Evelyn Selbie-Actress (Hollywood Silent era)

 

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Monday 05, January 2026, 06:20.

Selbie in 1919

ABOUT:

Born July 6, 1871, Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.

Died December 7, 1950 (aged 79), Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, U.S.

Resting place Inglewood Park Cemetery, Inglewood, California, U.S.

Occupation Actress

Years active 1916–1941

Introduction:

Evelyn Selbie (July 6, 1871 – December 7, 1950) was an American stage actress and performer in both silent and sound films.

Biography:

Born in Louisville, Kentucky, as a young woman Selbie was a sidesaddle rider. She had a career which lasted twenty-five years on the stage. She began in Proctor's stock companies in New York after leaving her home. She acted in plays like Human Hearts and The Cat and the Canary. In the former production she starred for two seasons. Selbie also acted in the stock theater company that operated at the Grand Theater in Reno, Nevada. Then she ventured west where she tenured 18 months at the old Central Theatre in San Francisco, California. This was followed by a season in stock in San Diego, California and then a long one in Alaska with T.D. Frawley. During the Alaska tour Evelyn alternated leads with Virginia Thornton.

In 1909, Selbie joined a vaudeville team, leaving the Bentley stock company.

Selbie began her motion picture career in 1912 with the Essanay Company as the leading lady of Broncho Billy Anderson[4] and worked with that company nine years. Her silent movie credits include The Squaw Man, which was the first Hollywood production of Cecil B. De Mille.[6] She continued in motion pictures until 1949 with The Doolins of Oklahoma, in which she played Birdie. She participated in the Fu Manchu film serials and did freelance work on radio.

On December 7, 1950, Selbie died at the Motion Picture Country Hospital in Los Angeles, California. She was 79. Selbie entered the Motion Picture Country Hospital two weeks after suffering a heart attack. The interment was at Inglewood Park Cemetery, Inglewood, California.

Selected filmography:

The People vs. John Doe (1916) – Mrs. Doe

The Price of Silence (1916) – Jenny Cupps

The Mysterious Mrs. M (1917) – Mrs. Musselwhite

The Terror (1917) – Mrs. Connelly

The Voice on the Wire (1917, Serial) – Pale Ida

The Flower of Doom (1917) – Arn Fun

The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1917) – Sarah

The Flashlight (1917) – Mrs. Barclay

Pay Me! (1917) – Hilda Hendricks

Sirens of the Sea (1917) – Hadji

The Grand Passion (1918) – Boston Kate

The Two-Soul Woman (1918) – Leah

Danger, Go Slow (1918) – Miss Witherspoon (uncredited)

The Red Glove (1919) – Tiajuana

Uncharted Channels (1920) – Elsa Smolski

A Broadway Cowboy (1920) – Miss Howell

Seeds of Vengeance (1920) – Martha Ryerson

The Devil to Pay (1920) – Mrs. Roan

The Broken Gate (1920) – Julia Delafield

Devil Dog Dawson (1921)

Without Benefit of Clergy (1921) – Ameera's mother

The Devil Within (1921) – Witch

Silver Spurs (1922) – Tehama

The Half Breed (1922) – Mary

Thorns and Orange Blossoms (1922) – Fallie, Rosita's Maid

Omar the Tentmaker (1922) – Zarah

The Tiger's Claw (1923) – Azun

Snowdrift (1923) – Wananebish (prologue)

The Broken Wing (1924) – Quichita

Name the Man (1924) – Lisa Collister

Flapper Wives (1924) – Hulda

Poisoned Paradise: The Forbidden Story of Monte Carlo (1924) – Madame Tranquille

Mademoiselle Midnight (1924) – Chiquita

Romance Ranch (1924) – Tessa

A Cafe in Cairo (1924) – Batooka

The Prairie Pirate (1925) – Marie – Housekeeper (uncredited)

Lord Jim (1925) – Sultan's Wife (uncredited)

The Test of Donald Norton (1926) – Nee-tah-wee-gan

Hell-Bent for Heaven (1926) – Meg Hunt – Sid's Mother

Silken Shackles (1926) – Tade's Mother

The Silver Treasure (1926) – Mother Teresa

Flame of the Argentine (1926) – Nana

Into Her Kingdom (1926) – Stepan's Mother

The Country Beyond (1926) – Martha Leseur

Prisoners of the Storm (1926) – Lillian Nicholson

Rose of the Tenements (1926) – Sara Kaminsky

Camille (1926) – Camille's Mother

The King of Kings (1927) – (uncredited)

Wings (1927) – Dressing Room Attendant (uncredited)

The American (1927) (never-released widescreen film)

Eager Lips (1927)

Wild Geese (1927)

Eternal Love (1929)

The Mysterious Dr. Fu Manchu (1929)

Love Comes Along (1930)

Dangerous Paradise (1930)

The Return of Dr. Fu Manchu (1930)

Desert Vengeance (1931)

Diamond Frontier (1940)

White Eagle (1941)

*****

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