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Anita Garvin

Known For
Acting

Known Credits
74

Gender
Female

Birthday
February 11, 1906 (120 years old)

Place of Birth
New York City, New York, USA

Anita Garvin

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. 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

Acting

2024Laurel & Hardy: Year Twoas (archive footage) (uncredited)
1940He Asked for Itas
1940Sunk by the Censusas
1940Bested by a Beardas Mrs. Vivian Errol
1940A Chump at Oxfordas Mrs. Vandevere (uncredited)
1939Truth Achesas Mrs. Errol
1939Home Boneras
1938Swiss Missas Tradesman's wife
1937Topperas
1936Sleepless Hollowas Harry's Wife
1936While the Cat's Awayas Emma
1934Merry Wives of Renoas Male-Seeking Woman in Hotel Lobby (uncredited)
1933His Silent Racketas Mrs. Finlayson
1933Asleep in the Feetas Dance Hall Hostess
1932The Millionaire Catas Natalie
1932Yoo-Hooas Anita
1932Show Businessas Anita Garvin
1932The Hollywood Handicapas
1931Murder at Midnightas Party Guest (uncredited)
1931The Skullsas Señora Laurel
1931Be Big!as Mrs. Laurel (uncredited)
1931The Chiselersas Mme. Laurel
1930Whispering Whoopeeas Miss Garvin
1930Blottoas Mrs. Laurel
1930Sallyas Party Guest (uncredited)
1929Dynamiteas Undetermined Role (uncredited)
1929Red Hot Rhythmas Mable
1929Stepping Outas The Date
1929Hunting the Hunteras
1929Our Modern Maidensas Bridesmaid (uncredited)
1929The Single Standardas Packy's Jealous Girlfriend at Art Exhibition (uncredited)
1929Modern Loveas Mrs. Weston - the Brunette
1929On With the Show!as Chorine (uncredited)
1929Movie Nightas
1929The Charlatanas Mrs. Paynter
1929Trent's Last Caseas Ottilie Dunois
1929Off to Buffaloas Mrs. Brown
1929A Pair of Tightsas Anita
1929Going Ga-Gaas Anita
1928Feed 'em and Weepas
1928Imagine My Embarrassmentas
1928Roaming Romeoas The Princess
1928Their Purple Momentas Oliver's Girlfriend
1928Fandangoas
1928The Play Girlas Millie
1928From Soup to Nutsas Mrs. Culpepper
1927The Battle of the Centuryas Slips on pie (uncredited)
1927Never the Dames Shall Meetas Edna's Sister
1927Fighting Fathersas Mrs. Sniffleblaster
1927Assistant Wivesas Gwendolyn - the Flapjack Queen
1927Hats Offas Customer at top of stairs
1927Sailors, Beware!as Madame Ritz
1927With Love and Hissesas Captain Bustle's 1st girlfriend
1927Why Girls Love Sailorsas Captain's Wife
1927Baby Brotheras Amorous nursemaid
1927Forgotten Sweetiesas
1927Upstreamas Theatre Audience Admirer at Stage Door
1927Two-Time Mamaas Mrs. Dazzle
1927Many Scrappy Returnsas Wellington's Wife
1927The Motor Boat Demonas Colleen
1926Bertha the Sewing Machine Girlas Flo Mason
1926Raggedy Roseas Janice
1926Move Alongas Rich girl with roses
1926Creepsas
1926For Sadie's Sakeas
1925My Swedieas Ethel Lorraine
1925Fair But Foolishas
1925A Taxi Waras
1925Book Bozoas
1925The Sleuthas The other woman
1925In the Greaseas Physical Culture teacher
1925A Dangerous Peachas Mrs. Wilson
1924The Last Man on Earthas A Millionairess (uncredited)
1924Bright Lightsas

Production