Grace Cunard

Grace Cunard was an American actress best known for her work in silent films and serials. Born Harriet Mildred Jeffries on April 8, 1893, in Columbus, Ohio, she earned the nickname “The Serial Queen.” Her notable roles include performances in serials alongside actor/director Francis Ford.

Personal and Family Life

Grace Cunard was married twice, first to Joe Moore from 1917 until their divorce in 1925, and then to Jack Shannon in 1925 until her death in 1967. She had a sister, Mina Cunard, who was also an actress, and was the aunt of Alice Moore. Despite what some sources say, she was never married to Francis Ford, although they had a strong professional partnership.

Career Highlights

Cunard began her acting career on stage as a teenager before making her film debut in Hollywood in 1910. Partnering with Francis Ford at Universal, she starred in a series of successful serials, becoming one of the top stars in the industry by 1916. However, her popularity declined in the late 1910s, leading her to mostly appear in B movies throughout the 1920s and 1930s.

Death and Legacy

Grace Cunard passed away on January 19, 1967, in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, due to cancer. Despite her decline in fame, she remains a significant figure in the history of silent cinema, remembered for her contributions to the early film industry and her pioneering role as a female actress in serials.

Filmography

Title Release Date Character
The Vault of Mystery 1917-01-02
A Lady Surrenders 1930-10-06 Maid
Untamed 1929-11-23 Milly
The Adventures of Peg o’ the Ring 1916-01-02 Peg O’ the Ring
The Broken Coin 1915-06-21 Kitty Gray
Elmo, the Mighty 1919-01-02 Lucille Gray
Lucille Love: The Girl of Mystery 1914-01-02 Lucille Love
Custer’s Last Fight 1912-10-03
The Last Man on Earth 1924-11-02 Gertie
The Ace of Scotland Yard 1929-09-30 Mary Duveen – aka Queen of Diamonds
Blake of Scotland Yard 1927-08-14 Queen of Diamonds
Heroes of the West 1932-06-19 Flo
The Call of the Savage 1935-04-14 Mrs. Camerford Amster
Bride of Frankenstein 1935-04-20 Villager (uncredited)
The Heart of an Indian 1912-03-01
Night Waitress 1936-12-18 Waitress
Wings Over Honolulu 1937-05-16 Mrs. Strange
Crashing Hollywood 1938-01-07 Mrs. Armstrong (uncredited)
The Bandit’s Wager 1916-11-05 Nan Jefferson
Winners of the West 1940-07-02 Towns Woman
Hell’s Crater 1918-01-14 Cherry Maurice
Girls of the Big House 1945-11-02 Medical Trustee
Chinatown Squad 1935-05-31 Schoolteacher
The Fourth Horseman 1932-09-25 Mrs. Elmer Brown
Rustlers of Red Dog 1935-01-01 Mrs. Perkins [Chs. 1, 4]
The Adventures of Smilin’ Jack 1943-01-05 Second German Woman Spy [Chs. 6-7]
Unmasked 1917-01-01 Meg – a Crook
Little Accident 1930-08-03 Nurse (uncredited)
The Girl in the Taxi 1921-04-01 Marietta
A Daughter of the Law 1921-02-06 The Secret Service Agent
After the War 1918-07-01
The Leap 1917-01-01
Outwitted 1925-01-01 Lucy Carlisle
The Bad Sister 1931-03-29 Minor Role (uncredited)
Dangerous Waters 1936-02-10 Ship Stewardess (uncredited)
Behind the Mask 1916-04-08 Madcap Queen
When Lincoln Paid 1913-01-31
The Phantom Violin 1914-10-01
Society’s Driftwood 1917-10-22
The Great Universal Mystery 1914-07-10