Fern Andra was an American actor who is best known for her roles in silent films during the 1910s, including “Genuine, die Tragödie eines seltsamen Hauses,” “Die Nacht der Königin Isabeau,” and “The Eyes of the World.” She was a talented actress who also worked as a producer and director.
Personal and Family Life
Fern Andra was born Vernal Edna Andrews on November 24, 1893, in Watseka, Illinois. Throughout her life, she was married four times, with notable husbands including Ian Keith and General Samuel Edge Dockrell. After facing rumors of being a spy during World War I, she married Prussian baron Friedrich von Weichs, who died in the war shortly after.
Career
Her career in show business began as an aerialist, and she later trained under the famed director Max Reinhardt in Vienna. Fern starred in numerous films for UFA Studios in Berlin and appeared in British and French productions. Although she returned to the U.S. in the sound era, she only made two films before retiring.
Death and Legacy
Fern Andra passed away on February 8, 1974, in Aiken, South Carolina, due to cancer. She is remembered as one of the early stars of German silent cinema, alongside Henny Porten and Asta Nielsen. Her contributions to film and theater left a lasting impact, especially during the transition from silent films to “talkies.”
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Homunculus, 1. Teil: Der künstliche Mensch | 1916-08-18 | o. A. |
| Genuine, die Tragödie eines seltsamen Hauses | 1920-09-02 | Genuine |
| Die Nacht der Königin Isabeau | 1920-11-18 | Königin Isabeau |
| Um Krone und Peitsche | 1919-01-23 | |
| Treibende Kraft | 1921-01-01 | |
| Lepain, der König der Unschuldigen – 1. Teil | 1914-01-01 | |
| Lepain, der Kampf mit dem Meisterdetektiv John Hawks – 2. Teil | 1914-01-02 | |
| Saferndri, die Tänzerin von Dschiapur | 1920-12-02 | Saferndri Yelama |
| The Burgomaster of Stilemonde | 1929-05-20 | Isabelle Hilmer |
| Funkzauber | 1927-09-29 | Melitta Mirabella |
| Frauen der Leidenschaft | 1926-04-15 | Cléo de Mérode |
| Gesprengte Ketten | 1915-01-01 | |
| Ernst ist das Leben | 1916-10-27 | Fany |
| Za-la-mort | 1924-05-01 | Perla |
| Der Stern | 1914-06-01 | |
| The Eyes of the World | 1930-08-30 | Mrs. Gertrude Taine |
| Zwei Menschen | 1919-07-01 | Fern |
| Madame Récamier | 1920-10-25 | Madame Récamier |
| Der rote Reiter | 1923-06-15 | |
| …und es lockt ein Ruf aus sündiger Welt | 1925-10-29 | |
| Wenn Menschen reif zur Liebe werden | 1916-12-22 | |
| Auf des Lebens rauher Bahn | 1918-11-01 | |
| Des Lebens und der Liebe Wellen | 1921-12-28 | |
| Der Seele Saiten schwingen nicht | 1917-03-02 | Fern |
| Des Lebens ungemischte Freude | 1917-08-01 | Fern |
| Die nach Glück und Liebe suchen | 1918-01-01 | |
| Die Rache des Titanen | 1919-08-01 | |
| Die Seele einer Frau | 1916-02-25 | |
| Es fiel ein Reif in der Frühlingsnacht | 1915-10-29 | |
| Frühlingsstürme im Herbste des Lebens | 1918-08-22 | Comtesse von Hagen |
| Gebannt und erlöst | 1919-06-01 | |
| Drohende Wolken am Firmament | 1918-07-19 | |
| Eine Motte flog zum Licht | 1915-09-01 | Fern |
| Ein Blatt im Sturm…doch das Schicksal hat es verweht | 1917-07-20 | Fern |
| Die Liebe ist der Frauen Macht | 1924-12-17 | |
| Der Gürtel der Dollarfürstin | 1916-10-01 |