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Carmelita Geraghty

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Carmelita Geraghty
Geraghty in 1924
Born(1901-03-21)March 21, 1901
Rushville, Indiana, U.S.
DiedJuly 7, 1966(1966-07-07) (aged 65)
New York City, U.S.
Resting placeHollywood Forever Cemetery
Occupation(s)Actress, painter
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1934; died 1962)​
FatherThomas J. Geraghty
RelativesMaurice Geraghty (brother)
Gerald Geraghty (brother)

Carmelita Geraghty (March 21, 1901 – July 7, 1966) was an American silent-film actress and painter.

Early life

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The daughter of screenwriter Tom Geraghty, she was the sister of writers Maurice and Gerald Geraghty. Her father wrote scenarios for Douglas Fairbanks Sr. and others.[1]

Geraghty was born on March 21, 1901,[2] in Rushville, Indiana, attended schools in New York,[2] and graduated from Hollywood High School. Although her parents wished her to stay at home, she went off to become a movie star.[1] Her father was slow to approve of his daughter's new employment. Geraghty achieved a measure of success as a Mack Sennett featured player.

Career

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Geraghty worked as a continuity clerk before she appeared on film.[2] She started work out as an extra in the early 1920s, using a fictitious name until getting her big break. She was selected as one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars of 1924. She soon became a leading actress, including a co-starring role with Virginia Valli in The Pleasure Garden (1925), the first film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. She played golfer Jordan Baker in the first film version of The Great Gatsby (1926).[3]

A New York Times review of one of her films commented that Geraghty "gives the only performance worth mentioning. She has very pretty eyes and obviously would be able to make her acting count for something in a more dramatic vehicle."[3]

When the age of sound dawned, her career began to crumble. Her roles began to be much smaller. Her last film role was in Phantom of Santa Fe (1936). She then retired from film altogether. Wilson worked on the Andy Hardy and Dr. Kildare films.

She became a very accomplished artist about ten years after leaving motion pictures.[4] Her painting style was reminiscent of French Impressionism. In the last years of her life, her artwork was put on display at the Weil Gardens in Paris.

Personal life

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She married Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer writer and producer Carey Wilson[1] on May 6, 1934,[5] in Beverly Hills, and the marriage ended in 1962 upon his death.

Death

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On July 7, 1966, Geraghty died of a heart attack at the Lombardy Hotel in Manhattan, aged 65.[1] She is interred in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood, California.[4]

Partial filmography

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Carmelita Geraghty Dies at 65; Painter Played in Silent Films", The New York Times. July 8, 1966.[1]
  2. ^ a b c Katchmer, George A. (2015). A Biographical Dictionary of Silent Film Western Actors and Actresses. McFarland. p. 129. ISBN 978-1-4766-0905-8. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  3. ^ a b Hall, Mourdant (June 30, 1925). "The Screen", The New York Times, p. 22
  4. ^ a b Mack Sennett's Fun Factory
  5. ^ "Screen actress marries scenario writer". Los Angeles Times. May 7, 1934. p. Part II-1. Retrieved March 4, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
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