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Charlie Chaplin's Leading Ladies Charlie Chaplin had many different leading ladies during his film career. This is a complete list of all his leading ladies between 1914 - 1967. Linda Wada - ednapurviance.org |
Keystone - 1914
Marie Dressler Marie Dressler starred with Chaplin in Mack Sennetts Tillie's Punctured Romance along with Mabel Normand. This was the very first full length feature comedy ever made and the only film Chaplin played with Marie. Marie was a popular stage star and was touring in stage plays in the many different cities as Chaplin did with Karno. Dressler visited Chaplin many years later at the Chaplin Film Studios and both worked on the War Bond tours. Dressler won the Best Actress Oscar in 1931 for 'Min and Bill', and will always be remembered for her role in 'Dinner at Eight'. |
Chaplin, Marie Dressler and Mabel Normand in 'Tillie...' Here is a 1910 recording of Dressler. |
Essanay - 1915
Mutual - 1916 and 1917 First National - 1918 to 1923 United Artists - 1923 Edna Purviance Edna Purviance was Chaplin's leading lady for 34 films with Essanay, Mutual, First National Films and Chaplin's United Artists film A Woman of Paris. 'Paris' was her first starring role, but her last film working with Chaplin. Edna was at the top of her career when she and Mabel Normand were present at the Dine's shooting on New Year's Day 1924. The shooting was done by Mabel's chauffeur, but it marked that started the end for both of their careers. Edna made two more films, 'AWoman of the Sea' (also known as The Sea Gull) in L.A. and 'Education de Prince' in France during the mid-1920's. She lived a very active, but quieter life at her Los Angeles home, with her many friends and family around. She was married for a few years, but her husband died suddenly in San Francisco. She was asked to do a TV interview in the 1950's, but didn't, remarking she belonged to the silent era. |
Edna Purviance and Charlie Chaplin in 'Work' |
United Artists - 1936
Modern Times Paulette Goddard Only Mabel and Edna did more leading lady roles with Chaplin. Paulette Goddard did two films with Chaplin in 1936 and 1940. Charlie met Paulette at a party after returning from his World Tour in 1932. He saw in Paulette the perfect girl for his next picture. They became very close and worked hard on Chaplin's last silent film 'Modern Times'. This was Paulette's first leading role in a film. Paulette Goddard received praise for her role as the gamine in Modern Times. She would continue her own rather successful film career in the late 1930's and 1940's. more> |
Paulette Goddard with Chaplin in 'Modern Times' |
United Artists - 1947
Monsieur Verdoux Marilyn Nash* Marilyn Nash play the girl in Monsieur Verdoux. Nash met Chaplin while at a tennis party at his Hollywood home. Chaplin soon had a screen test and signed her for his leading lady in 'Monsieur Verdoux'. Miss Nash has been listed as a leading lady but Martha Raye was really the shining leading lady as 'Annabella Bonheur' in 'Monsieur Verdoux'. (*pictured below) |
Marilyn Nash with Chaplin in 'Monsieur Verdoux' *October 2011 - Marilyn Nash has died (1926-2011) |
Other leading roles:
The British Productions - 1967 (not pictured) A Countess From Hong Kong - Sophia Loren Sophia Loren played the leading role as Countess Natascha Alexandroff in the Chaplin directed film A Countess From Hong Kong. It was Chaplins only color film. Chaplin made a brief cameo appearance. Pictured to the right, *Martha Raye as 'Annabella Bonheur' in 'Monsieur Verdoux'. |
Chaplin and *Martha Raye in 'Monsieur Verdoux' 1947 |
Monsieur Verdoux Marilyn Nash (1926-2011) Marilyn Nash play ‘the girl’ in ‘Monsieur Verdoux’. Marilyn died October 6, 2011. Marilyn only played in two films, the second being 'Unknown World' in 1951. In 2000, Marilyn released a book called 'Charles Chaplin Secrets: Hollywood Heydays' which includes her thoughts working with Chaplin. (see book here) One very interesting thing about Marilyn, is that she lived in Oroville, California, just about 12-miles where Edna's father last lived in Biggs, California. |
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