|
(July 25, 1901 - November 13, 1973)
 Lila
Lee was born Augusta Wilhelmena Fredericka Appel in Union Hill, New
Jersey into a middle-class family of German immigrants who relocated
to New York City when Lila was quite young. Searching for a hobby
for their gregarious young daughter, the Appels enrolled Lila in Gus
Edwards' kiddie review shows where she was given the nicknamed
"Cuddles"; a name that she would be referred to by for the rest of
her acting career. Her stagework became so popular with the public
that her parents had her educated with private tutors. Edwards would
become Lee's long-term manager.
In 1918 she was chosen for a film contract by Hollywood film mogul
Jesse Lasky for Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, which later became
Paramount Pictures. Her first feature The Cruise of the
Make-Believes garnered the seventeen year old starlet much public
acclaim and Lassky quickly sent Lee on an arduous publicity
campaign. Critics lauded Lila for her wholesome persona and
sympathetic character parts. Lee quickly rose to the ranks of
leading lady and often starred opposite such matinee heavies as
Conrad Nagel, Gloria Swanson, Wallace Reid, Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle,
and Rudolph Valentino.
In 1922 Lee was cast as Carmen in the enormously popular film Blood
and Sand, opposite matinee idol Rudolph Valentino and silent screen
vamp Nita Naldi; Lee subsequently won the first WAMPAS Baby Stars
award that year. Lee continued to be a highly popular leading lady
throughout the 1920's and made scores of critically praised and
widely watched films. |
