Dixie A. Cheney (1945 - 2005)

Child Actress. Also known as Ann Barnes. A native of Lansing, Michigan, she is best known for her role as ‘Cookie’ on the short-lived 1957 television series, “Blondie.” The show which only lasted for 26 episodes, also starred Arthur Lake and Pamela Britton. She also played the role of, ‘Frances Hobbs’ on “Leave It To […]

Renee Shin-Yi Chen (1976 - 1982)

Born the daughter of Mark and Shyan-Huei Chen. She was not a professional actor, but when her parents were approached about her appearing in a movie they thought it would be a good experience and the prospect of acting thrilled the girl.  She was introduced to the film’s director, John Landis, who thought the child […]

America Chedister (1895 - 1975)

Actress. She appeared on the silent screen in films such as Scrambled Wives (1921), Dawn of the East (1921), and Sea Raiders (1922). She was married to film director and writer Edward H. Griffith. (bio by: A.J. Marik)  Family links:  Spouse:  Edward H. Griffith (1888 – 1975)* *Calculated relationship

Ruth Chatterton (1893 - 1961)

Actress. Born in New York City, she began her career as a dancer on Broadway at age 14. Her first film was “Sins of the Fathers” (1928), followed by being nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress in two films, “Madame X” (1930) and “Sara and Son” (1930). Her many credits included “Anybody’s Woman” […]

Ada Chaseliov (1952 - 2015)

Brazilian Actress. Chaseliov was a very prominent actress in various areas including the theater, film, and television. She studied acting at The Tablado and starred in her first film “Um Virgem na Praça” in 1973.  Even though she would still appear in films and make appearances on theatrical stage, television would be her major area […]

Ilka Chase (1905 - 1978)

Actress, Novelist. Educated in the United States, Great Britain and France, she made her theatrical debut in the 1924 Broadway play “Red Falcon.” She appeared in nearly two dozen Broadway productions spanning over four decades. Her theatrical accomplishments include: “Embers” (1926), “The Happy Husband” (1928), “The Animal Kingdom” (1932), “Days Without End” (1934), “On to […]

Annette Charles (1948 - 2011)

Actress. She shall undoubtedly be remembered as Rydell High’s sexy villainess “Cha-Cha” DiGregorio of the 1978 hit movie “Grease”. Born Annette Cardona, she was raised in Southern California, broke into show business around 1968, and was seen in such television fare of the day as “The High Chapparral”, “Mod Squad”, “Banacek”, “Gunsmoke”, “The Flying Nun”, […]

Liza Chapman (1929 - 1967)

Actress. Real name Betty Ann Chapman. A native of Westerly, Rhode Island, she is probably best remembered for her role as the noncorfomist ‘Janet Matthews’ on the long-running NBC television soap opera, “Another World” from 1964 until she was dropped from the series in 1966 (her character could not have children on the series, and […]

Leigh Chapman (1939 - 2014)

Actress, Screenwriter. A popular performer of the early 1960s, she later became a respected writer. Born Rosa Leigh Chapman, she graduated from Winthrop College of Rock Hill, South Carolina, then went off to Hollywood in search of fame and fortune and landed her first job as a secretary with the William Morris Agency. Leigh made […]

Edythe Chapman (1863 - 1948)

Actress in 115 films, only a few of them were sound films: “A Mormon Maid,” (silent), “Tom Sawyer (silent), “Huckleberry Finn” (silent), “The Ten Commandments” (silent), “The King of Kings” (silent) and “The Student Prince of Old Heidelberg” (silent). (bio by: TLS)  Family links:  Spouse:  James Neill (1860 – 1931)

Frances Chaney (1915 - 2004)

Radio and televison actress. Her budding movie career died when she was blacklisted along with 10 other Hollywood actors who were jailed in 1950 for contempt of Congress upon refusing to answer whether they were Communists. After years appearing on popular radio series like Topper, Gangbusters and Mr. District Attorney she became unemployed. She had […]

Janet Chandler (1911 - 1994)

Actress. Born Lillian Barrett in Pine Bluffs, Arkansas, she made her screen debut in “The Three Musketeers” (1921), followed by ” Inez from Hollywood” (1922). A popular performer in the 1930s, she appeared in “The Golden West” (1932), “Cowboy Holiday” (1934), “House of Danger” (1934), “Cyclone of the Saddle” (1935) “Rough Riding Ranger” (1935), Million […]

Helen Chandler (1906 - 1965)

Actress. Best known for her portrayal of “Mina Seward” in the 1931 version of “Dracula.” Chandler began her career in the 1920s as a stage actress in New York, eventually moving to Hollywood where she made about 30 movies. In 1937 she left Hollywood to return to the stage, but her career was destroyed by […]

Anna Chance (1879 - 1943)

Actress. Born in Oxford, Maryland, she began her career on stage and in vaudeville, where she met and married actor Charley Grapewin. Together with her husband she appeared in the Christie Comedies films “Chimmie Hicks and the Rum Omelet” (1900), “Jed’s Vacation” (1929), “House Cleaning” (1929), “Ladies Chance” (1929), “That Red Headed Hassy” (1929) and […]

