Mary Pickford (1892–1979) was a Canadian-American motion picture actress, producer, and writer. During the silent film era she became one of the first great celebrities of the cinema and a popular icon known to the public as "America's Sweetheart". (Cover of Scott Eyman's biography)
Pickford was born Gladys Louise Smith in Toronto and began acting on stage in 1900. She started her film career in the United States in 1909. Initially with the Biograph film company, she moved to the Independent Motion Picture Company (IMP) in 1911, then briefly to the Majestic Film Company later that same year, followed by a return to Biograph in 1912. After appearing in over 150 short films during her years with these studios, she began working in features with Zukor's Famous Players Film Company, a studio which eventually became part of Paramount Pictures. By 1916, Pickford's popularity had climbed to the point that she was awarded a contract that made her a partner with Zukor and allowed her to produce her own films. In 1919, Pickford teamed with D.W. Griffith, Charlie Chaplin, and Douglas Fairbanks to create United Artists, an organization designed to distribute their own films. Following the release of Secrets (1933, Pickford retired from acting in motion pictures. However, she remained active as a producer for several years afterwards. She sold her stock in United Artists in 1956.
Pickford won two Academy Awards in her lifetime. The first was in 1929 when she won the award for Best Actress for her performance in Coquette. The second was in 1975 when she was presented with an Honorary Academy Award "in recognition of her unique contributions to the film industry and the development of film as an artistic medium". As of 2026 three of Pickford's films have been added to the National Film Registry: Tess of the Storm Country (1914), The Poor Little Rich Girl (1917), and Sparrows (1926).
For her work in motion pictures, Pickford received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located at 6280 Hollywood Boulevard.
Unless otherwise referenced, the information presented here is derived from the web site of the American Film Institute, the filmography prepared by Library of Congress historian Christel Schmidt, and the books Mary Pickford Rediscovered by Kevin Brownlow, Mary Pickford: From Here to Hollywood by Scott Eyman, and Pickford: The Woman Who Made Hollywood by Eileen Whitfield.
Short films Biograph (1909) Mary Pickford began working for the American Mutoscope and Biograph Company in April 1909 and remained with the company until the end of 1910. During this period, Pickford made 43 films released in 1909, plus a 44th film that was not released. Most of these films are one-reelers while the remaining films are split-reelers (one of two films released on the same reel).
Release date Title Credited as Director Notes Writer Producer Actress Role May 24, 1909 Two Memories Marion's sister D. W. Griffith Split-reel May 31, 1909 His Duty One of the children on the street D. W. Griffith Split-reel June 7, 1909 The Violin Maker of Cremona Giannina, Taddeo's Daughter D. W. Griffith June 10, 1909 The Lonely Villa One of the Cullison Children D. W. Griffith Split-reel June 14, 1909 The Son's Return Mary Clark D. W. Griffith June 17, 1909 Faded Lilies Girl at Party D. W. Griffith Split-reel June 17, 1909 Her First Biscuits Biscuit Victim D. W. Griffith Split-reelThe first film that Pickford made June 24, 1909 The Peach-Basket Hat Woman on the Street and in Store D. W. Griffith Split-reel June 28, 1909 The Way of Man Winnie, Mabel's Cousin D. W. Griffith July 1, 1909 The Necklace The Maid in the Pawnshop D. W. Griffith July 8, 1909 The Country Doctor Poor Mother's Elder Daughter D. W. Griffith July 12, 1909 The Cardinal's Conspiracy The Señorita D. W. Griffith July 15, 1909 Tender Hearts Nellie D. W. Griffith Split-reel July 19, 1909 The Renunciation Kittie Ryan D. W. Griffith July 22, 1909 Sweet and Twenty Alice D. W. Griffith Split-reel July 29, 1909 The Slave A Young Girl at Court D. W. Griffith August 9, 1909 They Would Elope Bessie D. W. Griffith August 19, 1909 His Wife's Visitor Bessie Wright D. W. Griffith August 23, 1909 The Indian Runner's Romance Blue Cloud's Wife D. W. Griffith August 26, 1909 Oh, Uncle! Bessie D. W. Griffith Split-reel August 26, 1909 The Seventh Day The Maid D. W. Griffith Split-reel September 2, 1909 The Little Darling The Little Darling D. W. Griffith September 2, 1909 The Sealed Room A Lady-in-Waiting D. W. Griffith September 6, 1909 The Hessian Renegades A member of the soldier's family D. W. Griffith September 13, 1909 Getting Even Miss Lucy D. W. Griffith Split-reel September 16, 1909 The Broken Locket Ruth King D. W. Griffith September 20, 1909 In Old Kentucky Homecoming Party D. W. Griffith September 30, 1909 The Awakening The Widow's Daughter D. W. Griffith October 11, 1909 The Little Teacher The Little Teacher D. W. Griffith October 18, 1909 His Lost Love Mary D. W. Griffith October 25, 1909 In the Watches of the Night Girl at Brainard's D. W. Griffith October 28, 1909 Lines of White on a Sullen Sea Second Couple D. W. Griffith November 1, 1909 The Gibson Goddess Girl on Sidewalk D. W. Griffith Split-reel November 1, 1909 What's Your Hurry? Mary D. W. Griffith Split-reel November 8, 1909 The Restoration Alice Ashford D. W. Griffith November 11, 1909 The Light That Came Vivian and Daisy D. W. Griffith November 18, 1909 A Midnight Adventure Eleanor D. W. Griffith Split-reel November 25, 1909 The Mountaineer's Honor Harum-Scarum, a Mountain Girl D. W. Griffith November 29, 1909 The Trick That Failed Nellie Burt D. W. Griffith Split-reel December 6, 1909 Through the Breakers An extra D. W. Griffith December 16, 1909 The Test Bessie D. W. Griffith December 27, 1909 To Save Her Soul Agnes Hailey D. W. Griffith December 30, 1909 The Day After D. W. Griffith Split-reel December 31, 1909 The Heart of an Outlaw The Outlaw's Daughter D. W. Griffith
Biograph (1910) Pickford appeared in 34 Biograph films released in 1910. All of these films are one-reelers.
