Stonehouse, Ruth (1892–1941)

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Stonehouse, Ruth (1892–1941)

American silent-film actress and director. Born Sept 28, 1892, in Denver, CO; died May 12, 1941, in Hollywood, CA.

At 8, began career as a dancer in vaudeville; as an actress, formed a partnership with Bronco Billy Anderson at Essanay Studios of Chicago; by 1911, was one of the company's leading players, appearing opposite such silent-screen stars as Francis X. Bushman, Harry Houdini and Norma Shearer; feeling typecast in submissive "little girl" roles, began working behind the camera; joined Universal Studios to write, direct, and star in her own films (1916); returned to acting in supporting roles for Universal and other studios (early 1920s); retired (1928); as an actress, films include Neptune's Daughter (1912), Sunshine (1912), An Angel Unaware (1914), The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1914), Night Hawks (1914), The Adventures of Peg o' the Ring (serial, 1916), The Phantom Husband (1917), The Masked Rider (serial, 1919), The Master Mystery (serial, 1919), A Girl of the Limberlost (1924) and The Fugitive (1925).

See also Women in World History.