Edna Payne (December 5, 1891 – January 31, 1953) was an American silent screen motion picture actress. She was not in any feature-length films, but is regarded as a "pioneer" in the film industry because she was in many short films from 1911 through 1917.[1]

Edna Payne
Edna Payne in a Lubin publicity photo, ca. 1915
Born(1891-12-05)December 5, 1891
New York City, U.S.
DiedJanuary 31, 1953(1953-01-31) (aged 61)
Resting placeHollywood Forever Cemetery
OccupationActress
Years active1911–1917
Spouse
Jack Rollens
(m. 1917; div. 1925)
Children2

Career

edit

Her parents were both stage actors, so Payne began her career as a child in vaudeville, making her movie debut in Higgenses Versus Judsons (1911). She played the lead in reel dramas, and later in a few reel westerns including The Girl Stage Driver (1914).[2] Although her film career was confined to the 1910s, she took part in countless productions.

Family

edit

She was married to actor Jack Rollens, whom she divorced in 1925. She had two children, Edna J, born in 1919, and Jack A, born in 1921.

Notes

edit
  1. ^ a b Katchmer, George A. (2002). A Biographical Dictionary of Silent Film Western Actors and Actresses. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. p. 297. ISBN 978-0-7864-4693-3. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  2. ^ Kehr, Dave (June 6, 2010). "Long-Lost Silent Films Return to America". The New York Times.
edit