Mary Pickford

Date of Birth: April 8, 1892

Zodiac Sign: Aries

Date of Death: May 29, 1979

Biography

Mary Pickford, born Gladys Louise Smith, was an iconic Canadian-American actress and a pioneering figure in early cinema. Born on April 8, 1892, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Pickford began her acting career at a young age in theater, eventually transitioning to film. Her on-screen persona of the “girl with the curls” won the hearts of millions and earned her the nickname “America’s Sweetheart.” She was a co-founder of the film studio United Artists, alongside Charlie Chaplin, D.W. Griffith, and her husband Douglas Fairbanks, which gave her unprecedented control over her films and career. Pickford’s contributions to the film industry extended beyond her acting, as she was also a producer and a co-founder of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Mary Pickford’s career spanned from the silent film era into the early sound films, and she retired from acting in 1933. She passed away on May 29, 1979, in Santa Monica, California, leaving behind a legacy that shaped the future of Hollywood.

5 Interesting Facts about Mary Pickford

1. Mary Pickford was one of the original 36 founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

2. She won the second Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the film “Coquette” (1929).

3. She became one of the first film stars to have her name featured prominently on movie theater marquees.

4. Pickford was a savvy businesswoman and became one of the highest-paid actresses of her time.

5. She was an advocate for actors’ rights and co-founded the Motion Picture Relief Fund, which provided financial assistance to actors in need.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Mary Pickford

1. “Adding sound to movies would be like putting lipstick on the Venus de Milo.”

2. “It would have been more logical if silent pictures had grown out of the talkies instead of the other way around.”

3. “Make them laugh, make them cry, and you’re a success.”

4. “You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing that we call ‘failure’ is not the falling down, but the staying down.”

5. “The past cannot be changed. The future is yet in your power.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Mary Pickford’s highest net worth achieved was estimated to be around $40 million at the height of her career, which would be equivalent to hundreds of millions of dollars today when adjusted for inflation.