Phyllis Haver
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Biography
An adorable blonde comedienne of silent films, Haver got her start as a Mack Sennett bathing beauty. She began work in 1917 and was soon a top-line comic at $25 a week in such two-reelers as "A Bedroom Blunder" (1917), "Why Beaches Are Popular," "Love Honor and Behave" (1920) and "On a Summer's Day." She also appeared in a few Sennett features, such as "Yankee Doodle in Berlin" (1919) and "A Small Town Idol" (1921).
Although Haver was very happy with Sennett, he kicked her out of the nest when feature companies came calling for her services. She went on to star in a number of hit films throughout the 1920s, working for nearly every studio and director in the business. She was a golddigger in "The Bolted Door" (1923), portrayed "The Perfect Flapper" (1924), co-starred with John Gilbert as "The Snob" (1924), pursued "Other Women's Husbands" (1926), was seduced by John Barrymore's "Don Juan" (1926), flirted her way through "What Price Glory?" (1926) and was a thieving adventuress in "The Way of All Flesh" (1927). Haver's finest hour was her brilliant performance as a publicity-hungry murderess in "Chicago" (1927). Her skills as both a comedienne and a skilled dramatic actress were showcased in this film, which was later remade both onscreen (as the 1942 Ginger Rogers vehicle "Roxie Hart") and was the basis of a 1975 Bob Fosse-John Kander-Fred Ebb musical.
Haver left films in 1929 after a few part-talkies, retiring to marry a millionaire (although the marriage did not last). She settled in a small town in Connecticut, where she stayed out of the headlines until November 19, 1960, committing suicide one week after Mack Sennett's death.
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Cast (Short)
Life Events
1917
Began working at Mack Sennett Studios in two-reel comedies
1919
First feature film, "Yankee Doodle in Berlin"
1923
Left Sennett and began freelancing in features
1926
Had supporting role in "What Price Glory?"
1927
Biggest personal hit, "Chicago"
1929
First (part) talking film, "Sal of Singapore"
1929
Last film, "Thunder"
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