Claire McDowell

Biography

Claire McDowell was an American silent-film actress whose screen career ran from 1908 to 1945 and took in some 350 pictures. Born in New York City, she learned acting early from her aunt, the actress Fanny Davenport, and at 17 worked as an understudy for a theater company run by Charles Frohman. After starting in shorts and early features, she moved into character parts and maternal roles. She was in Douglas Fairbanks' The Mark of Zorro (1920), and she played mothers in two major silent productions, The Big Parade (1925) and Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925). Her stage work on Broadway included Hearts Are Trumps (1900), To Have and to Hold (1901) and Herod (1909). She stepped away from acting at 38, then came back, often cast as mothers.

88years old at death

Born November 2, 1877New York City
Died October 23, 1966Hollywood
Star sign: ScorpioThe sign runs October 23 to November 21

Movie Career

Films: 8
Career span: 21 years1920 to 1941

Genres

Drama88%, 7 films
Romance50%, 4 films
Adventure38%, 3 films
Action13%, 1 film
Comedy13%, 1 film

First and latest

Claire McDowell movies on Netflix

Lady Scarface1941IMDb rating 5.7as Mrs. Tuckerman
Test Pilot1938IMDb rating 6.8as Funeral Home Associate
Wild Boys of the Road1933IMDb rating 7.5as Mrs. Smith
A Successful Calamity1932IMDb rating 6.9as Struthers' Secretary
The Big House1930IMDb rating 7.1as Mrs. Marlowe
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ1925IMDb rating 7.8as Princess of Hur
The Big Parade1925IMDb rating 7.9as Mrs. Apperson
The Mark of Zorro1920IMDb rating 7.0as Dona Catalina Pulido

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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The Big Parade1925 Drama, Romance, Waras Mrs. Apperson
IMDb rating 7.97.9K votes
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ1925 Adventure, Drama, Romanceas Princess of Hur
IMDb rating 7.88.5K votes
The Mark of Zorro1920as Dona Catalina Pulido
IMDb rating 7.03.1K votes
Wild Boys of the Road1933as Mrs. Smith
IMDb rating 7.52.7K votes
The Big House1930as Mrs. Marlowe
IMDb rating 7.13.1K votes
Test Pilot1938as Funeral Home Associate
IMDb rating 6.83.0K votes
Lady Scarface1941as Mrs. Tuckerman
IMDb rating 5.7329 votes
A Successful Calamity1932as Struthers' Secretary
IMDb rating 6.9603 votes

Most often with

Fred Niblo directed two of these films, George W. Hill two. Four 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.

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Lionel Barrymore

Grant Mitchell

Karl Dane

Kathleen Key

Fred NibloDirector, 2 films George W. HillDirector, 2 films

Films together

Lionel Barrymore2 films together, 1925 to 1938
Lionel Barrymore's page
- Test Pilot1938IMDb rating 6.8McDowell as Funeral Home AssociateBarrymore as Howard B. Drake
- Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ1925IMDb rating 7.8McDowell as Princess of HurBarrymore as Chariot Race Spectator
Grant Mitchell2 films together, 1932 to 1933
Grant Mitchell's page
- Wild Boys of the Road1933IMDb rating 7.5McDowell as Mrs. SmithMitchell as James Smith
- A Successful Calamity1932IMDb rating 6.9McDowell as Struthers' SecretaryMitchell as Connors, Wilton's Butler
Karl Dane2 films together, 1925 to 1930
Karl Dane's page
- The Big House1930IMDb rating 7.1McDowell as Mrs. MarloweDane as Olsen
- The Big Parade1925IMDb rating 7.9McDowell as Mrs. AppersonDane as 'Slim' Jensen
Kathleen Key2 films together, 1925
Kathleen Key's page
- Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ1925IMDb rating 7.8McDowell as Princess of HurKey as Tirzah
- The Big Parade1925IMDb rating 7.9McDowell as Mrs. AppersonKey as Miss Apperson
Fred NibloDirector, 2 films, 1920 to 1925
All films by Fred Niblo
- Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ1925IMDb rating 7.8McDowell as Princess of Hur
- The Mark of Zorro1920IMDb rating 7.0McDowell as Dona Catalina Pulido
George W. HillDirector, 2 films, 1925 to 1930
All films by George W. Hill
- The Big House1930IMDb rating 7.1McDowell as Mrs. Marlowe
- The Big Parade1925IMDb rating 7.9McDowell as Mrs. Apperson

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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