Olga Grey (born Anushka Zacsek or Anna Zacsek, November 10, 1896 – April 25, 1973Social Security Death Index, listed as Anna Zacsek Accessed April 25, 2009) was an American silent film actress, sometimes billed with the alternate spelling of her last name, Olga Gray.
She was born in New York City to Hungarian immigrants. Her father wanted her to become a violinist, so she studied music while harboring dreams of being an actress. She appeared in some amateur productions before joining a Little Theatre in Los Angeles. Her success there paved the way for her work in films.
By her late teens, she was pursuing an acting career in Hollywood. She began working as an extra. Her first film appearance was in the 1915 film His Lesson, in which she had the lead role. She would have twelve film roles that year, including a role (as the actress Laura Keene) in the now classic and controversial film The Birth of a Nation, starring Lillian Gish, Mae Marsh, and directed by D. W. Griffith.
In 1916 she appeared in seven films, including the role of "Lady Agnes" in Macbeth. She would have another eleven roles between 1917 and 1920, with a steady decline of quality roles.
In 1920 she married film actor Arnold Gregg (real name: Arnold Ray Samberg). She later became an attorney under her original name, Anna Zacsek, passing the California bar in 1932. In 1942 she was one of the defense attorneys in the "Sleepy Lagoon" trials, defending gang members Henry Leyvas, Victor Segobia, and Edward Grandpré. She was the only woman attorney in the courtroom for these trials.Catherine Sue Ramirez, The Woman in the Zoot Suit: Gender, Nationalism, and the Cultural Politics of Memory (Duke University Press 2008): 99-100.
Anna Zacsek was residing in Los Angeles at the time of her death on April 25, 1973, aged 76.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1915 The Birth of a Nation Laura Keene Uncredited1915 The Absentee Ruth Farwell / Justice Lost film1915 The Failure Rose Lost film1915 Double Trouble Madame Leclaire 1916 Macbeth Lady Agnes Lost film1916 A Wild Girl of the Sierras Moll Lost film1916 Pillars of Society Madame Linda Dorf Lost film1916 Intolerance Adultress 1917 The Little Liar Fanny Lost film1917 Jim Bludso Gabrielle Lost film1917 Love's Law Jealousy Lost film1917 The Girl at Home Diana Parish 1917 The Ghost House Alice Atwell Lost film1917 The Woman God Forgot Aztec woman 1917 Fanatics Lola Monroe Lost film1919 When a Man Rides Alone Beatriz de Taos Lost film1919 The Modern Husband Cleo Lost film1919 The Mayor of Filbert Miss Greta Schwartz Lost film1919 Trixie from Broadway Gertie Brown Lost film1920 The Third Eye Zaida Savoy Serial Lost film
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