Mary Thurman

Mary Thurman (April 27, 1895 – December 22, 1925) was an American actress of the silent film era.

Early life

Born Mary Christiansen in Richfield, Utah, she was one of seven children raised in the Mormon faith. Her father died in 1906. She attended the University of Utah and became a teacher.

Career

Thurman's film career began with roles in the comedies of Mack Sennett, as one of the Sennett Bathing Beauties, and featured appearances in Bombs! (1916) and The Fool (1925). Her greatest success came when she was started working with director Allan Dwan. The collaborated on several critically acclaimed films including The Sin of Martha Queed (1921) and A Broken Doll (1921). Off screen they were engaged for several years. She appeared in nearly sixty Hollywood films from 1915 up until her death in 1925, frequently in those made by Pathé Studios.

Thurman was married to Victor E. Thurman, son of Utah Supreme Court justice Samuel R. Thurman, until their divorce in 1919.

Death

In 1924 while working on the movie Down Upon The Suwanee River in Florida she came down with a serious case of pneumonia. She suffered from the illness and was hospitalized for nearly a year. Thurman died of pneumonia in New York, New York on December 22. 1925 in Flower Hospital. Her best friend actress Juanita Hansen was at her side when she died. She was buried in Richfield City Cemetery in her hometown of Richfield, Utah.