LITTLE MARY'S
BIOGRAPHY
Her early years are vague to say the least. According to Mary she was born Gladsy Maire Smith on April 9, 1893. In reality she was born Gladsy Louise Smith on April 8, 1892 in Toronto, Cannada. Her childhood eerly resmbles that of Charlie Chaplain and Lillian Gish. Her father was a hopeless alcholic who changed occupations frequently. He died after abandoning his family while looking for work. To avoid destitution and the possible breakup of her family, Mary's mother Charolette found work for her daughter work on the stage along with Mary's younger sister Lottie and younger brother Jack. Mary was a tremendous success and soon appeared in Broadway under the guidance of producer David Belasco who changed her name from Gladys Smith to Mary Pickford.
Despite her stage successes money was still short so Charolette convinced her daughter to work in the "Flickers" between stage productions. Mary then signed a contract with the a new studion in New York called Biograph in 1908. The boss of this studio was director D.W. Griffith who was to be Mary's mentor. By 1910 Mary was already more famous for her movie work then for her stage acting. In 1912 Mary introduced Mr. Griffith to her friends Lillian and Dorothy Gish whom she met while working on the stage. Pickford left Biograph when D.W. Griffith began using Lillian as a possible threat to Mary's career. Before she left she married Owen Moore a handsome actor who worked with Mary at Biograph. Mary then switched form studio to studio demanding more money then the one before.
In 1917 Mary went on a nation wide tour to sell Liberty Bonds during World War I. While touring she met her future husband Doug Fairbanks the dashing swash buckler of the movies. In 1919 in an era when most women didn't even work Mary cofounded United Artists Studios with Doug Fairbanks, his friend Charlie Chaplain, and her old boss D.W. Griffith. The following got married after they both divorced their old spouses. They named their home "PickFair" a combination of their last names. Their home soon became the social Mecca of Hollywood and was known to have the most stylish parties and guests. The newlyweds often travled the world together and was seen by the public as the most perfect couple in the world. Sadly the marriage was never really a happy one and the couple separted in 1929 and later divorced in 1936.
In 1937 Mary married her frequent costar Charles "Buddy" Rogers who was also a muscian. Mary who had retired from acting in 1933 and who had previously won an Academy Award for her work in "Coquette" 1929 spent her time promoting several differnt charities. She aslo helped incorperate Beveraly Hills as well as starting her own cosmetic line.She was also considered but later turned the role of Norma Desmond in "Sunst Blvd." In 1958 Mary was the owner of the largest collection of Jewerly in the world. Mary drew away from the public light in 1966, rarely leaving PickFair and becoming increasingly dependent on alchol. In 1976 she did appear at the Academy Awarads to recive her Life Time Acheivemnt Award. It would be her last public appearance. She later died due to a cerbral hemmorage on May 29, 1979 at the age of 87.
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