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Anita Garvin
Actor

Anita Garvin

11 Feb 1906Born
7 Jul 1994Died
88Age at death
74Credits

Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Anita Garvin (February 11, 1907 – July 7, 1994) was an American actress and comedian who appeared in both silent and sound films. She is best known for her work with comedians Laurel and Hardy and Charley Chase.

Garvin was born in New York City.] Her two sisters who danced in vaudeville encouraged her talents. At age 12, she lied to an agent saying she was "almost sixteen" and got a job being a bathing beauty for one of Mack Sennett's stage shows. The following year she joined the Ziegfeld Follies. She took pride in being the only woman allowed to touch Will Rogers's ropes.

Read the full biography

She also appeared in Earl Carroll Vanities.

Garvin went on tour with the musical Sally staying with the show for two seasons, then decided to stay in California when the tour left that stop in 1924. In Hollywood, Garvin began working for Christie Film Company's comedies. She recalled her co-star Bobby Vernon dropping butter on the floor onto which she stepped and tumbled, cementing her career as a comedian. Charles Lamont brought her over to work for Educational Pictures. In 1926, Hal Roach took her under contract, where she appeared in many silent films with Charley Chase, James Finlayson, and Max Davidson as well as playing occasional supporting roles in feature films. Standing around 6 feet tall, "her regal countenance and deadpan expression" made her the perfect comic foil.

Roach later considered her "one of his finest actresses." Reflecting upon her frequent co-star Stan Laurel, Garvin observed: "One thing about Stan--with apologies to a lot of directors--they thought they were directing him. And they thought they were directing the picture. But Stan was the one...He was very clever about it. The director was never cognizant of the fact that he was not doing all the directing. Stan's mind was going all the time, always thinking of gags and things to do. The script didn't mean a thing." Garvin appeared in a total of eleven Laurel and Hardy films. In 1928, she was teamed with Marion Byron as a short-lived female version of Laurel and Hardy. Along with Edgar Kennedy, Byron and Garvin appeared in A Pair of Tights, an "acknowledged masterpiece."

Known for

Filmography

  1. 2024Laurel & Hardy: Year TwoFilm: (archive footage) (uncredited)
  2. 1940He Asked for ItFilm
  3. 1940Sunk by the CensusFilm
  4. 1940Bested by a BeardFilm: Mrs. Vivian Errol
  5. 1940A Chump at OxfordFilm: Mrs. Vandevere (uncredited)
  6. 1939Truth AchesFilm: Mrs. Errol
  7. 1939Home BonerFilm
  8. 1938Swiss MissFilm: Tradesman's wife
  9. 1937TopperFilm
  10. 1936Sleepless HollowFilm: Harry's Wife
  11. 1936While the Cat's AwayFilm: Emma
  12. 1934Merry Wives of RenoFilm: Male-Seeking Woman in Hotel Lobby (uncredited)
  13. 1933His Silent RacketFilm: Mrs. Finlayson
  14. 1933Asleep in the FeetFilm: Dance Hall Hostess
  15. 1932The Millionaire CatFilm: Natalie
  16. 1932Yoo-HooFilm: Anita
  17. 1932Show BusinessFilm: Anita Garvin
  18. 1932The Hollywood HandicapFilm
  19. 1931Murder at MidnightFilm: Party Guest (uncredited)
  20. 1931The SkullsFilm: Señora Laurel
  21. 1931Be Big!Film: Mrs. Laurel (uncredited)
  22. 1931The ChiselersFilm: Mme. Laurel
  23. 1930Whispering WhoopeeFilm: Miss Garvin
  24. 1930BlottoFilm: Mrs. Laurel
  25. 1930SallyFilm: Party Guest (uncredited)
  26. 1929DynamiteFilm: Undetermined Role (uncredited)
  27. 1929Red Hot RhythmFilm: Mable
  28. 1929Stepping OutFilm: The Date
  29. 1929Hunting the HunterFilm
  30. 1929Our Modern MaidensFilm: Bridesmaid (uncredited)
  31. 1929The Single StandardFilm: Packy's Jealous Girlfriend at Art Exhibition (uncredited)
  32. 1929Modern LoveFilm: Mrs. Weston - the Brunette
  33. 1929On With the Show!Film: Chorine (uncredited)
  34. 1929Movie NightFilm
  35. 1929The CharlatanFilm: Mrs. Paynter
  36. 1929Trent's Last CaseFilm: Ottilie Dunois
  37. 1929Off to BuffaloFilm: Mrs. Brown
  38. 1929A Pair of TightsFilm: Anita
  39. 1929Going Ga-GaFilm: Anita
  40. 1928Feed 'em and WeepFilm
  41. 1928Imagine My EmbarrassmentFilm
  42. 1928Roaming RomeoFilm: The Princess
  43. 1928Their Purple MomentFilm: Oliver's Girlfriend
  44. 1928FandangoFilm
  45. 1928The Play GirlFilm: Millie
  46. 1928From Soup to NutsFilm: Mrs. Culpepper
  47. 1927The Battle of the CenturyFilm: Slips on pie (uncredited)
  48. 1927Never the Dames Shall MeetFilm: Edna's Sister
  49. 1927Fighting FathersFilm: Mrs. Sniffleblaster
  50. 1927Assistant WivesFilm: Gwendolyn - the Flapjack Queen
  51. 1927Hats OffFilm: Customer at top of stairs
  52. 1927Sailors, Beware!Film: Madame Ritz
  53. 1927With Love and HissesFilm: Captain Bustle's 1st girlfriend
  54. 1927Why Girls Love SailorsFilm: Captain's Wife
  55. 1927Baby BrotherFilm: Amorous nursemaid
  56. 1927Forgotten SweetiesFilm
  57. 1927UpstreamFilm: Theatre Audience Admirer at Stage Door
  58. 1927Two-Time MamaFilm: Mrs. Dazzle
  59. 1927Many Scrappy ReturnsFilm: Wellington's Wife
  60. 1927The Motor Boat DemonFilm: Colleen
  61. 1926Bertha the Sewing Machine GirlFilm: Flo Mason
  62. 1926Raggedy RoseFilm: Janice
  63. 1926Move AlongFilm: Rich girl with roses
  64. 1926CreepsFilm
  65. 1926For Sadie's SakeFilm
  66. 1925My SwedieFilm: Ethel Lorraine
  67. 1925Fair But FoolishFilm
  68. 1925A Taxi WarFilm
  69. 1925Book BozoFilm
  70. 1925The SleuthFilm: The other woman
  71. 1925In the GreaseFilm: Physical Culture teacher
  72. 1925A Dangerous PeachFilm: Mrs. Wilson
  73. 1924The Last Man on EarthFilm: A Millionairess (uncredited)
  74. 1924Bright LightsFilm

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.