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Edna Purviance (October 21 1895 – January 11 1958) was an American actress during the silent movie era. She was the leading lady in many Charlie Chaplin movies. In a span of eight years, she appeared in over 30 films with Chaplin.

Biography

Edna Purviance was born in Paradise Valley, Nevada to Louise and Madison Gates Purviance. At the age of three, her family moved to Lovelock, Nevada to take part in the hotel industry. In 1902, her parents were divorced and her mother was later re-married to Robert Nurnberger, a German plumber. Growing up, Purviance was a talented piano player. Upon her high school graduation in 1913, Purviance attended business college in San Francisco.

In 1915, Charlie Chaplin was working on his second film with Essanay Studios, working out of Niles, California, one hour southeast of San Francisco. Chaplin was looking for a leading lady to appear in his film, A Night Out. One of Chaplin's associates noticed Purviance at a Tate's Café in San Francisco and thought she should be cast in the film. Chaplin arranged a meeting with Purviance and although he thought that she was too serious for a comedic role, she won the part.

From 1915-1923, Purviance appeared in 35 Chaplin films, including the 1921 classic The Kid. Her last film with Chaplin, A Woman of Paris was her first lead role. She went on to appear in two more films (Sea Gulls, never released; and Education de Prince, French film release) before retirement from filmmaking in 1926.

Chaplin had tremendous respect for her, she remained on Chaplin's payroll until she died on January 13, 1958. (As stated on her official California death certificate.) She is interred in the Grand View Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.

Filmography

• A Night Out (1915)
• The Champion (1915)

• In the Park (1915)
• A Jitney Elopement (1915)
• The Tramp (1915)
• By the Sea (1915)
• Work (1915)
• A Woman (1915)
• The Bank (1915)
• Shanghaied (1915)
• A Night in the Show (1915)
• Burlesque on Carmen (1915)
• The Floorwalker (1916)
• Police! (1916)
• The Fireman (1916)
• The Vagabond (1916)
• The Count (1916)
• The Pawnshop (1916)
• Behind the Screen (1916)
• The Rink (1916)
• Easy Street (1917)

• The Cure)
• The Immigrant (1917)
• The Adventurer (1917)
• A Dog’s Life (1918)
• Triple Trouble (1918)
• Shoulder Arms (1918)
• The Bond (1918)
• Sunnyside (1919)
• A Day’s Pleasure (1919)
• The Kid (1921) (feature)
• The Idle Class (1921)
• Pay Day (1922)
• The Pilgrim (1923)
• A Woman of Paris (1923) (feature)
• A Woman of the Sea (1926) aka The Sea Gull (feature)
• Education de Prince (1927) aka Education of a Prince (feature)
• Monsieur Verdoux (1947) - possible cameo (disputed)
• Limelight (1952) - possible cameo (disputed)

External links

• Edna Purviance at IMDb
• Edna Purviance
• Edna Purviance at Then & Now

• 1895 births
• 1958 deaths
• Film actors
• American actors
• American film actors
• American silent film actors
• People from Nevada