Edna Purviance

Active - 1915 - 2003  |   Born - Oct 21, 1894   |   Died - Jan 13, 1958   |   Genres - Comedy, Romance, Drama

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Biography by AllMovie

From 1915-23 she was Charlie Chaplin's only leading lady; they had met at a party and soon became lovers. When their relationship had run its course, he tried to launch her in a dramatic career (and meanwhile move her out of his films) with A Woman of Paris (1923), in which she starred and which he produced, directed, and wrote; the film was a success but failed to make a star out of her. She appeared in a couple more failed dramatic roles, then retired from the screen, popping up years later as an extra in two Chaplin films. Until the end of her life she remained under contract to Chaplin, receiving a salary from him.

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