| Edna Purviance |
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| american film actors | |
| purviance, edna | |
| american silent film actors | |
| people from nevada | |
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| 1895 births | |
| 1958 deaths | |
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Edna Purviance ( October 21 1895 – January 11 1958 ) was an American Actress during the Silent Movie era. She was the leading lady in many Charlie Chaplin movies. In a span of eight years, she appeared in over 30 films with Chaplin. EARLY LIFE Edna Purviance was born in Paradise Valley, Nevada to Louise and Madison Gates Purviance. When she was three, the family moved to Lovelock, Nevada where they assumed ownership of a hotel property. Her parents Divorce d in 1902, and her mother later married Robert Nurnberger, a German Plumber . Growing up, Purviance was a talented pianist. She left Lovelock in 1913, and attended business college in San Francisco . CAREER In 1915, Chaplin was working on his second film with Essanay Studios , working out of Niles, California , one hour southeast of San Francisco. He was looking for a leading lady for '' A Night Out '', and one of his associates noticed Purviance at a Tate's Café in San Francisco and thought she should be cast in the role. Chaplin arranged a meeting with her, and although he was concerned that she might be too serious for comedic roles, she won the job (and for a number of years was his "off-camera" leading lady as well). Purviance subsequently appeared in 33 of Chaplin's created films, including the 1921 classic '''' — which Chaplin never released — and '' Education De Prince '', a French film released in 1927, just before she retired as an actress. Chaplin and Purviance were romantically involved during the making of his Essanay, Mutual , and First National films in 1915-1917. Chaplin kept her on his payroll until her death. PERSONAL LIFE Purviance was married to John Squire, a Pan Am pilot, from 1938 until his death in 1945. Recently, silent B&W and color films have been discovered and restored that show a glimpse into their life together from the late 1930s and early 1940s, and over 40 production stills from her unreleased film ''The Sea Gull'' have also come to light. She died of Cancer on January 13 , 1958 , at the age of 62 (as per her official California death certificate). She is interred in the Grand View Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California . IN OTHER MEDIA She was portrayed by Penelope Ann Miller in the film '' Chaplin ''. LEGACY Despite the fact that she played Chaplin's leading lady in dozens of films, and more so than any other actress, she does not have a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame http://www.hollywoodchamber.net/icons/walk_directory.asp. However, there exists a petition with hundreds of signatures to get her a star.http://ednapurviance.org/walkoffame.html FILMOGRAPHY
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