Helen Carruthers (1892–1925) was an American actress of the silent film era. Carruthers is best known for her work in Keystone comedies.

Helen Carruthers
Born1892
Died1925

Career

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Carruther's career in film began in 1914. That year she appeared in no less than 35 Keystone comedies, 17 of which were with Charlie Chaplin. Her screen debut was in the Chaplin comedy His Favourite Pastime, and her last credited work for Keystone was as Chaplin's love interest and the king's wife in His Prehistoric Past. The absence of any credits in Carruther's available filmographies after 1914 suggests that her short motion-picture career ended by 1915.

Personal life

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Carruthers and Frank Hayes in His Musical Career (1914)

In May 1915, at age 23, Carruthers attempted suicide by swallowing 30 mercury bichloride tablets. She survived, but the poisonous compound severely damaged her kidneys.[1]

Carruthers married Baron Franciscus Gerard Zur Muehlen, a Javanese sugar merchant who was attached to the Dutch diplomatic service, in 1918.[2]

On July 7, 1925, while hosting a gathering in her hotel room at the Ritz Carlton, Carruthers opened a window to let a breeze in and she fell from the seventh story. The coroner ruled her death an accident.[2]

Filmography

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Year Film Role Notes
1914 His Favorite Pastime Servant
Caught in the Rain Chambermaid Uncredited role
Mabel's Busy Day Spectator Uncredited role
Laughing Gas Pretty patient Uncredited role
The Property Man Garlico's Assistant Uncredited role
Recreation Girl in park Uncredited role
The Masquerader Actress Uncredited role
His New Profession Nephew's girlfriend Uncredited role
The Rounders Diner Uncredited role
The New Janitor Secretary Uncredited role
Those Love Pangs Landlady Uncredited role
Gentlemen of Nerve Spectator Uncredited role
His Musical Career Miss Poor Uncredited role
His Trysting Place Clarice Uncredited role
Tillie's Punctured Romance Maid and Waitress Uncredited role
Getting Acquainted Lover in the park Uncredited role
His Prehistoric Past Queen Arguably one of her more major roles, but still went uncredited

References

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  1. ^ "Article about Carruthers with news clips from 1915". Archived from the original on 2012-04-26. Retrieved 2011-12-20.
  2. ^ a b "Helen Carruthers ~ The Actress Who Became A Baroness". Classic Actresses. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
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