Betty Bronson

American actress Betty Bronson was born in Trenton, New Jersey, to Frank and Nellie Smith Bronson. She moved to East Orange, New Jersey, and attended East Orange High School until she convinced her parents to let her move to California to aid her career in films. The entire family soon followed.

Bronson began her film career at 16 with a bit part in Anna Ascends. At 17, she was personally chosen by J. M. Barrie, author of Peter Pan, to play the lead in the 1924 film adaptation, beating out established actresses like Gloria Swanson and Mary Pickford. She later played Mary, mother of Jesus, in the 1925 silent Ben-Hur and starred in another Barrie story, A Kiss for Cinderella. She transitioned successfully into sound films with The Singing Fool (1928) opposite Al Jolson, followed by Sonny Boy (1929) and The Medicine Man (1930) with Jack Benny.

Bronson married Ludwig Lauerhass in 1933 and had a son, Ludwig Jr. She returned to the screen in Yodelin' Kid from Pine Ridge (1937) and appeared in episodic television and films in the 1960s. Her last role was an uncredited part in the biopic Evel Knievel (1971). She died on October 19, 1971, in Pasadena, California, and was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale. She was petite, standing 5'0" with a slim build.