Marvel Rea
Marvel Rea | |
---|---|
Born | Marvel Luciel Rea November 9, 1901 Ainsworth, Nebraska, U.S. |
Died | June 17, 1937 Los Angeles, California, U.S. | (aged 35)
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1917–1932 |
Spouse(s) | Henry Page Wells (1918–1922) Edwin J. Wilkinson (m.1936) |
Marvel Rea (November 9, 1901 – June 17, 1937) was an American silent film actress best known for her work beside Ford Sterling. She was one of Mack Sennett's "Bathing Beauties".
Early life
Marvel Luciel Rea was the third of four children born to Thomas John Rea and Nellie Mae Thurman. Rea's family moved from Nebraska to California in 1910. She entered silent films in 1918 joining the
Film comedian
Rea was in Her Screen Idol (1918) with
Rea was in movies from 1917 through 1921. Among her more than twenty-five screen credits are roles in
Marriages
Rea was married to Henry Page Wells on October 25, 1918. They separated in November. About two weeks after their wedding Rea said that Page stood her on her head. The accusation was part of a divorce suit which Rea brought in August 1922. She accused her husband of spending most of his $800 per month salary on narcotics.[3]
She later became engaged to Edwin J. Wilkinson in August 1936 right before her assault. They married on an unknown date and remained married until her death.
Attack
On September 2, 1936, while walking down 107th Street and Compton Avenue in
The three suspects were apprehended and questioned by Los Angeles Police Department, and were arrested on suspicion of kidnapping and attack, though they all denied their charges.[4] In January 1937, the three young truck drivers unsuccessfully requested a new trial on charges that they attacked Rea. They gave oral notice of appeal in Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Frank M. Smith's court. The three were sentenced to prison terms of from one to fifty years.[6] In 1939, the three men were released from prison on technicalities regarding their trials, after serving only three years.
Death
Rea committed suicide by ingesting ant paste. She died on June 17, 1937, in Los Angeles. She is buried at Pacific Crest Cemetery in Redondo Beach, California with her family. Her death certificate lists her as Marvel L. Wilkinson but she is buried under the name Marvel Luciel Rea.
Partial filmography
- Whose Baby? (1917)
- A Clever Dummy (1917)
- The Pullman Bride (1917)
- Are Waitresses Safe? (1917)
References
- IMDb
- ^ "Ford Sterling In New Sennett Film." Ogden Examiner. July 7, 1918, Page 10.
- ^ "Husband Stood Her On Her Head, Beauty Charges." New Castle News. August 25, 1925, Page 19.
- ^ a b "Kidnap Attack Nets Three." Los Angeles Times. 1936. Page A3.
- ^ "Trio Attacks Film Beauty." San Antonio Light. September 3, 1936, Page 1.
- ^ "Three Sentenced in Attack Case." Los Angeles Times. January 21, 1937, Page A1
External links
- Marvel Rea at IMDb
- Marvel Rea at Find a Grave