Dana, Viola (1897–1987)

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Dana, Viola (1897–1987)

American stage and silent-film actress and dancer. Name variations: Viola Flugrath. Born Virginia Flugrath, June 26, 1897, in Brooklyn, NY; died July 3, 1987, in Woodland Hills, California; sister of Shirley Mason (1900–1979, screen actress) and Edna Flugrath (actress); m. John H. Collins (director), 1915 (died 1918); m. Maurice "Lefty" Flynn (screen cowboy), 1925 (div. 1929).

With sister Shirley, appeared on stage as a child; made screen debut in Edison's A Christmas Carol (1910); enjoyed success on stage in title roles of The Littlest Rebel (1910) and Poor Little Rich Girl (1913); became a leading Metro ingenue in over 50 silents, including The Drummer Boy, Aladdin's Other Lamp, Flower of the Dusk, Naughty Nanette, God's Law and Man's, The Cossack Whip, Salvation Jane, Rosie O'Grady, Merton of the Movies, Lady Barnacle, The Million Trail and The Show of Shows; danced in many of them.