Cleo Madison was an American actress who is best known for her roles in “Damon and Pythias,” “The Trey o’ Hearts,” and “Alas and Alack.” Born on March 26, 1883, in Bloomington, Illinois, she became a popular star in the early days of cinema.
Personal and Family Life
Cleo Madison married Don Peake on November 25, 1916. She started her acting career in 1910 with a theatrical company in Santa Barbara, California, where she toured with vaudeville and theater productions before transitioning to film at Universal Pictures. Throughout her career, she wrote and directed several films, breaking barriers for women in the industry.
Career Highlights
Cleo became widely recognized for her emotional performances, particularly noted for her portrayal of characters who could evoke tears. She gained fame for her role in the successful serial “The Trey o’ Hearts,” followed by numerous successful films. Unfortunately, she experienced a nervous breakdown in 1922 due to the heavy demands of her work, leading her to take a break from acting.
Death and Legacy
Cleo Madison passed away on March 11, 1964, in Burbank, California, from a heart attack. She is remembered as one of Universal’s great screen stars and played a significant role in the early film industry, inspiring future generations of actresses.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Alas and Alack | 1915-10-10 | The Fisherwife and Fishermaid |
| True As Steel | 1924-04-20 | Mrs. Parry |
| Eleanor’s Catch | 1916-07-01 | Eleanor McGrady |
| Black Orchids | 1917-01-01 | Marie de Severac / Zoraida |
| The Romance of Tarzan | 1918-10-17 | The Other Woman |
| The Chalice of Sorrow | 1916-10-09 | Lorelei |
| The Dangerous Age | 1923-02-04 | Mary Emerson |
| Ladies Must Live | 1921-10-29 | Mrs. Lincourt |
| The Power of Fascination | 1915-12-10 | Juanita |
| Her Defiance | 1916-01-14 | Adeline Gabler |
| A Mother’s Atonement | 1915-10-17 | Alice |
| The Roughneck | 1924-11-30 | Anne Delaney |
| Samson | 1914-04-30 | Philistine |
| Her Bitter Cup | 1916-04-17 | Rethna |
| Gold Madness | 1923-10-02 | |
| Damon and Pythias | 1914-11-23 | Hermione |
| A Soul Enslaved | 1916-01-24 | Jane |
| Unseen Hands | 1924-05-25 | Mataoka |
| A Woman’s Woman | 1922-09-24 | Iris Starr |
| The Heart of a Cracksman | 1913-11-07 | Marcia – Carlton’s Niece |
| Cross Purposes | 1913-12-05 | Cleo |
| The Ring of Destiny | 1915-11-18 | Dolly |
| Sealed Orders | 1914-03-30 | Katie |
| The Great Radium Mystery | 1919-10-13 | Countess Nada |
| The Severed Hand | 1914-07-17 | Nan Dawson |
| The Trey o’ Hearts | 1914-08-04 | |
| The Sin of Olga Brandt | 1915-01-03 | Olga’s Invalid Sister |