Priscilla Bonner (February 17, 1899 – February 21, 1996) was an American silent film actress who specialized in portraying virginal, innocent heroines.
Early years
Priscilla Bonner was born in Washington, D.C. on February 17, 1899. Her father, John S. Bonner, worked for Page Fence and served as an officer in Company B of the local National Guard Unit. At the start of World War I the company was activated for service, and her father started his career as an Army officer. The family often moved, and she spent much of her life in different places. She often play-acted to amuse herself, playing all the parts and shifting the sets. While her father was stationed in Chicago, assigned to the staff of General Leonard Wood, she received a call from someone connected with Chicago Photoplay, insisting she come to their studio for photographs. Although she realized it was likely a wrong number, Bonner went. Intrigued by her bold initiative and photogenic charisma, the studio took portraits of her and sent them to film studios in California.
Career In 1916, when living in Adrian, Michigan, Bonner answered an open call to audition for the movie The Romance of Miss Adrian. Using her dance skills, she won a part in the picture.
In Los Angeles, she met Charles Ray, and appeared in the 1920 film Homer Comes Home, after being signed by MGM that year. She went on to co-star with Jack Pickford in The Man Who Had Everything (1920), Lon Chaney, Sr. in Shadows (1922), Colleen Moore in April Showers, and comedian Harry Langdon in The Strong Man. In 1925, she successfully sued Warner Bros. and won a substantial cash settlement when she was originally chosen and then dropped as the leading lady from John Barrymore's The Sea Beast in favor of Barrymore's new real life love interest Dolores Costello.
That same year, she starred in the controversial independent film The Red Kimono produced and directed by Dorothy Davenport, the widow of Wallace Reid. In 1927, Bonner was loaned to Paramount Pictures to co-star in the box office hit It, starring Clara Bow.
Personal life In 1921, she married writer and author Allen Wynes Alexander. A little over a year later, he left her. She filed for divorce but later dismissed the case.
In 1928, Bonner married Dr. E. Bertrand Woolfan. She retired from film the following year. The couple were popular hosts to the burgeoning Los Angeles literary and film community, and particularly befriended Preston Sturges, the writer and director. On February 21, 1996, Bonner died at the age of 97.
Her younger sister was actress and writer Margerie Bonner.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1920 Homer Comes Home Rachel Prouty Honest Hutch Ellen Preserved at MGM archives The Man Who Had Everything Prue Winn Copies are held at the George Eastman Museum and Library of Congress Officer 666 Sadie Lost film 1921 The Son of Wallingford Mary Curtis Lost film Bob Hampton of Placer Schoolteacher Lost film Home Stuff Susan Deep Lost film 1922 Shadows Mary Brent 1923 Gallopin' Through Lost film The Purple Dawn Ruth Ketchell Lost film Where's My Wandering Boy This Evening? Lost film Short film Pitfalls of a Big City Alternative title: The Pitfalls of a Great City Lost film April Showers Shannon O'Rourke Lost film 1924 A Desperate Adventure Hold Your Breath The Sister Tarnish Aggie Lost film Chalk Marks Betty Towner Lost film 1925 Charley's Aunt Kitty The Mansion of Aching Hearts A City Girl Lost film Proud Flesh San Francisco Girl The White Desert Mrs. Foster Drusilla with a Million Sally May Ferris Eyes of Hollywood Lost filmThe Red KimonoGabrielle Darley 1926 The Earth Woman Sally 3 Bad Men Millie Stanley The Strong Man Mary Brown The False Alarm Bessie Flannigan Lost film 1927 It Molly Long Pants His Bride (Priscilla) Paying the Price The Prince of Headwaiters Faith Cable Lost film Broadway After Midnight Queenie Morgan/Gloria Livingston Alternative title: Gangsters on Broadway Lost film 1928 Outcast Souls Alice Davis Lost film Golden Shackles Lucy Weston 1929 Girls Who Dare Sally Casey Lost film
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