Mildred Harris was an American actress who rose to fame in the early 20th century, starring in silent films, musicals, and comedies. She was also the first wife of the legendary comedian Charlie Chaplin, whom she married when she was only 16 years old. However, her life was not a happy one, as she faced many personal and professional challenges, and died at the age of 42 from pneumonia. This article will explore the life and death of Mildred Harris, and how she became a forgotten star of the silver screen.
Early Career and Marriage to Chaplin
Mildred Harris was born in Cheyenne, Wyoming, on November 29, 1901, to a telegraph operator father and a homemaker mother. She began her acting career at the age of 10, appearing in various Western shorts and children’s films. She also played Fluff in The Magic Cloak of Oz and Button-Bright in His Majesty, the Scarecrow of Oz, produced by The Oz Film Manufacturing Company. In 1916, she landed a role as a harem girl in D.W. Griffith’s epic Intolerance, which exposed her to a wider audience.
In mid-1918, she met Charlie Chaplin, who was 29 years old and already a world-famous star. They dated for a few months, and Harris thought she was pregnant by him, but it turned out to be a false alarm. However, they decided to get married anyway, and tied the knot in a secret ceremony in Los Angeles on October 23, 1918. Harris later became pregnant for real, and gave birth to a son, Norman Spencer Chaplin, on July 7, 1919. Unfortunately, the baby suffered from several birth defects and died three days later. This tragedy took a toll on the couple’s relationship, which was already strained by Chaplin’s infidelity and Harris’s ambition.
Divorce and Decline
Harris and Chaplin separated in 1920, and their divorce was finalized in 1921. Harris accused Chaplin of cruelty, abuse, and desertion, and demanded a large alimony. Chaplin denied the charges and claimed that Harris was unfaithful and greedy. The divorce was a scandalous affair, and received a lot of media attention. Harris eventually received $100,000 from Chaplin, which was a huge sum at the time.
After the divorce, Harris tried to revive her career, and starred in several films with popular actors such as Conrad Nagel, Charley Chase, Milton Sills, Lionel Barrymore, Rod La Rocque, and the Moore brothers, Owen and Tom. She also appeared in Frank Capra’s The Power of the Press with Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. and Jobyna Ralston, and Universal Pictures’ first sound film Melody of Love with Walter Pidgeon. However, she found it hard to transition to sound films, and her roles became less frequent and less prominent. She also struggled with alcoholism and drug addiction, and had financial difficulties.
Harris married twice more, first to Everett Terrence McGovern, a former army officer and insurance agent, in 1924, and then to Bill Fleckenstein, a restaurateur, in 1934. Both marriages ended in divorce. She also performed in vaudeville and burlesque, and toured with comedian Phil Silvers. She received some praise for her performance in the 1930 film adaptation of the Broadway musical No, No Nanette, but it was not enough to revive her fading fame. She also had a minor role in the 1936 Three Stooges comedy Movie Maniacs, where she played a startled film starlet.
Death and Legacy
Harris’s health deteriorated in the early 1940s, and she was diagnosed with pneumonia. She underwent a major abdominal operation in July 1944, but it was unsuccessful. She died on July 20, 1944, at the age of 42, in Los Angeles. She was buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, near her son Norman.
Mildred Harris was one of the first child stars of Hollywood, and one of the earliest wives of Charlie Chaplin. She had a promising career in silent films, but could not adapt to the changing times and tastes of the industry. She also suffered from personal problems, such as failed marriages, substance abuse, and financial troubles. She died young and forgotten, overshadowed by her famous ex-husband and his later wives. However, she deserves to be remembered as a talented and beautiful actress, who had a brief but bright moment of glory in the history of cinema.
Sources: According to Wikipedia, according to The Daily Beast, according to The Celebrity Deaths, according to The Famous People.
