![Frances Lee](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w185/pGRcYvN81AnuA5UYZtiok1FoI03.jpg)
Frances Lee
From Wikipedia
Frances Lee was born as Myrna Tibbetts (some sources indicate Merna Tibbetts) in Eagle Grove, Iowa. She initially began pursuing a career as a teacher but began taking dance lessons, which led to her being spotted by Gus Edwards, who owned a theater in New York City. Edwards persuaded Lee to perform at his theater, and she joined the cast of The Ziegfeld Follies in 1923, when she was hired by Al Christie to perform in his Christie Comedies.
Moving to Hollywood in the mid-1920s to pursue acting, she received her first film role in 1924, starring in Hello and Goodbye, a comedy short film. That brought her to the attention of the studios and launched her into a very successful and busy silent film career. In 1925 she had roles in three films, and in 1926 her number of films jumped to seven. She was a frequent guest at the home of Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks and became friends with other notable Hollywood legends, to include Rudolph Valentino until his death in 1926. In 1927 she had roles in five films and was selected as one of thirteen girls to be WAMPAS Baby Stars, which that year included silent film star Sally Phipps and actress Barbara Kent.
The year 1928 was a big year for her. She starred in nine films, the most memorable of which was Sweeties with Bobby Vernon. Her biggest year by far was 1929, when she starred in ten films, including the lead role in Stage Struck Susie opposite Eddie Barry and Divorce Made Easy starring alongside Marie Prevost and Douglas MacLean. That year, she married Alexander Bennett, brother to Australian silent film actress Enid Bennett. Their wedding was attended by such famous Hollywood legends as Enid Bennett's husband, film producer Fred Niblo; actresses Gloria Swanson and Greta Garbo; and actors Rod La Rocque and John Gilbert.
She retired from film acting after 1935, living with her husband in Beverly Hills, California. She began working in interior design and studied for and received a degree in teaching. She and her husband lived in Brentwood, where she began one of the early Head Start programs at Knox Presbyterian Nursery School. She also taught dance, society behavior, and etiquette at the Elisa Ryan Studio, where she instructed the daughters of President Richard M. Nixon. In 1972 she and Alex moved to Cardiff-by-the-Sea.
She worked as a children's librarian at the Rancho Sante Fe Library until only
a few years before her death.
She died on November 5, 2000, in Cardiff-by-the-Sea,
California, aged 94.
Known For | Acting |
---|---|
Most Rating | 0.687 |
Birthday | 1906-05-05 |
Place of Birth | Eagle Grove, Iowa, USA |
Also Known As | Merna Phyllis Tibbetts, |
![Down with Husbands](https://nicosiaefe.gov.cy/video/assets/no-poster.png)
1930
![Down with Husbands](https://nicosiaefe.gov.cy/video/assets/no-poster.png)
Down with Husbands
6/1
When their wives go on strike, two husbands form an organization they call the "Husbands Protective League".
Watch Now
Down with Husbands
![Good as Gold](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/ifZkW18cq0URaYcKx1lxIdLaFZ6.jpg)
1927
![Good as Gold](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/ifZkW18cq0URaYcKx1lxIdLaFZ6.jpg)
Good as Gold
0/0
Buck Brady is the son of a prospector whose valuable claim was stolen when Buck was a child. Brady grows up with revenge on his mind and retaliates by...
Watch Now
Good as Gold
![Nifty Numbers](https://nicosiaefe.gov.cy/video/assets/no-poster.png)
1928
![Nifty Numbers](https://nicosiaefe.gov.cy/video/assets/no-poster.png)
Nifty Numbers
0/0
Fourth release in the "Confessions of a Chorus Girl" comedy series.
Watch Now
Nifty Numbers
![Phantom Thunderbolt](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/b63iMz8U92frPNsXw3GIA909fjO.jpg)
1933
![Phantom Thunderbolt](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/b63iMz8U92frPNsXw3GIA909fjO.jpg)
Phantom Thunderbolt
4.3/6
A cowboy called The Thunderbolt Kid comes to the aid of a town that is being threatened by outlaws who don't want a railroad to go through the town.
Watch Now
Phantom Thunderbolt
![These Thirty Years](https://nicosiaefe.gov.cy/video/assets/no-poster.png)
1934
![These Thirty Years](https://nicosiaefe.gov.cy/video/assets/no-poster.png)
These Thirty Years
0/0
The rise of Henry Ford of the Ford Motor Company.....
Watch Now
These Thirty Years
![Her Splendid Folly](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/dr4hckRQDcjDrPuvWY4hTtuIoDL.jpg)
1933
![Her Splendid Folly](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/dr4hckRQDcjDrPuvWY4hTtuIoDL.jpg)
Her Splendid Folly
0/0
Solomon Ginsberg is the President of International Pictures Corporation and hires Joan McAllister, an unemployed stenographer, to double for his star,...
