Jean Acker
Jean Acker | |
---|---|
![]() Acker photographed by James Abbe, 1920s | |
Born | Harriet Ackers October 23, 1892 Trenton, New Jersey, U.S. |
Died | August 16, 1978 Los Angeles, California, U.S. | (aged 85)
Resting place | Holy Cross Cemetery |
Other names | Mrs. Rudolph Valentino |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1913–1955 |
Spouse | |
Partner(s) | Grace Darmond (1918–1923) Chloe Carter (1923–1978) |
Jean Acker (born Harriet Ackers; October 23, 1892 – August 16, 1978) was an American actress with a career dating from the silent film era through the 1950s. She was perhaps best known as the estranged wife of silent film star Rudolph Valentino.
Early life and career
[edit]Jean Acker was born Harriet Ackers on October 23, 1892 in Trenton, New Jersey to Joseph and Margaret Ackers. The 1900 census indicates an 1891 birthdate,[1][unreliable source?] and other sources have suggested an 1893 birthdate.[2][3] However, her burial plot says 1892.[4][unreliable source?] Her parents divorced, and her father remarried to Eleanor Bruseren in 1906.[5][unreliable source?] They had two sons together, both named Joseph. Their first son died at 4 months old in 1907, and their second son was a stillbirth.[6][unreliable source?][7][unreliable source?][8][unreliable source?] Eleanor and Joseph divorced in 1912, and he married a third time to Virginia Erb.[9][unreliable source?] Her father managed the Casino Bowling Alley and The Ritz Restaurant, and later owned the Boston Shoe Store on Valley Street. He also managed several bowling alleys in the Philadelphia area. In 1906, the family moved to Lewistown. Growing up on a farm, Ackers became an expert horsewoman. She attended St. Mary's Seminary in Springfield, New Jersey for a time.
She performed in vaudeville until she moved to California in 1919.[10] After arriving in Hollywood, Acker became the protegee and lover of Alla Nazimova, an actress whose clout and contacts enabled Acker to negotiate a $200 per week contract with a movie studio. Acker appeared in numerous films during the 1910s and 1920s, but by the early 1930s, she began appearing in small, mostly uncredited film roles. She made her last on-screen appearance in the 1955 film How to Be Very, Very Popular, opposite Betty Grable.
Marriage to Valentino
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bd/Jean_Acker_1923.jpg/220px-Jean_Acker_1923.jpg)
After meeting and befriending the then-struggling actor Rudolph Valentino at a party, they entered a two-month courtship and married on November 6, 1919. Acker quickly had regrets and locked him out of their hotel bedroom on their wedding night.[11][12] The marriage was reportedly never consummated.[13]
After filing for divorce, Valentino did not wait the requisite period for it to be finalized before marrying his second wife, Natacha Rambova, in Mexico, and he was charged with bigamy when the couple returned to the United States.[14] Acker then sued Valentino for the legal right to call herself Mrs. Rudolph Valentino. Valentino remained angry with her for several years, but they mended their friendship before his death in 1926. Acker wrote a popular song about him soon after he died called "We Will Meet at the End of the Trail".[15][16]
Acker had an affair with the actress Alla Nazimova. Nazimova included Acker in what was dubbed the sewing circles, a group of actresses who were forced to conceal the fact that they were lesbian or bisexual, thus living secret lives. Another of her female lovers was Grace Darmond, with whom she was involved during her relationship with Valentino.[citation needed]
In the 1977 film Valentino a character loosely based on Acker is played by Carol Kane. In the credits, the character is simply called Starlet.
