 (October 20, 1899 – June 4, 1975)
Born Mary Elizabeth Riggs in Tampa, Florida and known as Betty, she
was a child of ten when her mother died, leaving her father to raise
her alone. After moving to New York City as a teenager, her good
looks brought modeling jobs that led to an opportunity to become
involved in the still relatively new business of making motion
pictures. She originally studied to be a teacher. While attending a
normal school in New York she visited the World Film Studio in Fort
Lee, New Jersey. Two days later she was working there as an extra
making $3 a day. She began her film
career working under her own name at a New Jersey film studio then
made her major debut in the 1915 silent film production of the
Robert W. Service poem, The Shooting of Dan McGrew.
As Evelyn Brent, she continued to work in film, developing into a
young woman whose sultry looks were much sought after. After World
War I, she went to London for a vacation. The actress remained four
years in England, performing in films produced by British companies.
She also worked on stage there before going to Hollywood in 1922.
Mid-1920s promotional image issued by Film Booking Offices, later
acquired by RKO Evelyn went on to make more than two dozen silent
films including three for the noted Austrian director, Josef von
Sternberg. In 1928 she starred opposite William Powell in what was
her own and Paramount Studios first talkie. Brent played major roles
in several more sound features, most notably The Silver Horde in
1930. |
