Clarine Seymour

Clarine Seymour was an American actress whose career, though brief, left a lasting impression. Born in Brooklyn, New York, she grew up in a wealthy Methodist family, performing in church plays with her mother as a child. When her father fell ill in 1916, his business closed, and Clarine began working as a movie extra to help support the family. She appeared in several short films and danced in vaudeville. In 1917, Hal Roach offered her a contract, and she moved to Los Angeles. She was given the female lead in a series of comedy films starring Toto the clown. After making a few films, Roach fired her for refusing dangerous stunts. Clarine sued him and was awarded more than $1,300 in damages. In 1919, D.W. Griffith cast her in his drama The Girl Who Stayed Home. Her performance earned good reviews, and she was cast as a seductive native woman in The Idol Dancer. She loved dramatic roles and said she never wanted to do comedy again. In early 1920, D.W. Griffith signed her to a four-year contract rumored to be worth two million dollars. She was featured on the cover of Motion Picture magazine, and in March 1920, she went to New York City to make the romantic drama Way Down East. On April 21, she became ill and was hospitalized due to "intestinal strangulation." She underwent surgery, but her condition worsened, and she developed pneumonia. Clarine died on April 25, 1920, at just 21 years old. She was buried at Greenwood Union Cemetery in Rye, New York. Rumors circulated that her death stemmed from a botched abortion or exposure to freezing temperatures during filming. Her friend Lillian Gish claimed Clarine was engaged to be married when she died. In one of her final interviews, Clarine said, "I want to go on working and learning for a long time yet. Then if I am worth it, I hope for stardom like all the rest." Clarine was a rising talent whose life ended too soon, but her work and her story endure. She remains a poignant figure in early Hollywood, remembered for her dramatic flair and the promise she showed.