Anna Laughlin was an American actor who is best known for her roles in “The Wizard of Oz,” “The Amazing Mr. Fellman,” and “The Crown Prince’s Double.”
Personal and Family Life
Anna Laughlin was born on October 11, 1883, in Sacramento, California. She performed in vaudeville at a young age and became well-known as a talented child elocutionist. She married Dwight “Van” Monroe in 1904, and they had a daughter named Lucy in 1906. After her husband’s death in 1921, she focused on raising Lucy, who later became a popular radio singer.
Career Overview
Laughlin made her Broadway debut in 1900, and in 1902, she gained fame playing Dorothy Gale in the first stage adaptation of “The Wizard of Oz.” She also starred in various musicals and solo shows, garnering praise for her beauty and singing talent. In 1913, she transitioned to film and appeared in over a dozen movies before retiring in 1915 to care for her daughter.
Death and Legacy
Anna Laughlin passed away on April 5, 1937, in New York City at the age of 53 from a gas suicide. She left a poignant note expressing her despair over her estrangement from her daughter, Lucy. Anna was buried next to her husband in Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, New York, leaving a legacy as one of the first actresses to portray the iconic role of Dorothy Gale.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1915 | The Amazing Mr. Fellman | Bess Allen |
| 1915 | What Happened to Father | Tommy |
| 1915 | The Crown Prince’s Double | Isabelle Hart |
| 1915 | Crooky | Dora Dough |
| 1914 | The Janitor | Mary Gruber |
| 1914 | The Greyhound | Bess Allen |
| 1914 | Two Girls of the Hills | Eve Blue |
| 1913 | For Another’s Crime | Dora Bates |