Leila Hyams (May 1, 1905 – December 4, 1977) was an American actress who came from a show business family. Her relatively short film career began in 1924 during the era of silent films and ended in 1936 (excepting a 1946 film short appearance). The blonde blue-eyed ingenue and leading lady appeared in more than 50 film roles and remained a press favourite, with numerous magazine covers.
Early life She was born in Manhattan, New York to vaudeville comedy performers John Hyams and Leila McIntyre, who performed as the duo "Hyams and McIntyre" Her mother was a noted Broadway performer, and both her parents appeared in films. They can be seen together in several Hollywood films, primarily in minor supporting roles or uncredited appearances, including The Housekeeper's Daughter (1939).
Hyams appeared on stage with her parents while still a child, working in their vaudeville act for five years, but unable to establish a successful theatre career, she turned to modelling, modelling clothing, cosmetics and dental care.
Film career
By 1928, Hyams was playing starring roles, achieving success in MGM's first talkie release, Alias Jimmy Valentine (1928) opposite William Haines, Lionel Barrymore, and Karl Dane. The following year, she appeared in the popular murder mystery The Thirteenth Chair, a role that offered her the chance to display her dramatic abilities as a murder suspect. At Fox that same year, she appeared in director Allan Dwan's now lost romantic adventure The Far Call opposite Charles Morton.She had a role as Robert Montgomery's sister in the prison drama The Big House (1930) with Chester Morris and Wallace Beery. She then appeared in Surrender (1931) in which Warner Baxter and Ralph Bellamy desperately competed for her attention.
Hyams acted in two early 1930s horror movies, as the wise-cracking but kind-hearted circus performer Venus in Freaks (1932) and as the heroine in the Charles Laughton/Bela Lugosi film Island of Lost Souls (1932). She also appeared in the then-controversial Jean Harlow film Red-Headed Woman (1932) and the musical comedy The Big Broadcast (1932) with Bing Crosby, George Burns, and Gracie Allen.
Personal life
Hyams married her Hollywood talent agent, Phil Berg, in 1927. In 1936, after a 12-year acting career and performing in 50 films, she retired from the motion-picture industry; nevertheless, she remained active in the Hollywood community for the rest of her life. In 1977, after a brief illness, Hyams died at age 72 at her home in Bel-Air in Los Angeles.
Complete filmography Year Title Role Notes 1924 Sandra Mait Stanley Lost film 1926 Dancing Mothers Birdie Courtney The Kick-Off Marilyn Spencer Summer Bachelors Willowdean French 1927 The Brute Jennifer Duan Lost film White Pants Willie Helen Charters Lost film The Bush Leaguer Alice Hobbs Lost film One-Round Hogan Helen Davis Lost film The Wizard Anne Webster Lost film 1928 The Branded Sombrero Connie Marsh Lost film A Girl in Every Port Widow in San Pedro, Belize The Crimson City Nadine Howells Honor Bound Selma Ritchie Lost film Land of the Silver Fox Marie du Fronque Alias Jimmy Valentine Rose Lost film 1929 Spite Marriage Ethyl Norcrosse The Far Call Hilda Larsen Lost film The Idle Rich Joan Thayer aka Joan Van Luyn Wonder of Women Karen Lost film Masquerade Sylvia Graeme Hurricane Mary Stevens The Thirteenth Chair Helen O'Neill 1930 The Bishop Murder Case Belle Dillard The Girl Said No Mary Howe The Flirting Widow Evelyn The Big House Anne Marlowe Sweethearts and Wives Angela Worthington The Sins of the Children Alma Wagenkampf Way Out West Molly Rankin Way for a Sailor Joan Part Time Wife Mrs. Murdock 1931 Gentleman's Fate Marjorie Channing Men Call It Love Connie Stepping Out Eve Martin The Phantom of Paris Cecile Bourrelier New Adventures of Get Rich Quick Wallingford Dorothy Surrender Axelle von Meirbach The Christmas Party Herself Short subject Uncredited 1932 Freaks Venus Red-Headed Woman Irene Legendre The Big Broadcast Anita Rogers Island of Lost Souls Ruth Thomas 1933 The Constant Woman Lou Horse Play Angelica Wayne Sing Sinner Sing Lela Larson Saturday's Millions Joan Chandler 1934 The Poor Rich Grace Hunter Affairs of a Gentleman Gladys Durland No Ransom Barbara Winfield 1935 Ruggles of Red Gap Nell Kenner People Will Talk Peggy Trask 1,000 Dollars a Minute Dorothy Summers 1936 Yellow Dust Nellie Bryan 1943 First Aid Red Cross Worker Short subject
References
External links
Leila Hyams at Virtual History