Virginia Belle Pearson (March 7, 1886 – June 6, 1958) was an American stage and film actress. She made 51 films in a career which extended from 1910 until 1932.
Career She was born on March 7, 1886, in Anchorage, Kentucky to Joseph F. Pearson (1855–1923) and Mary Alice Calloway (1863–1914).
She had one younger brother, Harvey Thompson Pearson. Virginia was also the granddaughter of Precious Martha Grable Pearson (actress Betty Grable's great aunt). Virginia worked for a brief time as an assistant in the public library in Louisville, Kentucky after completing school. She was famous in her hometown Louisville playhouse performances. Pearson trained in the tradition of the stars of the American stage, and played in stock productions in Washington, D.C. and New York City. In New York, she played the heroine in Hypocrisy, a story which laid bare "the shame of society." She was promoted by William Fox of Fox Film Corporation for the same kind of strong vamp parts as those played by Theda Bara. Among her movies is Blazing Love (1916), Wildness of Youth (1922), The Vital Question (1916), Sister Against Sister (1917), The Red Kimona (1925), The Wizard of Oz (1925), and The Phantom of the Opera (1925).
In 1916 Pearson and her husband, movie actor Sheldon Lewis, severed their ties with the Virginia Pearson Producing Company. The couple affiliated themselves with the Independent Productions Company. In 1924, the couple were forced to declare bankruptcy. In 1928, Pearson was divorced from Lewis. At the time, it was not considered good "box office" for screen actresses to be married. However the two remained constant companions, and resided for many years at the old Hollywood Hotel. Later they lived at the Motion Picture Country Home.
Death Virginia Pearson died of uremic poisoning in Hollywood, California on June 6, 1958, nearly a month to the day after Sheldon Lewis. She was 72. Funeral services were held at the Pierce Brothers Hollywood Chapel. She was buried in an unmarked grave in Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery.
Selected filmography YearTitleRoleNotes1910On Her Doorsteps1914The StainStevens' daughter1914Aftermath Ruth Morgan 1915The Turn of the Road Marcia Wilbur 1916Thou Art the Man Emily Raynor 1916Daredevil KateKate1917A Royal RomanceThe Princess Sylvia1917 Thou Shalt Not StealMary Bruce1917Wrath of Love1918The FirebrandPrincess Natalya 1919The Bishop's EmeraldsHester, Lady Cardew 1922Wildness of YouthLouise Wesley1923A Prince of a KingQueen Claudia 1925Wizard of OzLady Vishuss 1925The Phantom of the OperaVirginia Pearson as Carlotta/Carlotta's mother (1929 redux)1926Atta BoyMadame Carlton 1926 The Taxi Mystery Mrs Blaine Jameson1927Driven from Home 1928The Power of Silence Mrs. Wright1928The Big CityTennessee 1928The ActressMrs. Telfer1929Smilin' GunsMrs. van Smythe 1931Primrose Path Marie Randeau1932Back Streetbit partuncredited
References
Further reading Los Angeles Times, "Silent Screen's Star Virginia Pearson Dies", June 10, 1958, Page B1. Mansfield, Ohio News, "Virginia Quits Her Firm", August 19, 1916, Page 15. Reno Evening Gazette, "Stage People On Reno Screen", Saturday, August 5, 1916, Supplement Pages 7 and 10.
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