Claire Windsor

Silent-era film star Claire Windsor as captured by photographer Fred Hartsook (circa 1925). She was born Clara Viola Cronk in Cawker City, Kansas on April 14, 1892. Windsor's film debut was in the 1920 release of “To Please One Woman” which was only a modest success. In 1921, she co-starred with Louis Calhern in “The Blot” (1921). In 1922 she signed a contract with Goldwyn Pictures Corporation, appearing in “Broken Chains” with fellow WAMPAS Baby Star Colleen Moore. Throughout the 1920s, Windsor established herself as highly regarded leading lady. As her career progressed, she was often typecast as the "upscale society girl", often playing the part of a princess, or monied socialite. Critics lauded her elegant fashion sense, and Windsor became a noted trend-setter of 1920s fashion. In 1924, she was one of the top stars at the newly formed Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio. Later, at Tiffany Pictures, “Souls for Sables” (1925), was a box-office hit for Windsor. By the late 1920s, like many others, she found it difficult to move into talking pictures. She made several talkies throughout the 1930s but could never recapture the success of her earlier years as a silent screen actress. She had a brief stint on a road tour with Al Jolson in the production of “The Wonder Bar” and occasionally took stage parts. In her later years, Windsor devoted herself to painting. The elegant star passed away of a heart attack on October 24, 1972, at the age of 80.

(www.hollywoodpinups.com)