Later life and death
[edit]After divorcing Valentino in 1923, Acker was engaged to Marquis Luis de Bezan y Sandoval of Spain.[17] Then, she was in the news over her relationship with Rahmin Bey.[18] In 1930, after she lost her fortune in the 1929 stock market crash, she sued William Delahanty, claiming that he agreed to pay her $18,400 per year if she gave up her film career. The married politician denied that he made such a promise but admitted that he spent thousands of dollars on Acker.[19] Acker met Chloe Carter (June 21, 1903 – October 28, 1993), a former Ziegfeld Follies girl, who was the first wife of film composer Harry Ruby.[20] Acker remained with Carter for the rest of her life. The couple owned an apartment building together in Beverly Hills.[21] Acker died of natural causes in 1978 at the age of 85,[22] and is buried next to Carter at the Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.[23]
Legacy
[edit]Although not born in the Central Pennsylvania town of Lewistown, Jean Acker is considered a local celebrity. Her face dominates an outdoor mural titled "Mifflin County Movie History" and is located on Monument Square in Downtown Lewistown. The mural was painted in 2012 by Dwight Kirkland of Blackleaf Studio, Mifflintown, Pennsylvania.[citation needed]
Filmography
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1913 | The Man Outside | Helen Lattimore | Short Lost film |
|
1913 | In a Woman's Power | Marcelle – the Wife | Lost film | |
1913 | Bob's Baby | Bob's Cousin | Short Lost film |
|
1913 | The Daredevil Mountaineer | Short Lost film |
||
1914 | The $5,000,000 Counterfeiting Plot | Helen Long | Dramascope Co. Lost film |
[24] |
1915 | Are You a Mason? | Alternative title: The Joiner Famous Players Film Company Lost film |
[25] | |
1919 | Never Say Quit | Vamp | Fox Film Lost film |
[26] |
1919 | Checkers | Pert Barlow | Fox Film Lost film |
[27] |
1919 | Lombardi, Ltd. | Daisy | Metro Pictures | [28] |
1919 | The Blue Bandanna | Ruth Yancy | Jesse D. Hampton Productions Lost film |
[29] |
1920 | The Ladder of Lies | Dora Leroy | Famous Players–Lasky Corp. Lost film |
[30] |
1920 | An Arabian Knight | Zorah | Haworth Pictures Corp. Lost film |
[31] |
1920 | Help Wanted - Male | Ethel | Jesse D. Hampton Productions Lost film |
[32] |
1920 | The Round-Up | Polly Hope | Famous Players–Lasky Corp. | [33] |
1921 | See My Lawyer | Betty Gardner | Christie Film Company Lost film |
[34] |
1921 | Brewster's Millions | Barbara Drew | Famous Players–Lasky Corp. Lost film |
[35] |
1921 | Wealth | Estelle Rolland | Famous Players–Lasky Corp. Lost film |
[36] |
1921 | The Kiss | Isabella Chavez | Universal Pictures Lost film |
[37] |
1922 | Her Own Money | Ruth Alden | Famous Players–Lasky Corp. Lost film |
[38] |
1923 | The Woman in Chains | Felicia Coudret | Credited as Mrs. Rudolph Valentino Amalgamated Producing Corp. |
[39] |
1925 | Braveheart | Sky-Arrow | Cinema Corp. of America | [40] |
1926 | The Ace of Cads | Rumored to be cast, but no show Famous Players–Lasky Corp. Lost film |
[41] | |
1927 | The Nest | Belle Madison | Excellent Pictures Corp. | [42] |
1933 | No Marriage Ties | Adrienne's Maid | Listed in pre-production notes only | [43] |
1934 | Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen | Friend of Miss Fane | Uncredited Paramount Pictures |
[44] |
1935 | The Lone Wolf Returns | Unknown | Billed as Jean Acker Valentino Columbia Pictures |
[45] |
1935 | It's in the Air | Rumored to be cast, but no show MGM |
[46] | |
1936 | San Francisco | Rumored to be cast, but no show MGM |
[47] | |
1937 | Vogues of 1938 | Extra | Uncredited | |
1939 | Good Girls Go to Paris | Bit Part | Uncredited | |
1940 | My Favorite Wife | Postponed case witness | Uncredited RKO Pictures |
[48] |
1942 | Obliging Young Lady | Cousin | Uncredited RKO Pictures |
[49] |
1945 | The Thin Man Goes Home | Tart | Uncredited MGM |
[50] |
1945 | The Stork Club | Saleslady | DeSylva Productions, Inc. | [51] |
1945 | Spellbound | Matron | Selznick International Pictures | [52] |
1946 | It's a Wonderful Life | Townswoman | Uncredited Liberty Films |
[53] |
1947 | The Peril of Pauline | Switchboard operator | Uncredited Paramount |
[54] |
1948 | Isn't It Romantic? | Townswoman | Uncredited Paramount |
[55] |
1951 | The Mating Season | Party guest | Uncredited Paramount |
[56] |
1952 | Something to Live For | Wife | Uncredited Paramount |
[57] |
1955 | How to Be Very, Very Popular | Minor Role | Rumored to be cast, but no show 20th Century Fox |
[58] |
References
[edit]- ^ ancestry.com
- ^ Wlaschin, Ken (2009). The Silent Cinema in Song, 1896–1929: An Illustrated History and Catalog of Songs Inspired by the Movies and Stars, with a List of Recordings. McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers. ISBN 9780786438044.
- ^ Klepper, Robert K. (1999). Silent Films, 1877–1996: A Critical Guide to 646 Movies. McFarland. ISBN 9780786405954.
- ^ "U.S., Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current - Ancestry.com". www.ancestry.com.
