Viola Allen

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Viola Allen
Born	27 October 1867(1867-10-27) Huntsville, Alabama U.S.
Died	May 9, 1948 (aged 80) New York City, New York U.S.
Occupation	Film, stage actress
Years active	1882-1919
Spouse(s)	Peter C. Duryea (1905-1944) (his death)

Viola Emily Allen (October 27, 1867 – May 9, 1948) was an American stage actress. She appeared in three silent films.

Biography

Allen was born in Huntsville, Alabama in 1867 (some sources say 1869 see discussion), the daughter of actor C. Leslie Allen. With her family involved with theatre, she had her first stage appearance at the age of 14 in New York City. This followed the sudden illness of Annie Russell, who was playing the title role in Esmeralda at the Madison Square Theatre. Viola Allen's father was a member of the cast. The theater's stage manager asked if Mr. Allen would allow his daughter to play the part. Viola's debut on July 4, 1882, attracted the attention of actor John McCullough, who made Viola his leading lady in 1884.^[1] She acted in The Masqueraders, Under the Red Robe, The Christian, In the Palace of the King (1900), Twelfth Night, A Winter's Tale, As You Like It, The Lady of Coventry (1911), and others.

Allen was educated in Boston, Toronto and New York. Between the years of 1884 and 1886 she performed in a variety of modern and Shakespearean plays. She performed with the best-known 19th century actors. She is best remembered for her roles in Shenandoah (by Bronson Howard) and Little Lord Fauntleroy (by Frances Eliza Burnett).

She starred in the 1915 silent film The White Sister along with Richard Travers. The film was produced by the Essanay Studios and was based on the 1909 play The White Sister that was a hit for Allen. She was married to Peter Duryea. Her last professional appearance was in 1918, at a benefit supporting war relief. Viola remained in active support of the charitable and theatrical organizations.

She died in New York City, and is buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Sleepy Hollow, New York.

Viola Allen in "The Daughter of Heaven", a play by Pierre Loti and Judith Gautier

References

Filmography

• The Scales of Justice (1914)
• The White Sister (1915)
• Open Your Eyes (1919)

Literature

• L. C. Strang, Famous Actresses of the Day in America, (Boston, 1899)
• J. B. Clapp and E. F. Edgett, Players of the Present, (New York, 1899)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Viola Allen

• Viola Allen at the Internet Movie Database
• Viola Allen at Allmovie
• Viola Allen at the Internet Broadway Database
• Viola Allen at Find a Grave
• Viola Allen portrait gallery at NYP Library

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