Betty Compson

 Betty Compson, born Eleanor Luicime Compson (March 19, 1897 – April 18, 1974)

She began her show business career as a violinist and toured with her mother in vaudeville. Betty was offered a contract with Al Christie in 1915. Over the next five years she appeared in more than forty short films. Her career gained a major boost when she co-starred with Lon Chaney in the 1919 drama The Miracle Man. She was called "The Prettiest Girl in Pictures" and became one of the highest paid actresses in Hollywood. Betty was also one of the first women to run her own production company. In 1921 she starred in and produced the movie Prisoners Of Love. She married actor James Cruz in 1925, but they had a difficult relationship and separated several times. Unlike some silent stars, Betty was able to make the transition to talkies. She was nominated for an Academy award in 1928 for her performance in The Barker. Betty ended her marriage to Cruze in 1930 and was left nearly bankrupt by their divorce. She was forced to sell her home and many of her possessions. Betty continued to make several movies a year and even started her own cosmetics line. Her second marriage, to producer Irving Weinberg, lasted just four years. At their divorce trial she testified that he left her home alone while he went out with other women.

In 1944 she married professional boxer Silvius John Gall and decided to retire from Hollywood. Her final film was the comedy Here Comes Trouble. Betty Compson died from a heart attack on April 18, 1974 at age 77. She is buried at San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills, California.