Mary Pickford
Biography
Mary Pickford, born Gladys Louise Smith in Toronto in 1892, was a Canadian-born actress and producer who helped shape early Hollywood. She started on the stage as a child and entered movies in 1909 at the Biograph Company under D. W. Griffith, making 51 films that year alone. Audiences came to know her for the ingénue type, and she earned the nickname America's Sweetheart. In 1916 she won full authority over the production of her own films, and in 1919 she joined Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks and D. W. Griffith in founding United Artists. Her credits include Little Annie Rooney (1925), Sparrows (1926), My Best Girl (1927), and Coquette (1929), her first sound feature, which brought her an Academy Award for Best Actress. She retired from acting in 1933 and later received an Academy Honorary Award in 1976. She died in 1979.
87years old at death
- Born Toronto
- Died Santa Monica
- Star sign: AriesThe sign runs March 21 to April 19
- Gladys Louise Smith (birth name)Also credited as Gladys Mary Moore, Gladys Moore, Gladys Smith and Gladys Marie Smith
Movie Career
- Films
- 7
- Career span
- 12 years1917 to 1929
Photos
Share
Did you know?!
Behind the camera
In 1919, Pickford joined with D. W. Griffith, Charlie Chaplin and Douglas Fairbanks to start United Artists, an independent film production company. Working through it, she went on acting in and making her own movies, and she had the freedom to distribute them however she wanted.
A first
Hearts Adrift, from 1914, proved so popular that Pickford requested the first of her publicized pay raises, citing its profits and reviews. It also marked the first time her name appeared above the title on movie marquees.
Mary Pickford movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Worked with
Mary Pickford shares two films with Gustav von Seyffertitz, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Gustav von Seyffertitz's page
Spec O'Donnell's page
Donald Crisp's page
Sidney Bracey's page
George Irving's page
Louise Beavers's page
Sam TaylorDirector, 2 films, 1927 to 1929
All films by Sam Taylor
William BeaudineDirector, 2 films, 1925 to 1926
All films by William Beaudine
Awards
Four awards and honors from 1930 to 1999, two of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academy Awards | |||
| 1975 | Honorary Award | Honorary | |
| 1930 | Best Actress | Coquette | Won |
| Other honors | |||
| 1999 | Canada's Walk of Fame (posthumous) | Honored | |
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.