Actress and Dancer. An early star of the silent film era, she studied dance at Denishawn Studio in Los Angeles, and the Denishawn connection to D.W. Griffith led to a dancing role in Griffith's 1918 film "Hearts of the World." Using the stage name Mary Hay and heeding Griffith's advice that stage experience would facilitate obtaining film roles, she joined the Ziegfeld Follies, where she appeared in comedy skits and dance routines. After the death of actress Clarine Seymour, she took over Seymour's part in the Griffith film "Way Down East," which led to her marrying the film's star, Richard Barthelmess. She appeared in two other films, "Eastward Ho" (1919) and "New Toys" (1925). She continued to appear regularly on stage, including roles in "Mary Jane McKane," "Sunny" and "Treasure Girl." She also formed a song and dance routine with actor Clifton Webb, which they regularly performed at supper clubs. After her divorce from Barthelmess, she married businessman Vivian Bath, but they later divorced. In 1939, she married artist Richard Hastings, and they divorced in 1952. She was active in San Francisco theater productions before retiring to homes in Carrabelle, Florida and Inverness, California.
Actress and Dancer. An early star of the silent film era, she studied dance at Denishawn Studio in Los Angeles, and the Denishawn connection to D.W. Griffith led to a dancing role in Griffith's 1918 film "Hearts of the World." Using the stage name Mary Hay and heeding Griffith's advice that stage experience would facilitate obtaining film roles, she joined the Ziegfeld Follies, where she appeared in comedy skits and dance routines. After the death of actress Clarine Seymour, she took over Seymour's part in the Griffith film "Way Down East," which led to her marrying the film's star, Richard Barthelmess. She appeared in two other films, "Eastward Ho" (1919) and "New Toys" (1925). She continued to appear regularly on stage, including roles in "Mary Jane McKane," "Sunny" and "Treasure Girl." She also formed a song and dance routine with actor Clifton Webb, which they regularly performed at supper clubs. After her divorce from Barthelmess, she married businessman Vivian Bath, but they later divorced. In 1939, she married artist Richard Hastings, and they divorced in 1952. She was active in San Francisco theater productions before retiring to homes in Carrabelle, Florida and Inverness, California.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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