Talmadge, Constance (1897–1973)

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Talmadge, Constance (1897–1973)

American silent-film actress. Born April 19, 1897, in Brooklyn, NY; died Nov 23, 1973, in Los Angeles, California; youngest dau. of Fred Talmadge and Peg Talmadge; sister of actresses Norma Talmadge and Natalie Talmadge; m. John Pialoglou (tobacco exporter), 1920 (div. 1922); m. Alistair MacIntosh (captain in Her Majesty's Horse Guards), 1926 (div. 1927); m. Townsend Metcher (department store tycoon), 1929 (div. 1931); m. Walter Giblon (stockbroker), 1939 (died 1964).

Star of sophisticated comedies, reached height of career in 1920s, but faded into obscurity with advent of sound; entered films (1914), and for 2 years played in comedy shorts opposite Billy Quirk; break came when cast as the Mountain Girl in Griffith's Intolerance (1916); starred in a series of comedies, many of which were written by Anita Loos and John Emerson, including A Virtuous Vamp (1919) and Learning to Love (1925); established Constance Talmadge Film Co., which turned out 12 films over 6-year period; retired from films (1929); also appeared in Two Weeks (1920), Polly of the Follies (1922), Dulcy (1923), Her Night of Romance (1924), Sybil (1926), Venus of Venice (1927) and Breakfast at Sunrise (1927).

See also Anita Loos, The Talmadge Girls: A Memoir (Viking, 1978); and Women in World History.