Mollie King (actress)

Mollie King (born Mary Josephine King; April 16, 1895 – December 28, 1981) was an American stage and screen actress.[3]

For the British singer, see Mollie King.
Mollie King
Born
Mary Josephine King

(1895-04-16)April 16, 1895
New York City
United States
DiedDecember 28, 1981(1981-12-28) (aged 86)
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
United States
Occupation(s)Stage and film actor
Years active1902–1924
Spouse(s)Kenneth Deedes Alexander[1]
(m.1919–1935; his death)
Thomas H. Claffey
(m.?–1981; her death)
Children1 son (Kenneth Deedes Alexander Jr.)[2]

Early life and stage career

Mollie King was born in New York City in 1895, the daughter of Ellen Mary (née Kearney) and Thomas Joseph King, both natives of Ireland. Two of her older siblings, Charles King and Nellie King also became actors and were likely instrumental in obtaining earlier roles for her in theatre.[4] Mollie began working professionally on stage at the age of seven. Later, by age 16, she was appearing at the Winter Garden Theatre and at other Broadway venues.[5] A few of her stage credits include roles in Good Morning, Judge and Blue Eyes.[4][5]

Film career

King signed with Pathé before moving into film acting.[6] She was cast in leading roles in two John M. Stahl directed films, and also starred in serials. George Irving directed her in the film Her Majesty.[7] She later returned to the stage, appearing with her brother Charles King in a musical comedy Good Morning, Judge.[5]

Personal life and death

In 1918, King tried to enlist as an ambulance driver for the US Army in France. It took two sergeants and a first lieutenant to convince her that women are no wanted at that position.[8]

King married Kentucky distiller Kenneth D. Alexander in 1919.[5][9] The couple remained married until Kenneth's death in Arkansas in July 1935. King later married Thomas H. Claffey.

In 1981, at age 86, King died in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Her gravesite, however, is in her hometown of New York City, at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx.

Filmography
The Moving Picture World, 1919

References
  1. In 1920 and later film-industry publications, Mollie's husband is erroneously and repeatedly cited as "Kenneth Dade Alexander".
  2. The Wisconsin Historical Society has a 1920 studio portrait of Mollie King holding "her son"; see "Mollie King Alexander and her Son | Photograph". Wisconsin Historical Society. December 1, 2003.
  3. Wilson, Scott (August 17, 2016). Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed. McFarland. ISBN 9780786479924 – via Google Books.
  4. Pollack, Howard (January 15, 2007). George Gershwin: His Life and Work. University of California Press. p. 255. ISBN 9780520248649 – via Internet Archive. blue eyes mollie king.
  5. "PRETTY ACTRESS MOLLIE KING WEDS KENNETH D. ALEXANDER". The Bourbon News. 30 May 1919. p. 8.
  6. "Mollie King". Rotten Tomatoes.
  7. Koszarski, Richard; Beauchamp, Cari (August 19, 2008). Hollywood on the Hudson: Film and Television in New York from Griffith to Sarnoff. Rutgers University Press. ISBN 9780813542935 – via Google Books.
  8. Te Twin City Star (August 17, 1918). "Molly Was Persistent". Chronicling America. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  9. "MOLLIE KING MARRIES.; Her Wedding to Kenneth D. Alexander, Kentucky Distiller, a Surprise". The New York Times. May 27, 1919 – via NYTimes.com.
  10. "The Moving Picture World". World Photographic Publishing Company. August 19, 1916 – via Google Books.
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