Known For
Acting
Known Credits
74
Gender
Female
Birthday
February 11, 1906 (120 years old)
Place of Birth
New York City, New York, USA
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."
| 2024 | Laurel & Hardy: Year Twoas (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| 1940 | He Asked for Itas | |
| 1940 | Sunk by the Censusas | |
| 1940 | Bested by a Beardas Mrs. Vivian Errol | |
| 1940 | A Chump at Oxfordas Mrs. Vandevere (uncredited) | |
| 1939 | Truth Achesas Mrs. Errol | |
| 1939 | Home Boneras | |
| 1938 | Swiss Missas Tradesman's wife | |
| 1937 | Topperas | |
| 1936 | Sleepless Hollowas Harry's Wife | |
| 1936 | While the Cat's Awayas Emma | |
| 1934 | Merry Wives of Renoas Male-Seeking Woman in Hotel Lobby (uncredited) | |
| 1933 | His Silent Racketas Mrs. Finlayson | |
| 1933 | Asleep in the Feetas Dance Hall Hostess | |
| 1932 | The Millionaire Catas Natalie | |
| 1932 | Yoo-Hooas Anita | |
| 1932 | Show Businessas Anita Garvin | |
| 1932 | The Hollywood Handicapas | |
| 1931 | Murder at Midnightas Party Guest (uncredited) | |
| 1931 | The Skullsas Señora Laurel | |
| 1931 | Be Big!as Mrs. Laurel (uncredited) | |
| 1931 | The Chiselersas Mme. Laurel | |
| 1930 | Whispering Whoopeeas Miss Garvin | |
| 1930 | Blottoas Mrs. Laurel | |
| 1930 | Sallyas Party Guest (uncredited) | |
| 1929 | Dynamiteas Undetermined Role (uncredited) | |
| 1929 | Red Hot Rhythmas Mable | |
| 1929 | Stepping Outas The Date | |
| 1929 | Hunting the Hunteras | |
| 1929 | Our Modern Maidensas Bridesmaid (uncredited) | |
| 1929 | The Single Standardas Packy's Jealous Girlfriend at Art Exhibition (uncredited) | |
| 1929 | Modern Loveas Mrs. Weston - the Brunette | |
| 1929 | On With the Show!as Chorine (uncredited) | |
| 1929 | Movie Nightas | |
| 1929 | The Charlatanas Mrs. Paynter | |
| 1929 | Trent's Last Caseas Ottilie Dunois | |
| 1929 | Off to Buffaloas Mrs. Brown | |
| 1929 | A Pair of Tightsas Anita | |
| 1929 | Going Ga-Gaas Anita | |
| 1928 | Feed 'em and Weepas | |
| 1928 | Imagine My Embarrassmentas | |
| 1928 | Roaming Romeoas The Princess | |
| 1928 | Their Purple Momentas Oliver's Girlfriend | |
| 1928 | Fandangoas | |
| 1928 | The Play Girlas Millie | |
| 1928 | From Soup to Nutsas Mrs. Culpepper | |
| 1927 | The Battle of the Centuryas Slips on pie (uncredited) | |
| 1927 | Never the Dames Shall Meetas Edna's Sister | |
| 1927 | Fighting Fathersas Mrs. Sniffleblaster | |
| 1927 | Assistant Wivesas Gwendolyn - the Flapjack Queen | |
| 1927 | Hats Offas Customer at top of stairs | |
| 1927 | Sailors, Beware!as Madame Ritz | |
| 1927 | With Love and Hissesas Captain Bustle's 1st girlfriend | |
| 1927 | Why Girls Love Sailorsas Captain's Wife | |
| 1927 | Baby Brotheras Amorous nursemaid | |
| 1927 | Forgotten Sweetiesas | |
| 1927 | Upstreamas Theatre Audience Admirer at Stage Door | |
| 1927 | Two-Time Mamaas Mrs. Dazzle | |
| 1927 | Many Scrappy Returnsas Wellington's Wife | |
| 1927 | The Motor Boat Demonas Colleen | |
| 1926 | Bertha the Sewing Machine Girlas Flo Mason | |
| 1926 | Raggedy Roseas Janice | |
| 1926 | Move Alongas Rich girl with roses | |
| 1926 | Creepsas | |
| 1926 | For Sadie's Sakeas | |
| 1925 | My Swedieas Ethel Lorraine | |
| 1925 | Fair But Foolishas | |
| 1925 | A Taxi Waras | |
| 1925 | Book Bozoas | |
| 1925 | The Sleuthas The other woman | |
| 1925 | In the Greaseas Physical Culture teacher | |
| 1925 | A Dangerous Peachas Mrs. Wilson | |
| 1924 | The Last Man on Earthas A Millionairess (uncredited) | |
| 1924 | Bright Lightsas |