Harriet Hammond

{{short description|American actress (1899–1991)}} {{For|the fictional character|Silk (TV series)}} {{use mdy dates|date=March 2018}} {{Infobox person | name = Harriet Hammond | image = Harriett Hammond Photoplay Feb 1923.jpg | caption = Hammond, {{circa|1923}} | birth_date = {{Birth date|1899|10|20}} | birth_place = Kansas, US | death_date = {{death date and age|1991|9|23|1899|10|20}} | death_place = Valley Center, California, US | years_active = 1918–1930 | occupation = Actress }}

'''Harriet Hammond''' (October 20, 1899 – September 23, 1991) was an American actress of the silent era. She appeared in more than 40 films between 1918 and 1930.

== Biography == Hammond, who was appearing in prominent roles in the Mack Sennett comedy features, was born in Kansas but had lived in Los Angeles, since her early childhood and was a graduate of Los Angeles High Schools.{{Citation needed|date=July 2025}}

Hammond studied piano and languages at Baylor and planned to become a concert pianist.<ref>{{cite news |title=Movie actress studied for musical career |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/145674603/?match=1&terms=%22Harriet%20Hammond%22%20actress |access-date=November 3, 2024 |work=The Pittsburgh Press |date=December 27, 1925 |page=37}}</ref> The strain of six hours a day practice, however, proved too severe, and her health broke down. Starting as one of the Sennett Bathing Beauties she simultaneously developed great power as a comedian, and the Sennett figure. Miss Hammond appeared in "Gee Whiz!" and "By Golly".{{Citation needed|date=July 2025}}

She was a blond, had blue eyes and weighed a hundred and fifteen pounds. Miss Hammond was five feet seven inches high, and was an athlete, excelling in water sports.<ref>{{cite book |title=Who's Who on the Screen |year=1920 |author=Charles Donald Fox & Milton L. Silver |location=New York City |publisher=Ross Publishing |url=http://silentladies.com/BHammond.html |chapter=Harriet Hammond}} ('''Note: Not currently in copyright''')</ref>

Hammond was injured by a premature explosion on a film set. The blast blew her against an iron railing, and the injury made her an invalid for two years. She also had a nervous breakdown, but she returned to acting in January 1925.<ref>{{cite news |title=Comes back as the star in 'Man and Maid' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/509360859/?match=1&terms=%22Harriet%20Hammond%22%20actress |access-date=November 3, 2024 |work=The Sioux City Sunday Journal |date=January 25, 1925 |page=21|via = Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription }}</ref> She sued Fox Film Corporation and related Fox companies for $118,500 damages.<ref>{{cite news |title=Film Actress Asks $118,500 for Shock: Harriet Hammond Badly Burned in Dynamite Explosion |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/917201576/?match=1&terms=%22Harriet%20Hammond%22%20actress |access-date=November 2, 2024 |work=Atlantic City Daily Press |date=August 25, 1922 |page=2|via = Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

==Selected filmography== thumb|right|Publicity photo of Harriet Hammond from ''Who's Who on the Screen'' * ''Down on the Farm'' (1920) * ''A Small Town Idol'' (1921) * ''Bits of Life'' (1921) * ''Live and Let Live'' (1921) * ''The Golden Gift'' (1922) * ''Confidence'' (1922) * ''Leap Year'' (1924) * ''Soft Shoes'' (1925) * ''The Midshipman'' (1925) * ''Man and Maid'' (1925) * ''The Man from Red Gulch'' (1925) * ''Driftin' Thru'' (1926) * ''The Seventh Bandit'' (1926) *''Queen of the Chorus'' (1928)

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category}} *{{IMDb name|id=0358697|name=Harriet Hammond}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hammond, Harriet}} Category:1899 births Category:1991 deaths Category:Actresses from Michigan Category:American film actresses Category:American silent film actresses Category:20th-century American actresses