34 Facts About Florence Lawrence

Florence Lawrence is often referred to as the "first movie star", and was long thought to be the first film actor to be named publicly until evidence published in 2019 indicated that the first named film star was French actor Max Linder.

Florence Lawrence appeared in almost 300 films for various motion picture companies throughout her career.

Florence Lawrence was known professionally as Lotta Lawrence and was the leading lady and director of the Lawrence Dramatic Company.

At the age of three, Florence Lawrence made her debut onstage with her mother in a song and dance routine.

Lotta Florence Lawrence moved the family from Hamilton to Buffalo, New York to live with her mother Ann Dunn.

Florence Lawrence chose to stop bringing her children along for stage performances and for the first time, Florence was enrolled in school.

Florence Lawrence was one of several Canadian pioneers in the film industry who were attracted by the rapid growth of the fledgling motion picture business.

Florence Lawrence got the part because she knew how to ride a horse.

Florence Lawrence returned briefly to stage acting, playing the leading role in a road show production of Melville B Raymond's Seminary Girls.

Florence Lawrence's mother played her last role in this production.

Florence Lawrence gained much popularity, but because her name never was publicized, fans began writing to the studio asking to know her identity.

Florence Lawrence achieved great popularity in the "Jones" series, film's first comedy series, in which she played Mrs Jones in around a dozen films, with John R Cumpson as Mr Jones.

Laemmle had Florence Lawrence make a personal appearance in St Louis, Missouri in March 1910 with her leading man to show her fans that she was very much alive, making her one of the early performers not already famous in another medium to be identified by name by her studio.

Partially due to Laemmle's ingenuity, the "star system" was born, and before long, Florence Lawrence became a household name.

Florence Lawrence teamed with Arthur Johnson, and the pair made 48 films together under Lubin's direction.

Florence Lawrence's letters "softened her feelings", and they were re-united in November 1912.

Florence Lawrence was persuaded to return to work in 1914 for her company, which had been acquired by Universal Studios.

Florence Lawrence was burned, her hair was singed, and she suffered a serious fall which fractured her spine.

Florence Lawrence returned to work, but collapsed after the film was completed.

Florence Lawrence received a leading role in a minor melodrama, and then two supporting roles.

Florence Lawrence then married automobile salesman Charles Byrne Woodring in 1921.

In 1933, Florence Lawrence wed for the third and final time, to Henry Bolton, who turned out to be an abusive alcoholic and beat her severely.

Besides her film career, Florence Lawrence is credited with designing the first "auto signaling arm", a predecessor of the modern turn signal, along with the first mechanical brake signal.

Florence Lawrence did not patent these inventions and as a result she received no credit for, nor profit from, either one.

Florence Lawrence was devastated when her mother, to whom she was close, died suddenly in August 1929.

Florence Lawrence lost much of her fortune after the stock market crash in October 1929 and ensuing Great Depression.

At 1 pm on December 28,1938, Florence Lawrence phoned the offices of M-G-M where she was to report to work that afternoon, claiming that she was ill.

Sometime later in the afternoon, Florence Lawrence ingested ant poison and cough syrup at her home in West Hollywood.

Accounts differ as to how Florence Lawrence was discovered; some media reports stated her neighbor Marian Menzer heard her screams, while others say that Florence Lawrence called Menzer stating that she poisoned herself.

Menzer called an ambulance, and Florence Lawrence was rushed to Beverly Hills Emergency Hospital.

Florence Lawrence's death was ruled a "probable suicide" owing to her "ill health".

Florence Lawrence's grave remained unmarked until 1991, when an anonymous British actor paid for a memorial marker for her.

The date of birth on Florence Lawrence's headstone is given as 1890.

The mistake was repeated by the Pierce Brothers Mortuary, where Florence Lawrence's funeral was held, although most obituaries printed her correct year of birth: 1886.