Mildred Davis
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2019) |
Mildred Davis Lloyd | |
|---|---|
 Mildred Davis in 1924 | |
| Born | Mildred Hillary Davis February 22, 1901 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | August 18, 1969 (aged 68) Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
| Education | Friends School |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1916–1927 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3, including Harold Lloyd Jr. |
Mildred Hillary Davis[1] (February 22, 1901[2][1][3] – August 18, 1969) was an American actress who appeared in fifteen of Harold Lloyd's classic silent comedies and eventually married him.
Early life and career
[edit]The daughter of Howard Beckett Davis,[4] she was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and educated at the Friends School in Philadelphia.[5] After spending several years studying, she traveled to Los Angeles in the hopes of securing a role in a film. After appearing in several small roles, she caught the attention of Hal Roach, who pointed her out to comedian Lloyd. Lloyd was looking for a leading lady to replace Bebe Daniels, and cast Davis in his comedy short From Hand to Mouth in 1919. It would be the first of fifteen films they would star in together.[citation needed]
Davis retired from acting in 1923. After much persuasion by Davis (and much grief) she received Lloyd's consent for her return to the screen in Too Many Crooks, which Lloyd produced through his production company.
Personal life
[edit]On February 10, 1923, Davis married film star Harold Lloyd and shortly thereafter retired from acting in films. Lloyd began construction on a home on his 14-acre Beverly Hills estate that year.[6] The couple moved to a mansion in Benedict Canyon, Los Angeles, in 1929.[7]
Davis and Lloyd had two children together: Gloria Lloyd (1924–2012)[8][9] and Harold Clayton Lloyd Jr. (1931–1971).[10] They also adopted Gloria Freeman (1924–1986) in September 1930, whom they renamed Marjorie Elizabeth Lloyd[11] but was known as Peggy for most of her life.[11]
Davis and Lloyd remained married for 46 years, until Davis' death.
Death
[edit]On August 18, 1969, following a period of poor health, Davis suffered a heart attack and died in St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California.[7]
Filmography
[edit]
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1916 | Marriage à la Carte | |
| 1917 | What'll We Do with Uncle? | |
| Fighting Mad | Lily Sawyer | |
| 1918 | Bud's Recruit | Edith's sister |
| A Weaver of Dreams | Margery Gordon | |
| 1919 | All Wrong | Betty Thompson |
| Start Something | ||
| All at Sea | ||
| Call for Mr. Caveman | ||
| Giving the Bride Away | ||
| Looking for Trouble | ||
| Tough Luck | ||
| From Hand to Mouth | The Girl | |
| 1920 | Red Hot Hottentotts | |
| Why Go Home? | ||
| The Floor Below | ||
| His Royal Slyness | Princess Florelle | |
| Getting His Goat | ||
| Haunted Spooks | The Girl | |
| An Eastern Westerner | The Girl | |
| High and Dizzy | The Girl | |
| Get Out and Get Under | The Girl | |
| Number, Please? | The Girl | |
| 1921 | Humor Risk | |
| Now or Never | The Girl | |
| Among Those Present | Miss O'Brien, The Girl | |
| I Do | Wife | |
| Never Weaken | The Girl | |
| A Sailor-Made Man | The Girl | |
| 1922 | Grandma's Boy | His Girl |
| Dr. Jack | The Sick-Little-Well-Girl | |
| 1923 | Safety Last! | The Girl |
| Temporary Marriage | Hazel Manners | |
| Condemned | The Girl | |
| 1927 | Too Many Crooks | Ceia Mason |
References
[edit]- ^ a b Vance, Jeffrey; Lloyd, Suzanne (2002). Harold Lloyd: Master Comedian. Harry N. Abrams. p. 52. ISBN 0-8109-1674-6.
- ^ "Google Books search showing "Harold Lloyd: Master Comedian" text on page 52". Google Books. Archived from the original on September 20, 2025. Retrieved September 20, 2025.
- ^ "Forest Lawn Memorial Park–Glendale". Hometowns to Hollywood. Retrieved September 20, 2025.
- ^ "A Full Life". Oakland Tribune. California, Oakland. September 12, 1955. p. 3. Retrieved 28 August 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Mildred Davis to Wed Harold Lloyd". The Boston Globe. Vol. CIII, no. 36. Los Angeles. February 5, 1923 [Originally published February 4, 1923]. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Mildred Davis Going Through Chrysalis Stage". Sunday News. Vol. 3, no. 17. News Syndicate Co. June 10, 1923. p. 17.
- ^ a b "Ex-Actress Mildred Davis, Harold Lloyd's Wife, Dies". The Fresno Bee. Santa Monica, California. Associated Press. August 19, 1969. p. 5. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
- ^ "Gloria Lloyd, daughter of Harold Lloyd, dies". Variety. February 11, 2012. Retrieved February 11, 2012.
- ^ Brownlow, Kevin (February 27, 2012). "Obituaries: Gloria Lloyd: Actress who had a gilded life as Harold Lloyd's daughter". The Independent. Archived from the original on May 9, 2022. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
- ^ "Harold Lloyd Jr. Dies. Actor, Son of Comedy Star". The New York Times. June 10, 1971. Retrieved June 8, 2008.
- ^ a b Lloyd, Annette D'Agostino; D'Agostino, Annette M. (2004). The Harold Lloyd Encyclopedia. McFarland. p. 197. ISBN 978-0-7864-1514-4.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Mildred Davis at Wikimedia Commons- Mildred Davis at IMDb
- Mildred Davis at Virtual History
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