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Edna Purviance (1895–1958)

Actress

Edna Purviance began working as a stenographer in San Francisco. Charles Chaplin invited her to join him at Essanay Studio in 1915, the year of her film debut in Chaplin's His Night Out. Over the next seven years she appeared as his leading lady in over 20 Chaplin films made by Essanay, Mutual, and First National... See full bio »

Born:

Olga Edna Purviance
in Paradise, Nevada, USA

Died:

(age 62) in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
Edna Purviance Still of Charles Chaplin, Eric Campbell, Marta Golden and Edna Purviance in The Adventurer Still of Carl Miller and Edna Purviance in A Woman of Paris: A Drama of Fate Still of Carl Miller and Edna Purviance in A Woman of Paris: A Drama of Fate
6 photos | 15 videos | 6 news articles »

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Francine Locke Film Reel -- Family Law (Best Actress, Gideon), Stealing Home (Best Supporting Actress-nom.) 168 Project, True Tale Monster (Albert P. Weisman Award), The Discarded (2011 Feature Release).

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Known For


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Filmography

Hide HideActress (40 titles)
1952 Limelight
Mrs. Parker (uncredited)
 
1947 Monsieur Verdoux
Garden Party Guest (uncredited)
 
1927 Education of a Prince
 
1926 A Woman of the Sea
Joan
 
1923 A Woman of Paris: A Drama of Fate
Marie St. Clair
 
1923 The Pilgrim (short)
The Girl
 
1922/I Pay Day (short)
Foreman's Daughter
 
1921 The Idle Class (short)
Neglected Wife
 
1921 The Kid
The Woman
 
1919 A Day's Pleasure (short)
Mother
 
1919 Sunnyside (short)
Village Belle
 
1918 Shoulder Arms
The Girl
 
1918 The Bond (short)
Charlie's Wife
 
1918 Triple Trouble (short)
Maid (uncredited)
 
1918 A Dog's Life (short)
Bar Singer (uncredited)
 
1917/I The Adventurer (short)
The Girl
 
1917 The Immigrant (short)
Immigrant
 
1917 The Cure (short)
The Girl
 
1917 Easy Street (short)
The Mission Worker
 
1916 The Rink (short)
The Girl
 
1916 Behind the Screen (short)
The Girl
 
1916 The Pawnshop (short)
His Daughter
 
1916 The Count (short)
Miss Moneybags
 
1916 The Vagabond (short)
The Gypsy Drudge
 
1916 The Fireman (short)
The Chief's Sweetheart
 
1916 The Floorwalker (short)
The Secretary
 
1916 Police (short)
The Girl
 
1915 A Burlesque on Carmen (short)
Carmen
 
1915 Burlesque on Carmen (short)
Carmen - the Gypsy (uncredited)
 
1915 A Night in the Show (short)
Lady in the Stalls with Beads (uncredited)
 
1915/I Shanghaied (short)
Daughter of the Shipowner (uncredited)
 
1915 The Bank (short)
Stenographer
 
1915 A Woman (short)
Daughter of the House (uncredited)
 
1915 Work (short)
Maid (uncredited)
 
1915 By the Sea (short)
Wife of Man in Top Hat (uncredited)
 
1915 The Tramp (short)
Farmer's Daughter (uncredited)
 
1915 A Jitney Elopement (short)
Edna (uncredited)
 
1915 In the Park (short)
Nursemaid (uncredited)
 
1915 The Champion (short)
Trainer's Daughter (uncredited)
 
1915/I A Night Out (short)
Headwaiter's Wife (uncredited)
 
Show ShowSelf (1 title)
1916 Charlie's Life (documentary)
Various
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (16 titles)
2008 Spisok korabley (documentary)
 
2003 Charlie: The Life and Art of Charles Chaplin (documentary)
Various Roles (uncredited)
 
1998 Biography (TV series documentary)
 
1996 Chaplin's Goliath (documentary)
Herself
 
1995 The Celluloid Closet (documentary)
Kissed by David While Dressed as a Boy (uncredited)
 
1983 Unknown Chaplin (TV mini-series documentary)
 
1980 Charlie Chaplin: The Little Tramp (TV documentary)
Actress in 'The Tramp'
 
1967 The Funniest Man in the World (documentary)
 
1963 30 Years of Fun
 
1961 Days of Thrills and Laughter (documentary)
Herself
 
1959 The Chaplin Revue
Various
 
1938 The Charlie Chaplin Festival
Various Roles
 
1938 Charlie Chaplin Cavalcade
Various roles
 
1938 Charlie Chaplin Carnival
Various roles
 
1918 Chase Me Charlie
Edna Sugar-Plum
 
1916 The Essanay-Chaplin Revue of 1916
The farmer's daughter/Her sister
 

Related Videos

The Rink -- After amusements working in a restaurant, Charlie uses his lunch break to go roller skating. Mr. Stout makes advances toward the unwilling Edna (whose father and Mrs... The Pawnshop -- Charlie competes with his fellow shop assistant. He is fired by the pawnbroker and rehired. He nearly destroys everything in the shop and and himself. He helps capture a burglar. He destroys a client's clock while examining it in detail. Shanghaied -- A shipowner intends to scuttle his ship on its last voyage to get the insurance money. Charlie, a tramp in love with the owner's daughter...
See all 15 »
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Personal Details

Publicity Listings:

8 Articles  | See more »

Height:

5' 2" (1.57 m)
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Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

Mr. Chaplin asked me if I would like to act in pictures with him. I laughed at the idea, but agreed to try it. I guess he took me because I had nothing to unlearn and he could teach me in his own way. I want to tell you that I suffered untold agonies. Eyes seemed to be everywhere. I was simply frightened to death. But he had unlimited patience in directing me and teaching me. See more »

Trivia:

After Edna's retirement in 1926, Chaplin continued to keep her on his payroll for decades, showing her much more concern and consideration than he did to any of his former wives. See more »

Star Sign:

Libra