Nita Naldi was an American actress who is best known for her roles in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Blood and Sand, and The Ten Commandments. Born as Mary Nonna Dooley on November 13, 1894, in New York City, Naldi gained fame as a leading lady in the silent film era.
Personal and Family Life
Nita Naldi married J. Searle Barclay in 1926 after dating since 1920, but they separated in 1931 when she returned to New York and faced bankruptcy. Throughout her life, she was regarded as a successor to Theda Bara and generated headlines for her weight fluctuations, particularly in relation to her film roles. Nita lived in the Wentworth Hotel in New York City for the last two decades of her life.
Career Highlights
Nita began her career as a showgirl in the Shubert revue and later starred in the Ziegfeld Follies. She transitioned to film in Hollywood, quickly rising to fame with her stunning performances in films like Blood and Sand, where she starred opposite Rudolph Valentino. Despite her success, Nita struggled financially later in her career and never returned to the big screen after making a few films in Europe.
Death and Legacy
On February 17, 1961, Nita Naldi passed away from a heart attack in her room at the Wentworth Hotel in New York City. She left behind a legacy as one of the prominent actresses of the silent film era, remembered for her glamorous roles and strong presence on screen.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde | 1920-03-18 | Miss Gina |
| The Ten Commandments | 1923-11-23 | Sally Lung – a Eurasian |
| Blood and Sand | 1922-08-05 | Doña Sol |
| A Trip to Paramountown | 1922-07-10 | Self |
| La femme nue | 1926-12-10 | Princesse de Chabrant |
| What Price Beauty? | 1928-01-22 | Rita Rinaldi |
| Cobra | 1925-01-02 | Elise Van Zile |
| Don’t Call It Love | 1924-01-06 | Rita Coventry |
| A Sainted Devil | 1924-11-17 | Carlotta |
| The Last Door | 1921-05-10 | The Widow |
| The Love Goddesses | 1965-03-03 | (archive footage) |
| Die Pratermizzi | 1927-01-07 | Valette – Tänzerin mit de Larve |
| The Man from Beyond | 1922-04-02 | Marie LeGrande |
| The Lady Who Lied | 1925-07-12 | Fifi |
| You Can’t Fool Your Wife | 1923-04-29 | Ardrita Saneck |
| The Glimpses of the Moon | 1923-03-25 | Ursula Gillow |
| The Mountain Eagle | 1926-11-01 | Beatrice |
| The Common Sin | 1920-07-01 | Warren’s Mistress |
| Channing of the Northwest | 1922-04-10 | Cicily Varden |
| The Legend of Rudolph Valentino | 1961-05-24 | Self (archive footage) |
| Lawful Larceny | 1923-07-22 | Vivian Hepburn |
| Clothes Make the Pirate | 1926-03-15 | Madame De La Tour |
| A Divorce of Convenience | 1921-01-01 | |
| Hollywood | 1923-08-19 | Nita Naldi |
| Anna Ascends | 1922-11-20 | Countess Rostoff |