All The Babes
Career
Active 1920 – 1923
Biography
About Evelyn Nelson
Evelyn Nelson, born Dorris Evelyn Nelson on November 13, 1899 in Chloride, Arizona, was an American actress of the silent era. Her father was a miner and cattle owner, and when she was a child, the family moved to Los Angeles. She began her career at Bull's Eye films, appearing in the 1920 comedy Don't Park Here. Vitagraph signed her, and she costarred with Oliver Hardy in The Backyard and The Decorator. In 1921, she was chosen as Jack Hoxie's leading lady in Cyclone Bliss, leading to a series of westerns with him, including The Crow's Nest, The Desert Bridegroom, and Two-Fisted Jefferson.
Her older sister Pauline also became an actress. After her father's death, Evelyn moved into a modest apartment with her mother. She began a passionate affair with married actor Wallace Reid, but Reid ended it, fearing it would ruin his career. In January 1923, Wallace died of a drug overdose, and Evelyn was devastated. By June 1923, she had finished filming Desert Rider, but she was physically and emotionally exhausted. She was only twenty-three.
On June 16, 1923, she committed suicide by turning on the gas in her apartment, leaving two suicide notes. One said she was "tired" and wanted "rest more than anything in the world." The other said, "I am just about gone and will soon be with my friend Wally." She was buried in an unmarked grave at Rosedale cemetery in Los Angeles. Evelyn's story, marked by early fame and tragic loss, remains a poignant chapter in early Hollywood history. Her career spanned just three years, from 1920 to 1923, but it was enough to leave a lasting impression.
Record
Profile details
Personal
- Died
- Saturday 16th of June 1923 (age 23)
- Years Active
- 1920-1923 (started around 20 years old; 3 years active)
- Birthplace
- United States
- Ethnicity
- Caucasian
- Sexuality
- Straight
Frequently asked
What was Evelyn Nelson's real name?
Evelyn's birth name was Dorris Evelyn Nelson.
How did Evelyn Nelson die?
She died by suicide on June 16, 1923, by turning on the gas in her apartment.
What were Evelyn Nelson's last words?
In her suicide note, she wrote, "I am just about gone and will soon be with my friend Wally," referring to Wallace Reid.
Who was Evelyn Nelson's most frequent co-star?
She made a series of westerns with Jack Hoxie, including Cyclone Bliss, The Crow's Nest, The Desert Bridegroom, and Two-Fisted Jefferson.
Did you know
- Evelyn began her career at Bull's Eye films and appeared in the 1920 comedy Don't Park Here.
- She was chosen to be Jack Hoxie's leading lady, a role that led to a string of westerns.
- After Wallace Reid's death in January 1923, she was reported to be devastated, and she died five months later.
- She was buried in an unmarked grave at Rosedale cemetery in Los Angeles.
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