Agnes Ayres
Biography
Agnes Ayres was an American actress and a star of silent films. Born in Carbondale, she moved to Manhattan to pursue acting. Her screen career began in 1914, when an Essanay Studios director cast her as an extra, and Alice Joyce, noting a physical resemblance, helped her into Richard the Brazen (1917) as Joyce's character's sister. Jesse Lasky of Paramount gave her the lead in Held by the Enemy (1920) and sought parts for her in Cecil B. DeMille productions. Stardom came as Lady Diana Mayo opposite Rudolph Valentino in The Sheik (1921), a role she repeated in The Son of the Sheik (1926). Other films included The Affairs of Anatol (1921) and DeMille's The Ten Commandments (1923). Her career waned by 1923, and after The Donovan Affair in 1929 she performed in vaudeville, returning in 1936 for mostly uncredited work before retiring in 1937. She died in 1940.
48years old at death
- Born Carbondale
- Died Los Angeles
- Star sign: AriesThe sign runs March 21 to April 19
- Agnes Henkel (birth name)Also credited as Agnes Eyre Henkel
Movie Career
- Films
- 4
- Career span
- 5 years1921 to 1926
Every film, newest first
- 1926The Son of the SheikIMDb rating 6.5
- 1923HollywoodIMDb rating 6.7
- 1921The Affairs of AnatolIMDb rating 6.6
- 1921The SheikIMDb rating 6.2
Genres
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First role
In 1914, an Essanay Studios staff director spotted Ayres, and she was given a role as one of many people in a crowd scene, which started her career.
Big break
Jesse Lasky, who founded Paramount Pictures, took an interest in Ayres and cast her as the star of the 1920 drama Held by the Enemy. He also pushed for her to get parts in several Cecil B. DeMille productions.
Agnes Ayres movies on Netflix
Most often with
Three actors appear in two of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Lucien Littlefield's page
William Boyd's page
Rudolph Valentino's page
Awards
One award and honor.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| 1960 | Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame (posthumous) | Honored | |
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.