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Eleanor Boardman
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Olive Eleanor Boardman (August 19, 1898 – December 12, 1991) was an American film actress of the silent era. Olive Eleanor Boardman was born on August 19, 1898, the youngest chil…
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Olive Eleanor Boardman (August 19, 1898 – December 12, 1991) was an American film actress of the silent era. Olive Eleanor Boardman was born on August 19, 1898, the youngest child to George W. Boardman and Janice Merriam "Jennie" Stockman Boardman. She had two older sisters named Merriam and Esther. In 1920, she was working as a contractor. Educated in Philadelphia, Boardman originally acted on stage, but she lost her voice while starring in The National Anthem. She then entered a nationwide contest for new actors and actresses for silent films. She was chosen from among 1,000 competitors by Goldwyn Pictures as their "New Face of 1922". Her initial screen test was unsuccessful, but a second test resulted in a contract. After several successful supporting roles, she played the lead in Souls for Sale in 1923. That same year, Boardman's growing popularity was reflected by her inclusion on the list of WAMPAS Baby Stars. She appeared in more than 30 films during her career, including director King Vidor's The Crowd (1928). Her performance in that film is widely recognized as one of the outstanding performances in American silent film. In 1932, after some success in sound films, she parted ways with MGM. Her final film was The Three Cornered Hat, which was made in Spain in 1935. After that production, she retired from acting and retreated from Hollywood. Her last appearances were in an interview filmed for Kevin Brownlow and David Gill's British documentary series Hollywood (1980) and the series MGM: When the Lion Roars (1992).
Filmography
Movies and shows, newest first
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1939
Land of Liberty
Movie (archive footage)
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1934
It Happened in Spain
Movie Magistrate's Wife
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1931
The Squaw Man
Movie Lady Diana Kerhill
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1931
Women Love Once
Movie Helen Fields
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1931
The Flood
Movie Joan Marshall
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1931
The Great Meadow
Movie Diony Hall
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1930
Redemption
Movie Lisa Protasoff
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1930
Mamba
Movie Helen von Linden
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1929
She Goes to War
Movie Joan Morant
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1928
Show People
Movie Roxalanne (uncredited)
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1928
Diamond Handcuffs
Movie Tillie
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1928
The Crowd
Movie Mary Sims
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1926
Tell It to the Marines
Movie Norma Dale
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1926
Bardelys the Magnificent
Movie Roxalanne de Lavedan
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1926
The Auction Block
Movie Lorelei Knight
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1926
Memory Lane
Movie Mary
More credits
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1925
The Only Thing
Movie Thyra, Princess of Svendborg
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1925
Exchange of Wives
Movie Margaret Rathburn
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1925
The Circle
Movie Elizabeth Cheney
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1925
Proud Flesh
Movie Fernanda
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1925
1925 Studio Tour
Movie Self
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1925
The Way of a Girl
Movie Rosamond
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1924
The Wife of the Centaur
Movie Joan Converse
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1924
So This Is Marriage?
Movie Beth Marsh
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1924
The Silent Accuser
Movie Barbara Jane
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1924
Wine of Youth
Movie Mary Hollister
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1924
The Turmoil
Movie Mary Vertrees
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1924
Sinners in Silk
Movie Penelope Stevens
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1924
True As Steel
Movie Ethel Parry
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1923
The Day of Faith
Movie Jane Maynard
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1923
Three Wise Fools
Movie Rena Fairchild / Sydney Fairfield
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1923
Souls for Sale
Movie Miss Remember Steddon
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1923
Vanity Fair
Movie Amelia Sedley
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1923
Gimme
Movie Clothilde Kingsley
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1922
The Strangers' Banquet
Movie Jean McPherson
