Mabel Van Buren (born Mabel Brown Southard; July 17, 1878 – November 4, 1947) was an American stage and screen actress.
Biography
As a theatrical performer she played the leading lady in both The Virginian and The Squaw Man (1909). She was an actress for the Kinemacolor Company of America. Van Buren became prominent in motion pictures at the time of the development of feature-length movies in 1914. She starred in The Girl of the Golden West (1915) under the direction of Cecil B. Demille. It was Demille who brought Mabel west to Hollywood. Mabel was the first leading lady of the Famous Players–Lasky studio on Vine Street in Hollywood, California.
Her final role of note was in Neighbor's Wives (1933) in which she played Mrs. Lee. She continued acting in movies until the death of her husband, James Gordon. He was a Shakesperian actor who died in 1941. Other films in which she played prominent parts are The Warrens of Virginia (1915), The Man From Home (1914), and Craig's Wife (1928).
Van Buren's residence was 4351 Kingswell Avenue, Los Angeles, California. She died of pneumonia in 1947, age 69, at St. Vincent's Hospital. Her daughter, Katherine Charlton, was also an actress.
Partial filmography
The House with Closed Shutters (1910, Short) - On Porch / At Farewell
Brewster's Millions (1914) - Mrs. Gray
The Dishonored Medal (1914) - Anitra
The Master Mind (1914) - Lucine, Three-Arm Fanny
The Man on the Box (1914) - Kit Warburton
The Man from Home (1914) - Ethel Granger Simpson
The Circus Man (1914) - Mary Braddock
The Ghost Breaker (1914) - Delores
The Girl of the Golden West (1915) - The Girl
The Warrens of Virginia (1915) - Mrs. Warren
The Woman (1915) - Grace Robertson
Should a Wife Forgive? (1915) - Mary Holmes
The Sowers (1916) - Princess Tanya
Ramona (1916) - Ramona (in the prologue) The House with the Golden Windows (1916) - Mrs. Peabody The Victoria Cross (1916) - Princess Adala Lost and Won (1917) - Minor Role Those Without Sin (1917) - Estelle Wallace A School for Husbands (1917) - Mrs. Airlie The Silent Partner (1917) - Edith Preston Unconquered (1917) - Mrs. Lenning The Jaguar's Claws (1917) - Marie The Squaw Man's Son (1917) - Lady Stuckley Hashimura Togo (1917) - Mrs. Reynolds The Countess Charming (1917) - Mrs. Vandergraft The Devil-Stone (1917) - Mrs. Rogers The Winding Trail (1918) - Lou Breakers Ahead (1918) - Aunt Agatha Pixley Riders of the Night (1918) - Sally's Aunt Hearts of Men (1919) - Tina Ferronni Young Mrs. Winthrop (1920) - Mrs. Dunbar The Sins of Rosanne (1920) - Mrs. Ozanne Conrad in Quest of His Youth (1920) - Nina The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1921) - Elena A Wise Fool (1921) - Madame Langlois Moonlight and Honeysuckle (1921) - Mrs. Langley Miss Lulu Bett (1921) - Ina Deacon Beyond the Rocks (1922) - Jane McBride For the Defense (1922) - Cousin Selma The Woman Who Walked Alone (1922) - Hannah Schriemann While Satan Sleeps (1922) - Sunflower Sadie Manslaughter (1922) - Prisoner Youth to Youth (1922) - Mrs. Brookins Pawned (1922) - Mrs. Veniza Fighting Blood (1923) - Mrs. Wilcox - Judy's Mother Wandering Daughters (1923) - Annie Bowden The Light That Failed (1923) - Madame Binat Lights Out (1923) - Mrs. Gallant In Search of a Thrill (1923) - Lila Lavender The Dawn of a Tomorrow (1924) - Bet The Top of the World (1925) - Mary Ann Smooth as Satin (1925) - Mrs. Munson His Secretary (1925) - Mrs. Sloden The King of Kings (1927) - (uncredited) The Meddlin' Stranger (1927) - Mrs. Crawford Craig's Wife (1928) - Mrs. Frazer The Flyin' Buckaroo (1928) - Mrs. Brown His First Command (1929) - Mrs. Sargent Neighbors' Wives (1933) - Mrs. Lee Mississippi (1935) - Party Guest (uncredited) (final film role)
References
Lincoln, Nebraska Daily Star, Answers To Movie Fans, September 30, 1917, Page 30. Los Angeles Times, Lasky Lot, In Ruins, Recall Early Film History, June 6, 1926, Page B10. Los Angeles Times, Original Girl of the Golden West, 69, DiesNovember 6, 1947, Page 2. The New York Times, Mabel Van Buren, November 6, 1947, Page 27. Washington Post, Notes About Plays And Players, October 24, 1909, Page 94.
External links
Catherine Van Buren, Mabel's daughter (University of Washington, Sayre collection)