Watch Now
Her Splendid Folly
![The Carnation Kid](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/ccYYz7YdypnBd2yrEMoFq5D6J1O.jpg)
1929
![The Carnation Kid](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/ccYYz7YdypnBd2yrEMoFq5D6J1O.jpg)
The Carnation Kid
0/0
It's a case of mistaken identity in this comedy that centers around a country bumpkin mistaken for a Chicago hitman.
Watch Now
The Carnation Kid
![Page Me](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/3f6Nw73OSkoId5EaBiFeL65DRIM.jpg)
1926
![Page Me](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/3f6Nw73OSkoId5EaBiFeL65DRIM.jpg)
Page Me
0/0
Unable to pay his hotel bill Bobby has to become a bellboy to cover the cost. Among the many complications that ensue he finds himself handing from th...
Watch Now
Page Me
![Show of Shows](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/U9WtkLusVGEKfaWHnUfvWJmy43.jpg)
1929
![Show of Shows](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/U9WtkLusVGEKfaWHnUfvWJmy43.jpg)
Show of Shows
5.5/2
Now hear this. The studio that gave the cinema its voice offered 1929 audiences a chance to see and hear multiple silent-screen favorites for the firs...
Watch Now
Show of Shows
![Dummy Love](https://nicosiaefe.gov.cy/video/assets/no-poster.png)
1926
![Dummy Love](https://nicosiaefe.gov.cy/video/assets/no-poster.png)
Dummy Love
0/0
Evelyn's uncle gives a party to announce her engagement to the suitor he has approved, but she decides to elope with Oscar. Oscar pal goes along to he...
Watch Now
Dummy Love
![Naughty Baby](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/tmb7yLceKZMQRcTLjAshJh0wtOL.jpg)
1929
![Naughty Baby](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/tmb7yLceKZMQRcTLjAshJh0wtOL.jpg)
Naughty Baby
0/0
A gorgeous showgirl is hired as a lingerie model at a fashion show......
Watch Now
Naughty Baby
![Flirtation Walk](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/4WP0c2tSBW1urf3xKcELdptVuq1.jpg)
1934
![Flirtation Walk](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/4WP0c2tSBW1urf3xKcELdptVuq1.jpg)
Flirtation Walk
5.5/13
A private stationed in Hawaii gets involved with the general's engaged daughter. In order to avoid a scandal, the pair break up, but meet again years...
Watch Now
Flirtation Walk
![Chicken à la King](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/guz9SUFwZxzqnY8Icf0WPkfiqEt.jpg)
1928
![Chicken à la King](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/guz9SUFwZxzqnY8Icf0WPkfiqEt.jpg)
Chicken à la King
0/0
A married tightwad learns to loosen up by living the life of a playboy.
Watch Now
Chicken à la King
![The Little Snob](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/pBfBtsK0kUaXETJUkKDTFGOhiBt.jpg)
1928
![The Little Snob](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/pBfBtsK0kUaXETJUkKDTFGOhiBt.jpg)
The Little Snob
0/0
May Banks (May McAvoy) is a working-class girl who gets ideas above her station in life when her father, Colonel Banks (Aleck B. Francis), a Coney Isl...
Watch Now
The Little Snob
![The Tabasco Kid](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/n0Pi9NBS9SsSeftGUT7AnuZeaVJ.jpg)
1932
![The Tabasco Kid](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/n0Pi9NBS9SsSeftGUT7AnuZeaVJ.jpg)
The Tabasco Kid
0/0
A timid accountant for a California cattle ranch and a lookalike dashing bandit become rivals for the beautiful daughter of a wealthy rancher.
Watch Now
The Tabasco Kid
![Stage Struck Susie](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/xxxHMWSUmDOSVSxn0jT0e1Uo0g7.jpg)
1929
![Stage Struck Susie](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/xxxHMWSUmDOSVSxn0jT0e1Uo0g7.jpg)
Stage Struck Susie
0/0
Eddie Barry bewilders himself backstage at a show.
Watch Now
Stage Struck Susie
![Duck Out](https://nicosiaefe.gov.cy/video/assets/no-poster.png)
1927
![Duck Out](https://nicosiaefe.gov.cy/video/assets/no-poster.png)
Duck Out
0/0
At a magic show put on by Blondini the magician, a member of the audience is invited up to participate. He gets into all sorts of shenanigans, trippin...
Watch Now
Duck Out
![Divorce Made Easy](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/9uf1LmdMiJoRHm8sNcuyqW8SPkX.jpg)
1929
![Divorce Made Easy](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/9uf1LmdMiJoRHm8sNcuyqW8SPkX.jpg)
Divorce Made Easy
0/0
When his aunt disapproves of his marriage to Mabel Deering and threatens to disinherit him, Percy elicits the aid of his buddy Billy Haskell, who is e...
Watch Now