Edith Head (1897 - 1981)

She was born Edith Claire Posener in San Bernardino, California, the daughter of Jewish parents, Max Posener and Anna E. Levy. Her father, born in January 1858, was a naturalized American citizen from Germany, who came to the United States in 1876. Her mother was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1875, the daughter of […]

Edith Holm “Gale” Sondergaard (1899 - 1985)

Actress. Began her acting career on stage, and made her film debut in “Anthony Adverse” at the age of 36. In the early 1950s she saw her career ruined by anti-communist hysteria of the McCarthy era. She and her husband, writer Herbert Biberman was blacklisted. She did not return to the movies until 1969 in […]

Edith Johnson (1894 - 1969)

Actress. Born in Rochester, New York, Edith Johnson was a silent screen performer whom appeared in over 70 films between 1913 to 1924. Her credits included “Dixieland” (1913), “Behind the Lines” (1916), “Guilty” (1916), “A Fight for Love” (1919), “The Steel Trail” (1923) and “The Fast Express” (1924). She died in Los Angeles, California and […]

Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt (1861 - 1948)

Roosevelt was born in Norwich, Connecticut, to merchant Charles Carow (1825–1883) and Gertrude Elizabeth Tyler (1836–1895). Gertrude’s father Daniel Tyler (1799–1882) served as Union general in the American Civil War. Edith grew up next door to Theodore “T.R.” Roosevelt, Jr. (1858–1919) (the elder son of philanthropist Theodore Roosevelt, Sr. and socialite Martha Stewart “Mittie” Bulloch) […]

Edith Mary Evans (1888 - 1976)

Actress. She is best remembered for her work on the British stage, but also appeared in films in the beginning and end of her career. She was widely known for portraying haughty aristocratic women. Her stage career spanned six decades during which she played more than 100 roles, in classics by William Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde, […]

Edith Massey (1918 - 1984)

Motion picture actress. Starred in director John Waters’ cult films “Pink Flamingos” (1972), and “Polyester” (1981). Nicknamed “The Egg Lady.” (bio by: A.J. Marik)

Edith Matthison (1871 - 1955)

Actress. Born Edith Wynne Matthison in Birmingham, England, she was a stage performer whom specialized in Shakespeare productions in European theatres when she relocted to America in the early 1900s. She appeared on Broadway and in the silent films “The Governor’s Lady” (1915) and “National Red Cross Pageant’ (1917). She was the wife of playwright […]

Edith Nesbit (1858 - 1924)

Edith Nesbit was born in 1858 at 38 Lower Kennington Lane in Kennington, Surrey (now part of Greater London), the daughter of an agricultural chemist, John Collis Nesbit, who died in March 1862, before her fourth birthday. Her sister Mary’s ill health meant that the family travelled around for some years, living variously in Brighton, […]

Édith Piaf (1915 - 1963)

Piaf’s mother abandoned her at birth, and she lived for a short time with her maternal grandmother, Emma (Aïcha). When her father enlisted with the French Army in 1916 to fight in World War I, he took her to his mother, who ran a brothel in Normandy. There, prostitutes helped look after Piaf. The bordello […]

Edith Roberts (1901 - 1935)

American Silent Film Actress.  A petite (5 ft. 105 lb.) brunette, Edith Josephine Roberts made her performing debut in vaudeville at age six.  She entered motion pictures as an extra, appearing in comedies with the Nestor, Ince and Christie companies. She joined Universal Pictures in the 1914, and spent a decade there. Films she either […]

Edith Storey (1892 - 1967)

Actress. She was a child actress on the stage who entered films in the early 1910s, becoming soon one of the most celebrated actresses on the American silent screen. She appeared in over one-hundred films within a ten-year period, winning renown for her athleticism and her versatility in a wide range of works that brought […]

Edith Taliaferro (1893 - 1958)

Actress. Cousin of actress Bessie Barriscale. Taliaferro is best remembered as ‘Nellie Nolan’ in “Young Romance.” (1915) (bio by: MC)  Family links:  Spouse:  House Baker Jameson (1902 – 1971)* *Calculated relationship

Edith White Wilson (1872 - 1961)

Edith Bolling was born October 15, 1872 in Wytheville, Virginia to circuit court judge William Holcombe Bolling and his wife Sarah “Sallie” Spears née White. Her birthplace is a contributing building in the Wytheville Historic District. Edith was a descendant of settlers who came to Virginia early in the British colonization of the Americas. Through […]

Edith Windsor (1929 - 2017)

During college, Edith met Saul Windsor. Their relationship ended at one time during the engagement when Windsor fell in love with a female classmate. However, after Windsor decided she did not want to live life as a lesbian, they reconciled and got married after graduation. They divorced less than one year afterward, and she confided […]

Editta Sherman (1912 - 2013)

Editta Sherman (née Rinaldo; July 9, 1912 – November 1, 2013) was an Italian-American photographer, often referred to as the “Duchess of Carnegie Hall”, since she lived and worked in Carnegie Hall Artist Studios for over 60 years. Originally formed as a diverse artist enclave and bohemian work-live rental studios to financially support Andrew Carnegie’s […]

