Her funeral service was conducted at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills. ... (more)