Edith Johnson was an American actress who is best known for her roles in “The Scarlet Car,” “Smashing Barriers,” and “Wolves of the North.” She had a successful career in early Hollywood, becoming a well-recognized name from the start.
Personal and Family Life
Edith Johnson was born on August 10, 1894, in Rochester, New York. She married actor William Duncan in 1921, and they worked together on several films before settling down to raise their family. The couple enjoyed a successful partnership both on and off the screen until Duncan’s death in 1961, after which Edith lived for eight more years.
Career Highlights
Johnson’s career began when she was chosen as “The Kodak Girl,” gaining significant fame before even graduating from college. She made her film debut with the Selig Company and later worked with Universal and Vitagraph, where she starred in notable serials. Throughout her career, she often acted alongside her husband, who directed many of their films, until the couple decided to retire from acting to focus on family life.
Death and Legacy
Edith Johnson passed away on September 6, 1969, in Los Angeles, California, following an injury from a fall. She left behind a legacy as a trailblazer in early cinema, known for her beauty and talent. Despite her successful beginnings in Hollywood, she chose to step away from the spotlight after her marriage, remaining a cherished figure in the history of film.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| The Scarlet Car | 1917-12-24 | Beatrice Forbes |
| Smashing Barriers | 1919-09-01 | Helen Cole |
| Hello, ‘Frisco | 1924-09-28 | Edith Johnson |
| Wolves of the North | 1924-09-21 | Helen Mears |
| Behind the Lines | 1916-09-11 | Nina Garcia |
| The Fighting Grin | 1918-01-28 | Margie Meredith |
| The Circular Staircase | 1915-09-20 | |
| The Mystery of Dead Man’s Isle | 1915-06-30 | Hulda |
| Sweet Alyssum | 1915-11-15 | Sweet Alyssum |
| The Shuttle | 1918-02-01 | Rosalie Vanderpoel |
| The Silent Avenger | 1920-04-20 | Helen Durham |
| The Scarlet Crystal | 1917-02-05 | |
| An Embarrassing Predicament | 1914-10-02 | Marjorie Keyes – the Stenographer |
| The Conspiracy | 1916-10-21 | Marjorie Montague |
| Guilty | 1916-11-17 | Grace |
| Dixieland | 1913-04-16 | Emily – Will’s Wife |
| Conscience and the Temptress | 1914-01-14 | Vera’s Maid |
| Rosemary, That’s for Remembrance | 1914-11-02 | Margaret Snow – the Society Girl |
| If I Were Young Again | 1914-11-16 | |
| The Lure of the Windigo | 1914-12-14 | Annette Le Clerq |
| Wade Brent Pays | 1914-12-22 | Ruth Illington |
| The Jaguar Trap | 1915-05-24 | |
| The Girl and the Reporter | 1915-06-28 | Violet Reynolds – Society Girl |
| The Baby and the Leopard | 1915-12-11 | Ella Herman |