Marie Champmesle (1642 - 1698)

French Actress. The daughter of an actor, she married actor Charles Chevillet Champmesle in 1666. By 1669, they were both members of the Theatre du Marais in Paris. In 1670, they joined the Hotel de Bourgogne, where she had her first success as Hermione in Jean Racine’s “Andromaque.” It was with great difficulty that Racine’s […]

Shirley Chambers (1913 - 2011)

Actress. One of Hollywood’s earliest typecast ‘dumb blondes’, she is probably best remembered for her part in 1939’s Oscar-winning classic “Gone with the Wind”. Raised in Northern California from infancy, she became a model as a teenager, in 1930 was signed by MGM as a Goldwyn Girl, made her silver screen bow in the 1930 […]

Lee Chamberlin (1938 - 2014)

Actress, Playwright. She will perhaps be best remembered for playing ‘Brenda’ and ‘Madame Rosalie’ in the popular children’s television program “The Electric Company” (1971 to 1973). Additionally, she played ‘Pat Baxter’ in the TV serial “All My Children” (1983 to 1995). Born Elise La Pallo, her father was a chef, she showed an early interest […]

Connie Cezon (1925 - 2004)

Actress. She was best known for her appearances in several of the Three Stooges shorts including “Corny Casanovas” (where she gets engaged to all three Stooges) and “Up In Daisy’s Penthouse.” She also had a recurring role on “Perry Mason” as ‘Gertie,’ Mason’s receptionist. (bio by: Butterfly) Cause of death: Breast cancer

Elisa Cegani (1911 - 1996)

Italian Actress. One of the most interesting faces of Italian movies of her time. She’s best remembered for “The Duchess of Parma,” “Naples of Former Days,” “The Iron Crown,” “Knock Out” and “Times Gone By.” (bio by: MECC)

Ada Cavendish (1970 - 1895)

Actress. She was popular in the latter half of the 19th century. She played at many theatres in England and in the United States. Cavendish also appeared in plays written by crime writer Wilkie Collins. (bio by: MC)

Elise Cavanna (1902 - 1963)

Actress. Appeared in motion pictures primarily during the 1930s. (bio by: A.J. Marik)  Family links:  Parents:  Thomas M. Seeds (1865 – 1916)  Sallie D. Burk Seeds (1863 – 1913)

Lina Cavalieri (1874 - 1944)

Actress/Opera Singer. Cavalieri made her debut as Nedda, from the opera Pagliaci by Leoncavallo at the São Carlos Theatre in Lisbon in 1901. Unceasingly photographed and eternalized in innumerable postcards, Cavalieri conquered, during the years 1902 and 1904, audiences in Italy, Poland and the aristocratic Czarist Russia and, celebrated by her amazing beauty, dazzled the […]

Barbarella “Haji” Catton (1946 - 2013)

Actress. A dark haired beauty known simply as “Haji”, she is remembered for her role in Russ Meyer’s 1965 sexploitation classic “Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!”. Raised in Quebec City, she had the misfortune to be well-developed too early for her own good and by 14 was working as an exotic dancer, of necessity hiding her […]

Tonita Castro (1970 - 2016)

Radio Personality and Actress. Castro was a Latina character actress who will best be remembered for her regular roles on such comedy series as ‘Dads’, ‘Go On’ and ‘Life in Pieces’. She came to the United States from Mexico in the late 1970s, following the death of her father, and to help support her family […]

Gail Castleberry (1957 - 2003)

Actress. Credits include television shows “Less Than Perfect,” “Spin City,” “Ellen,” and “Strong Medicine.”  Family links:  Parents:  Farris Castleberry (1925 – 1974)Cause of death: Breast cancer

Norma Castillo (1913 - 2004)

Actress. She appeared on stage, in motion pictures and on radio. Best known for being the wife of the famed movie director Lucas Demare. (bio by: 380W)

Lynn Castile (1897 - 1977)

Actress. Appeared in Vaudeville, on stage, and in occasional B-movies . (bio by: A.J. Marik)

Liliana Castagnola (1895 - 1930)

Actress. Born Eugenia Castagnola, she is also remembered for her relationship with the actor Antonio De Curtis, know as “Totò”. During her successful career throughout Europe, she gained a reputation as femme fatale because of some tempestuous love affairs with important men of that time. After performing in Paris, she returned to Italy at the […]

Dolores Cassinelli (1893 - 1984)

Actress. She is best remembered as ‘Ducheess Bianca’ in “The Unguarded Hour,” (1925) ‘Queen Isabella’ in “Columbus” (1923) and as ‘Doris Parker’ in “Unknown Love.” (1919) Cause of death: Cardiopulmonary arrest. (bio by: MC)

Peggy Cass (1924 - 1999)

Actress. She began her career in the 1940s, being a part of the showcase performers “The Doughgirls”. This led to many appearances on Broadway and she was especially noted for her comedy roles winning a Tony Award for her role as Agnes Gooch in “Auntie Mame” in 1957. In the film “Auntie Mame” (1958), she […]