Marjorie Ray ~ The Addicted Silent Star

She was born on July 9, 1890 in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri. Her father, George Ray, was a poor farmer and he or she was one in all eight youngsters. When she was a youngster she went to New York Metropolis to change into an actress. Marjorie joined comic Dan Russell’s vaudeville stage present The Matinee Women. She fell in love with Dan, who was fifteen years older than her and married. It did not take lengthy earlier than he left his spouse so he may marry Marjorie. Their son, James E. Dunn, was born on December 3, 1909. Since they have been acting on the street Marjorie left the infant together with her mom in Missouri. Tragedy struck in Might of 1910 when 5 month outdated James died from bronchitis. For the subsequent a number of years she and her husband toured the nation turning into a highly regarded vaudeville duo. In 1915 Dan was signed by L-KO productions and he helped Marjorie get a contract too. The couple costarred in quite a few comedies collectively together with Shot In The Pleasure, The Battles Of Let Go, and Two Gun Trixie.

She was usually billed as “Mrs. Dan Wilson”. Sadly by 1921 her movie profession and her marriage have been over. Marjorie continued to carry out on stage and spent a while working in Mexico Metropolis. Then in 1923 she joined the Colonial Theater inventory firm in San Diego. She starred in a brand new present each week and earned rave evaluations. Sadly she had additionally change into hooked on morphine and opium. One evening in July of 1924 she was unable to discover a syringe. Determined to get excessive she used a security pin and eyedropper in her leg. Marjorie contracted a severe case of tetanus however continued to carry out for the subsequent week. She informed the viewers she was affected by a “sore throat” Tragically on July 22, 1924 she died on the younger age of thirty-four. 4 hundred mates and followers attended her funeral. Marjorie was buried in Texas sporting her favourite stage costume. Her ex-husband Dan Russell died simply eight months later following an ulcer operation.

Hairpins and Useless Ends by Michael G. Ankerich has a wonderful chapter about Marjorie