Grace Cunard (1893 - 1967)

Actress. Born Harriet Mildred Jeffries, (Her sister was actress Mina Cunard Seymour.) Cunard made her Hollywood debut in 1908. Though hardly known today, Cunard was one of the many women who thrived in the business of the movies, acting in over 120 silent films, directing others, and writing more than 30 scripts. Playing opposite Francis […]

Ruth Sinclair Cummings (1894 - 1984)

Actress. Born in Washington D.C., she began her career in movies making her debut in the silent film “Zaza” (1915). A veteran of over 30 films as a performer and writer, her credits included “The Heart Line” (1921), “The Tower of Lies” (1925), “California” (1927), “The Adventurer” (1928), “The Bridge of San Luis Rey” (1929), […]

Marion Morehouse Cummings (1906 - 1969)

Actress. A model and photographer, she was the third wife of poet e. e. cummings.  Family links:  Spouse:  E. E. Cummings (1894 – 1962)

Constance Cummings (1910 - 2005)

Actress. She was born in Seattle (Washington). She made her film debut in Howard Hawks’ classic “The Criminal Code.” She enjoyed successful stage and film careers on both sides of the Atlantic. She married noted British playwright Benn Wolf Levy (Hitchcock’s Blackmail) in 1933 and moved to the UK. There, her career continued to flourish […]

Fedelma Cullen (1948 - 2003)

Actress. She played in the films, “The Abduction” (2002), “Her Own Rules” (1998), and in an episode of the television series, “Ballykissangel” in 2001. She was also a well-known actress at the Abbey Theater in Dublin, Ireland, from 1967 to 2003. She appeared in many stage productions including, James McKenna’s “At Bantry” in 1967, Tarry […]

Anna Maria Crouch (1763 - 1805)

Actress, Singer. A late 18th Century star of the London stage, she is probably better remembered for her romantic liasons. Born Anna Maria Phillips, she started her theatrical career as a child and made her bow at Drury Lane in 1780 as Mandane from Thomas Arne’s “Artaxerxes”. Soon becoming a company regular, she achieved renown […]

Ivy Crosthwaite (1897 - 1962)

Actress. She was one of Mack Sennett’s bathing beauties, a group of young starlets (which also included Gloria Swanson and Mabel Normand) who appeared bare-legged in Sennett’s early comedies. A native of San Diego, California, her other film credits include, “A Game Of Old Knight” (1915), “Fickle Fatty’s Fall” (1915), A Janitor’s Wife Temptation” (1915), […]

Henrietta Crosman (1861 - 1944)

Actress. Born n Wheeling, West Virginia, she began her career as a stage performer at the Windsor Theatre, New York, in 1883. She went on to be one of Broadway’s top leading ladies, when she signed with Universal Studios and her big screen debut in the silent film “The Unwelcome Mrs. Hatch” (1914), followed by […]

Dixie Lee Crosby (1911 - 1952)

Actress, Singer. Born Wilma Winifred Wyatt, she was Bing Crosby’s first wife. She played in movies such us: “Dad’s Girl,” “The Big Party” and “Manhattan Love Song.” She suffered from acute alcoholism, which contributed to her early death. (bio by: MC)  Family links:  Parents:  Evan Evans Wyatt (1881 – 1973)  Nora Matilda Scarbrough Wyatt (1882 […]

Anna Cropper (1938 - 2007)

Actress. Born in Brierfield, Lancashire, England, she appeared mainly in British films and television. After she began her career on the stage, Cropper made her movie debut in the 1969 film “All Neat in Black Stockings”. Her other memorable performances include the film “Cromwell”, (1970), and the television series “The Wednesday Play”, “Softly Softly”, “Nanny” […]

Sophie Alexandrine Croizette (1970 - 1901)

Actress.  Born in St. Petersburg,  Russia to French parents,  Croizette was raised in Paris and debuted at the Comedie-Francaise in 1868,  where she was one of the company’s reigning divas for a dozen years.  For a time she was considered a fierce rival of Sarah Bernhardt but the latter denied this in her autobiography,  claiming […]

Mary Jane Croft (1916 - 1999)

Actress. She began her career in radio, appearing on such programs as “The Adventures of Sam Spade”, “The Bill Goodwin Show”, “Four-Star Playhouse”, “Blonde” and “The Mel Blanc Show”. For television she was best known for her roles as Betty Ramsey on “I Love Lucy”, Mary Jane Lewis on “The Lucy Show” and as Clara […]

Laura Hope Crews (1879 - 1942)

Actress. She began her career as a child in her native San Francisco, performing in stage shows before coming to New York in 1901. For the next several years she was a prominent member of Henry Miller’s company, performing on Broadway. In the 1920s, she split her time between performing in the theatre and films, […]

Kathryn Crawford (1908 - 1980)

Actress. Born Katherine Moran in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, she began her career in summer stock stage shows making her film debut as the leading lady in “King of the Rodeo” (1929). For the next decade she appeared in over a dozen films to include “Kid’s Clever” (1929), “Modern Love” (1929), “King of Jazz” (1930), “Flying High” […]

Norma Crane (1928 - 1973)

Actress. She is best remembered for her role as ‘Golde,’ the wife of Tevye (played by Topol) in the film adaptation of “Fiddler on the Roof” (1971). Born Norma Anna Bella Zuckerman in New York City, New York to Jewish parents, her mother died giving birth to her. She grew up in El Paso, Texas […]

Glenda Hope Crane (1915 - 2002)

