Kathlyn Williams
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Biography
Athletic blonde star of the first successful movie serial, Kathlyn Williams was a major film player from the early 1910s and later became an equally busy character actress. The Montana native was active in stock companies when signed by Col. William Selig to star for his Chicago-based film company in 1910. Williams specialized in action films, often co-starring the famed Selig zoo animals. She made scores of films in the early 1910s, but it was "The Adventures of Kathlyn" (1913-1914) which earned her a place in the history books.
This action/adventure serial pre-dated "The Perils of Pauline," and was so popular it was largely responsible for the serial craze of the late 1910s. Williams continued starring for Selig until 1916, when she moved with her new husband, executive Charles Eyton, to Paramount. She continued as a leading lady until the mid-1920s, by which time her frankly middle-aged looks typecast her as a character actress. She mothered such stars as Greta Garbo ("The Single Standard") and Anita Page ("Our Dancing Daughters") before retiring shortly after the advent of talkies.
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Writer (Feature Film)
Life Events
1910
Film debut, "Gold Is Not All"
1910
Signed with Selig (through 1916)
1912
Screenwriting and directing debut, "The Last Dance" (also starred)
1913
Starred in "The Adventures of Kathlyn," first successful movie serial
1917
Signed with Paramount (through 1926)
1929
Talking film debut, "Wedding Rings"
1935
Last film, "Rendezvous at Midnight"
1949
Lost leg in a car accident
Family
Companions