Release date Title Credited as Director Notes Writer ProducerActress Role January 15, 1910 All on Account of the Milk The Young Woman Frank Powell Note: List needs to be expanded (i.e. "show" / "hide"). February 3, 1910 The Woman from Mellon's Mary Petersby, the Daughter D. W. Griffith February 17, 1910 The Englishman and the Girl The Girl D. W. Griffith Lost March 3, 1910 The Newlyweds Alice Vance D. W. Griffith March 7, 1910 The Thread of Destiny Myrtle D. W. Griffith March 24, 1910 The Twisted Trail Molly Hendricks D. W. Griffith March 31, 1910 The Smoker George's Wife Frank Powell April 4, 1910 As It Is In Life George Forrester's Daughter, as an Adult D. W. Griffith April 7, 1910 A Rich Revenge Jennie D. W. Griffith April 11, 1910 A Romance of the Western Hills Indian D. W. Griffith May 5, 1910 The Unchanging Sea The Daughter as an Adult D. W. Griffith May 9, 1910 Love Among the Roses The Lacemaker D. W. Griffith May 12, 1910 The Two Brothers A Mexican D. W. Griffith May 23, 1910 Ramona Ramona D. W. Griffith Based on the novel by Helen Hunt Jackson June 2, 1910 In the Season of Buds Mabel D. W. Griffith June 9, 1910 A Victim of Jealousy The Wife's Friend D. W. Griffith June 20, 1910 Never Again The Girl Frank PowellSources:
June 20, 1910 May and December May Frank Powell June 27, 1910 A Child's Impulse Grace D. W. Griffith June 30, 1910 Muggsy's First Sweetheart Mabel Brown D. W. Griffith July 11, 1910 What the Daisy Said Martha D. W. Griffith July 25, 1910 The Call to Arms A Messenger D. W. Griffith Unique male role of her career August 1, 1910 An Arcadian Maid Priscilla D. W. Griffith August 15, 1910 When We Were In Our Teens Mary Frank Powell August 22, 1910 The Sorrows of the Unfaithful Mary D. W. Griffith August 25, 1910 Wilful Peggy Peggy D. W. Griffith September 1, 1910 Muggsy Becomes a Hero Mabel Frank Powell October 6, 1910 A Gold Necklace Mazie Frank Powell October 13, 1910 The Lucky Toothache Bessie Frank Powell November 5, 1910 Waiter No. 5 The Chief of Police's Son's Fiancée D. W. Griffith November 14, 1910 Simple Charity Miss Wilkins D. W. Griffith November 21, 1910 The Song of the Wildwood Flute Dove Eyes D. W. Griffith November 28, 1910 A Plain Song Edith D. W. Griffith December 22, 1910 White Roses Betty Frank Powell
Biograph (1911) Pickford left the Biograph Company at the end of 1910. The last films that she made for them before her departure were released in early 1911. All of these five films are one-reelers.
Release date Title Credited as Director Notes Writer ProducerActress Role January 5, 1911 When A Man Loves Tessie D. W. Griffith January 9, 1911 The Italian Barber Alice D. W. Griffith February 2, 1911 Three Sisters Mary D. W. Griffith March 6, 1911 A Decree of Destiny Mary D. W. Griffith August 17, 1911 Madame Rex D. W. Griffith
Selig (1911) In a 1913 interview Pickford claimed to have written two screenplays for the Selig Polyscope Company. Neither film is known to survive.
Release date Title Credited as Director Notes Writer ProducerActress Role March 3, 1911 The Medallion (unknown) Lost July 31, 1911 Caught in the Act (unknown) Lost
IMP (1911–1912) In December 1910 Carl Laemmle signed Pickford to his Independent Motion Picture Company (IMP). All of her IMP titles are one-reelers. The names of Pickford's characters are given if known. Only 13 of Pickford's 41 IMP films are known to survive complete, while fragments of two others exist.