Helene Chadwick

From Wikipedia Helene Chadwick November 25 1897 September 4 1940 was an American actress in Silent and early sound films Chadwick was born in the small town of Chadwicks New York which was named for her grandfather Her mother was a singer who performed on the stage and her father was a businessman She began making films for Pathe Pictures in Manhattan New York A director was impressed by Chadwicks talent as an equestrian thus she began acting as a western star but this did not continue with the exodus of film production from the east to the west coast Signed by Samuel Goldwyn Chadwick went to California in 1913 and entered silent movies in 1916 She was a star from 1920 through 1925 At the pinnacle of her acting career she earned a salary estimated to have been 2000 per week From 1929 until 1935 she found success as a character actress when sound was being introduced to films In the final five years of her life she was reduced to taking roles as an extra playing atmospheric parts She was always optimistic that her fortunes would turn for the better Helene made movies with Warner Brothers Columbia Pictures 20th Century Fox MetroGoldwynMayer Paramount Pictures and other studios Her most noteworthy performances came in The Long Arm of Mannister 1919 The Cup of Fury 1920 Heartsease 1919 The Sin Flood 1922 Dangerous Curve Ahead 1921 From The Ground Up 1921 The Glorious Fool 1922 Yellow Men and Gold 1922 Dust Flower 1922 Godless Men 1920 and Quicksands 1923 In January 1919 Chadwick became engaged to Lieutenant William A Wellman an American pilot with the Lafayette Flying Corps He had just returned from France and was cited for bravery for his valour in World War I The couple had met at a party at the house of a friend Wellman was signed to play a prominent role in an upcoming movie with Douglas Fairbanks Sr The couple wed in July 1921 but in the summer of 1923 Chadwick sued Wellman for divorce on grounds of desertion and nonsupport At the time of their separation William was directing movies for Fox Film Wellman directed Wings the first film to win an Academy Award for Best Picture as well as many other notable films Helene Chadwick died at St Vincents Hospital Los Angeles California aged 42 in 1940 Her death was indirectly the result of an accident she suffered in June 1939