Edmond O’Brien (1915 - 1915)

Edmond O’Brien was born in Brooklyn, New York, of English and Irish stock. After attending Columbia University for one year, he went to Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre on a scholarship. Edmond O’Brien made his first Broadway appearance at age 21 in Daughters of Atreus. Edmond O’Brien made his film debut in 1938, and […]

Edmund Archer (1904 - 1986)

Artist. American portrait and mural painter.  Family links:  Parents:  William Wharton Archer (1854 – 1928)  Sibling:  Sheppard Archer (1898 – 1899)*  Edmund Archer (1904 – 1986) *Calculated relationship

Edmund Beckett (1816 - 1905)

British Peer. Born at Carlton Hall, Nottinghamshire, the son of Sir Edmund Beckett, 4th Baronet Beckett. He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, and was called to the bar in 1841, eventually becoming a very successful litigator. He was also a noted amateur horologist and published ‘Rudimentary Treatise on Clocks, Watches, and Bells’ in 1850. […]

Edmund Blunden (1896 - 1974)

Author. He was born in London, England. He served in the First World War, winning the Military Cross. His life was powerfully dominated by his wartime experience, which he reflected in one of his most renowned works, “Undertones of War” (1928). Also he was a close friend of the poet Siegfried Sassoon. His works include […]

Edmund Blunden (1896 - 1974)

Author. He was born in London, England. He served in the First World War, winning the Military Cross. His life was powerfully dominated by his wartime experience, which he reflected in one of his most renowned works, “Undertones of War” (1928). Also he was a close friend of the poet Siegfried Sassoon. His works include […]

Edmund Breese (1871 - 1936)

American motion picture actor of the 1910s, 20s, and 30s. Appeared in the Marx Brothers’ ‘Duck Soup’ (1933) and in the Victor Fleming classic ‘Treasure Island’ (1934). Died of peritonitis in 1936. (bio by: A.J. Marik)

Edmund Burns (1892 - 1980)

Actor. He began his career as an extra in D.W. Griffith’s silent film “Birth of a Nation” (1915) and went on to be regular in features until the mid 1930s. Among his many credits are “The Slave” (1917), “The Love Burglar” (1919), East Is West” (1922), “Poor Girls” (1927), “Ransom” (1928), “Sea Devils” (1931), “It […]

Edmund Crosse (1804 - 1862)

Entrepreneur. Co-founder of Crosse & Blackwell. He met Thomas Blackwell in 1819 when they were apprentices at the same firm, West and Wyatt, which produced pickles, sauces and condiments. They bought out their employer in 1829 and renamed the company after themselves, expanding their line of goods by purchasing new recipes from top chefs. Two […]

Edmund Fessenden Cobb (1892 - 1974)

Actor. Appeared in over 200 movies and serials, mostly westerns, but also including “Citizen Kane” (1941), “The Glass Key” (1942), “House of Frankenstein” (1944), “Ma and Pa Kettle at the Fair” (1952), “Ma and Pa Kettle at Home” (1954), “The Egyptian” (1954), “River of No Return” (1954, starring Marilyn Monroe and Robert Mitchum), “Lucy Gallant” […]

Edmund Francis Cooke (1885 - 1967)

US Congressman. Born in Prescott, Arizona, he moved with his parents to Alden, New York, in 1887. There he studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1910, practiced law in Alden and served as a member of the New York Assembly, (1923-28). In 1929, he was elected as a Republican to the Seventy-first and […]

Edmund Gilbert (1931 - 1999)

On-screen and cartoon voice actor. Played Fenton Hardy on “The Hardy Boys Mysteries” and was the voice of Baloo on “Talespin.” (bio by: Kenneth McNeil) Cause of death: Lung cancer

Edmund Gwenn (1877 - 1959)

Edmund Gwenn Gwenn was born Edmund Kellaway in Wandsworth, London, on September 26, 1877. He was the oldest boy in the family, which at that time meant he was the only one who really mattered. His father was a British civil servant, and he groomed Edmund to take a position of power in the Empire. […]

Edmund Lowe (1890 - 1971)

Edmund Lowe’s career included over 100 films in which he starred as the leading man. Edmund Lowe is best remembered for his role as Sergeant Quirt in the 1926 movie, What Price Glory. (Lowe reprised his role from the movie in the radio program Captain Flagg and Sergeant Quirt, broadcast on the Blue Network September […]

Edmund Morgan (1916 - 2013)

Morgan was the second child of Edmund Morris Morgan and Elsie Smith Morgan. His mother had been raised in a New England family that practiced Christian Science, though she distanced herself from the faith. His father, descended from Welsh coal miners, taught law at the University of Minnesota. His sister was Roberta Mary Morgan, better […]

Edmund Muskie (1914 - 1996)

Edmund Sixtus “Ed” Muskie (March 28, 1914 – March 26, 1996) was an American statesman, author, academic, and reformer, of Polish origin, who served as the 58th United States Secretary of State under President Jimmy Carter. As head of the U.S. State Department, Muskie was influential in establishing diplomatic ties with foreign entities, developed numerous […]