Eleanor Boardman was an American actress who is best known for her roles in “The Crowd,” “Souls for Sale,” and “Bardelys the Magnificent.” She was born on August 19, 1898, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and had a successful career in silent films.
Personal and Family Life
Eleanor Boardman always dreamed of being an actress. After graduating from high school, she moved to New York City to pursue a career on Broadway. During her time in New York, she took various jobs, including working as an artist’s model. She eventually got her break in films after auditioning for Goldwyn Pictures.
Career Highlights
Boardman made her film debut in 1922 and became popular in the silent film era. She was married twice; first to director King Vidor, with whom she had two daughters, Antonia and Belinda, and later to Harry d’Abbadie d’Arrast. She retired from acting in 1935 and lived a private life afterward.
Death and Legacy
Eleanor Boardman passed away on December 12, 1991, in Santa Barbara, California, due to age-related causes. She left behind a legacy as one of the prominent figures of silent cinema, remembered for her beauty and talent as “The Eastman Kodak Girl.” Her contributions to film are still appreciated today.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| The Crowd | 1928-03-03 | Mary Sims |
| Souls for Sale | 1923-04-22 | Miss Remember Steddon |
| Bardelys the Magnificent | 1926-09-30 | Roxalanne de Lavedan |
| Proud Flesh | 1925-04-27 | Fernanda |
| Wine of Youth | 1924-09-15 | Mary Hollister |
| The Squaw Man | 1931-07-21 | Lady Diana Kerhill |
| Redemption | 1930-04-05 | Lisa Protasoff |
| The Great Meadow | 1931-01-24 | Diony Hall |
| Tell It to the Marines | 1926-12-23 | Norma Dale |
| The Day of Faith | 1923-10-20 | Jane Maynard |
| True As Steel | 1924-04-20 | Ethel Parry |
| Mamba | 1930-03-09 | Helen von Linden |
| Three Wise Fools | 1923-08-19 | Rena Fairchild / Sydney Fairfield |
| She Goes to War | 1929-06-07 | Joan Morant |
| The Circle | 1925-09-22 | Elizabeth Cheney |
| The Only Thing | 1925-11-22 | Thyra, Princess of Svendborg |
| Vanity Fair | 1923-02-25 | Amelia Sedley |
| Memory Lane | 1926-02-01 | Mary |
| Diamond Handcuffs | 1928-05-05 | Tillie |
| 1925 Studio Tour | 1925-04-09 | Self |
| Exchange of Wives | 1925-10-04 | Margaret Rathburn |
| So This Is Marriage? | 1924-11-26 | Beth Marsh |
| The Wife of the Centaur | 1924-12-01 | Joan Converse |
| The Turmoil | 1924-09-14 | Mary Vertrees |
| Land of Liberty | 1939-06-15 | (archive footage) |
| The Silent Accuser | 1924-11-24 | Barbara Jane |
| Sinners in Silk | 1924-09-01 | Penelope Stevens |
| The Way of a Girl | 1925-03-29 | Rosamond |
| The Strangers’ Banquet | 1922-12-31 | Jean McPherson |
| Gimme | 1923-01-14 | Clothilde Kingsley |
| The Auction Block | 1926-07-19 | Lorelei Knight |
| Show People | 1928-11-20 | Roxalanne in ‘Bardelys the Magnificent’ (uncredited) |