- ^ "Join Ancestry®". www.ancestry.com.
- ^ ancestry.com
- ^ ancestry.com
- ^ ancestry.com
- ^ ancestry.com
- ^ Leider, Emily W. Dark Lover: The Life and Death of Rudolph Valentino. New York City, Farrar Straus Giroux, 2003. ISBN 0-374-28239-0. p. 100.
- ^ "Jean Acker of Metro Weds". Motion Picture News. 1919. p. 3774.
- ^ Donnelley, Paul (2005). Fade to Black: A Book of Movie Obituaries. Omnibus Press. p. 935. ISBN 1-84449-430-6.
- ^ Donnelley, Paul (2005). Fade to Black: A Book of Movie Obituaries. Omnibus Press. p. 7. ISBN 1-84449-430-6.
- ^ Madsen, Axel (2002). The Sewing Circle: Sappho's Leading Ladies. Kensington Books. p. 103. ISBN 0-7582-0101-X.
- ^ Newman, Ben-Allah (2004). Rudolph Valentino His Romantic Life and Death: His Romantic Life and Death. Kessinger Publishing. p. 50. ISBN 1-4179-1464-5.
- ^ Briggs, Joe Bob (2005). Profoundly Erotic: Sexy Movies that Changed History. Universe. p. 30. ISBN 0-7893-1314-6.
- ^ "The Evening News – Google News Archive Search". Retrieved December 5, 2013.
- ^ "The Deseret News – Google News Archive Search". Retrieved December 5, 2013.
- ^ "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – Google News Archive Search". Retrieved December 5, 2013.
- ^ "Rochester Evening Journal – Google News Archive Search". Retrieved December 5, 2013.
- ^ Shearer, Stephen Michael (2006). Patricia Neal: An Unquiet Life. University Press of Kentucky. p. 391. ISBN 0-8131-2391-7.
- ^ Donnelley, Paul (2005). Fade to Black: A Book of Movie Obituaries. Omnibus Press. p. 8. ISBN 1-84449-430-6.
- ^ Wilson, Scott. Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed.: 2 (Kindle Location 325). McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. Kindle Edition.
- ^ "The $5,000,000 Counterfeiting Plot". AFI|Catalog. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "Are You a Mason?". AFI|Catalog. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "Never Say Quit". AFI|Catalog. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "Checkers". AFI|Catalog. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "Lombardi, Ltd". AFI|Catalog. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "The Blue Bandanna". AFI|Catalog. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "The Ladder of Lies". AFI|Catalog. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "An Arabian Knight". AFI|Catalog. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "Help Wanted – Male". AFI|Catalog. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "The Round-Up". AFI|Catalog. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "See My Lawyer". UCLA Film and Television Archive. 1921. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "Brewster's Millions". AFI|Catalog. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "Wealth". AFI|Catalog. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "The Kiss". AFI|Catalog. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "Her Own Money". AFI|Catalog. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "The Woman in Chains". AFI|Catalog. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "Braveheart (1925)". UCLA Film and Television Archive. 1925. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "The Ace of Cads". AFI|Catalog. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "The Nest". AFI|Catalog. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "No Marriage Ties". AFI|Catalog. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen". AFI|Catalog. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "The Lone Wolf Returns". AFI|Catalog. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "It's in the Air". AFI|Catalog. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "San Francisco". AFI|Catalog. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "My Favorite Wife". AFI|Catalog. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "Obliging Young Lady". AFI|Catalog. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "The Thin Man Goes Home". UCLA Film and Television Archive. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "The Stork Club". UCLA Film and Television Archive. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "Spellbound (Motion picture : 1945)". UCLA Film and Television Archive. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "It's a Wonderful Life". UCLA Film and Television Archive. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "The Peril of Pauline". UCLA Film and Television Archive. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "Townswoman". UCLA Film and Television Archive. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "The Mating Season". UCLA Film and Television Archive. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "Something to Live For". UCLA Film and Television Archive. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "How to Be Very, Very Popular". UCLA Film and Television Archive. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
External links
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Jean Acker at IMDb
- Jean Acker at AllMovie
- Jean Acker at Find a Grave
- 1893 births
- 1978 deaths
- Actresses from New Jersey
- American film actresses
- American silent film actresses
- American vaudeville performers
- Catholics from New Jersey
- Burials at Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City
- American LGBT actresses
- LGBT Christians
- LGBT people from New Jersey
- Actors from Trenton, New Jersey
- 20th-century American actresses
- Rudolph Valentino
- People from Lewistown, Pennsylvania
- 20th-century American LGBT people