Actress. She performed with her sister Virginia Crane, touring together as the Crane Sisters. During World War II, she played in USO shows in Europe and the Mediterranean. Following the end of her show business career, she later changed her last name to Hope. In December 1946, she married United States Army Captain Crawford Morse […]

Jeanne Crain (1925 - 2003)

Motion Picture Actress. She earned an Oscar Nomination as Best Actress for her film “Pinky” (1949). She also appeared in “State Fair” (1945), “Leave Her to Heaven” (1945), “Margie” (1946) and “A Letter to Three Wives” (1949). She was married to actor Paul Brinkman. (bio by: José L Bernabé Tronchoni)  Family links:  Spouse:  Paul Brinkman […]

Carolyn Craig (1934 - 1970)

Actress. Born in Green Acres, Long Island, New York, she is best remembered for her role as ‘Nora Manning’ in the cult horror film classic, ‘The House On Haunted Hill” (1959), and as ‘Cynthia Allison’ on the television soap opera, “General Hospital” in 1963. Among her other roles were as ‘Cathernie Banahan’ in “Studs Lonigan” […]

Fanny Cradock (1909 - 1994)

Television Figure, Author. Born Phyllis Nan Primrose-Pechey, she is considered the first ever celebrity television cook, appearing with her monocle clad, henpecked husband Major Johnnie Cradock from the 1950’s to the 1970’s. Known for her harsh and elaborate demeanour her T.V career began in 1955 with her first programme, ‘Fanny’s Kitchen’, which introduced her famous […]

Lotta Mignon Crabtree (1847 - 1924)

Actress. She is remembered as one of the most beloved American entertainers of the late 19th century. Born Charlotte Mignon Crabtree to English immigrants, her father was a bookseller who left for San Francisco, California in 1851 to join those seeking their fortune in the California Gold Rush. Two years later she and her mother […]

Jeanne Coyne (1923 - 1973)

Dancer, Choreographer, Actress. She made her Broadway debut in ‘Are You with It?’ in November of 1945, progressing from the ensemble to the role of the snake charmer’s daughter within six months. She relocated to Hollywood by the mid 1940s, taking an assistant’s position with filmmaker and choreographer Stanley Donen. The relationship expanded into a […]

Phyllis Grayce Cox (1928 - 2004)

Actress. She was Shirley Temple’s understudy and was an original member of the “Our Gang” comedy series. She studied dance with Bill “Beaujangles” Robinson, and danced with Gene Kelly. She could have been a star, but chose instead to fulfill her life’s role as a daughter, niece, wife, mother and grandmother. (bio by: John “J-Cat” […]

Jane Cowl (1884 - 1950)

Actress. Born Grace Bailey in Boston, Massachusetts, she made her Broadway debut in the play “Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall” on the night of her twentieth birthday in 1903. She was known for her interpretation of Shakespearean roles, playing Juliet in over 1000 consecutive performances in 1923. She made her screen debut in the lead […]

Sibylle Courvoisier (1970 - 2003)

Actress. She appeared in the movies, “Der Mikado” (1984), “Der Dieb der nicht zu Schaden kam” (1984), and a episode of the TV-Series “Eurocops” (1994). From the 1970s until 2002 she was part of the ensemble of the theatre in Zurich.

Marguerite Courtot (1897 - 1986)

Actress. Lovely leading lady of silent films.  Born in Summit, New Jersey,  she worked as a model before entering films at the age of 14.  Courtot’s credits include “The Octoroon” (1913), “The Ventures of Marguerite” (1915), “The Dead Alive” (1916), “The Kiss” (1916), “Crime and Punishment” (1917), “The Velvet Finger” (1920), “The Yellow Arm” (1921) […]

Jacqueline Courtney (1946 - 2010)

Actress. She will be remembered for long-running roles on afternoon television soap operas. Born Sharon Courtney, she broke into show business with a brief turn on “The Edge of Night” in 1961, then followed with appearances on “Our Five Daughters” (1962) and “The Doctors” in 1963 before landing the role of Alice Matthews Frame on […]

Cicely Courtneidge (1893 - 1980)

Australian born actress who starred in “The Ghost Train”(1931) and “Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines”(1965). Also starred as Mum in the comedy series “On the Buses” during the first series. Became a Dame Commander of the British Empire (D.B.E.)for services to the theatre. (bio by: Kieran Smith)  Family links:  Spouse:  Jack Hulbert (1892 […]

Catherine E. Coulson (1943 - 2015)

American Actress. Coulson, who worked as a camera assistant on director David Lynch’s 1977 debut film, the cult-classic ‘Eraserhead’, will best be remembered for playing the “Log Lady” on the ‘Twin Peaks’ television show (1990-1991), as well as the movie ‘Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me’ (1992). It was during the filming of ‘Eraserhead’ that […]

Margot Cottens (1922 - 1999)

Actress. She was born in Montevideo (Uruguay) and died in Madrid (Spain). After working in Montevideo on stage and television, she moved to Spain in 1960. Here, she developed the rest of her career on screen and stage, often in comedic roles. She appeared in “El Conde de Montecristo” (1953), “Margatira se Llama mi Amor” […]

Mae Costello (1882 - 1929)

Actress.  Born in Brooklyn,  she began performing in touring stock companies as a teen and married fellow actor  Maurice Costello in 1902.  Although the couple separated in 1910,  they did not divorce until 1927 and Mae continued to appear on stage and screen as “Mrs. Maurice Costello”.  Her films include “Her Crowning Glory” (1911),  “The […]