{{short description|American actress and screenwriter (1890–1957)}} {{Use American English|date=May 2021}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = Rhea Mitchell | image = Rhea Mitchell (1911).jpg | caption = Mitchell in 1911 | birth_name = Rhea Ginger Mitchell | birth_date = {{birth date|1890|12|10|mf=y}} | birth_place = Portland, Oregon, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|1957|09|16|1890|12|10|mf=y}} | death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S. | death_cause = | resting_place = Hollywood Forever Cemetery | occupation = Actress, screenwriter | years_active = 1912–1952 }}
'''Rhea Ginger Mitchell''' (December 10, 1890 – September 16, 1957) was an American film actress and screenwriter who appeared in over 100 films, mainly during the silent era. A native of Portland, Oregon, Mitchell began her acting career in local theater, and joined the Baker Stock Company after completing high school. She appeared in various regional theater productions on the West Coast between 1911 and 1913.
In 1912, Mitchell signed with the New York Motion Picture Corporation, making her film debut in ''The Colonel's Ward'', directed by Edward LeSaint. In her early career, she earned the name of "the little stunt girl" because of her willingness to attempt thrilling scenes in motion pictures.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dean |first=Daisy |title=News Notes From Movieland |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26936001/janesville_daily_gazette/ |work=Janesville Daily Gazette |location=Janesville, WI |date=October 4, 1916 |page=6 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Her first major role was in ''On the Night Stage'' (1915), followed by a part in ''The Diamond from the Sky'', a serial film starring Lottie Pickford.
Through the mid-1910s Mitchell appeared in numerous Western films with William S. Hart. Following the advent of sound pictures, Mitchell continued to work in film, though often appearing uncredited, before retiring in 1952. Some of her later roles include minor uncredited parts in ''Green Dolphin Street'' (1947), ''State of the Union'' (1948), and ''Stars in My Crown'' (1950).
Mitchell spent her subsequent retirement years as the resident manager of an apartment building in west Los Angeles. On September 16, 1957, she was murdered in the building by Sonnie Hartford, Jr., a houseboy who also worked there. Hartford pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in her homicide, and was sentenced five years to life in prison. Mitchell is interred at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
==Life and career==
===1890–1913: Early life and theater=== Rhea Ginger Mitchell{{sfn|Rainey|1992|p=57}} was born on December 10, 1890, in Portland, Oregon, to Lillie and Willis N. Mitchell.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSDL-QNY|work=U.S. Census, 1900|title=Rhea Mitchell in household of * N Mitchell, Precinct 44 Portland city Ward 9, Multnomah, Oregon, United States; citing sheet 4B, family 88, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,241,350.|date=January 22, 2015|access-date=July 1, 2016}}</ref> She was raised in Portland, and was an only child.<ref name=ryan>{{cite web|url=https://ryanwadleigh.blogspot.com/2013/07/silent-film-actress-rhea-mitchell.html|work=Ryan's Dead Ancestors|date=July 4, 2013|title=Silent film actress: Rhea Mitchell|access-date=July 1, 2016|author=Wadleigh, Ryan}}</ref> At the age of seventeen, Mitchell was given her first role in a local theater production,<ref name=ryan/> joining the Baker Stock Company in Portland after graduating high school.<ref name=miss>{{cite news|work=The Oregon Daily Journal|title=Another Portland Miss Has Made Her Mark|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26936832/the_oregon_daily_journal/|date=June 18, 1922|page=42|via=Newspapers.com|location=Portland, Oregon}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34175911/the_lincoln_star/|work=Lincoln Star|location=Lincoln, NE|title=Famous "Stunt Girl" To Act For Mutual|page=31|date=April 16, 1916|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> She also performed in local vaudeville shows.<ref name=miss/>
Between 1911 and 1913, Mitchell lived in Spokane and Seattle, Washington, and Vancouver, British Columbia, appearing in theatrical productions, before settling in San Francisco.<ref name=ryan/> In San Francisco, she was a part of the Orpheum Circuit and at the Alcazar Theater.<ref name=moving>''The Moving Picture World'', Vol. 29 (1916) Chalmers Publishing Company, New York</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=The San Francisco Examiner|location=San Francisco, California|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26935621/the_san_francisco_examiner/|title=New Fame is Won by Alcazar Players; "The Woman" Given Fine Interpretation|date=April 29, 2013|last=Wilson|first=Neill|page=8|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
===1913–1919: Film career beginnings=== [[File:Don Quijote (1915—Rhea Mitchell and Chester Withey).jpg|thumb|left|upright=.9|Mitchell and Chester Withey in ''Don Quixote'' (1915)]] Mitchell made her film debut in 1912 with the New York Motion Picture Corporation<ref name=moving/> and eventually appeared in over 100 films during her career. She starred in ''The Game Keeper's Daughter'' (1914), a romantic drama set in England.<ref>{{cite news|work=The Oregon Daily Journal|location=Portland, Oregon|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34176159/the_oregon_daily_journal/|title=Local Girl—Sensation Of Film World|date=October 4, 1914|page=37|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Another early credit was in ''The Heart of Maggie Malone'' (1914), in which she portrayed a miner's daughter.{{sfn|Rainey|1992|p=57}}
She appeared a number of times with Western star William S. Hart playing a leading role in those films,{{sfn|Rainey|1992|pages=57–58}} including 1914's ''In the Sage Brush Country'', and 1915's ''On the Night Stage'' directed by Reginald Barker.{{sfn|Rainey|1992|p=57}} She also appeared in the Thomas Ince film adaptation of ''The Devil'' (also released in 1915, and directed by Barker). Mitchell had a small role in the serial film ''The Diamond from the Sky'' with Lottie Pickford,{{sfn|Katchmer|2015|p=261}} and in Edward Dillon's adaptation of ''Don Quixote'' (both released in 1915).<ref name=afi>{{cite web|work=AFI Catalog of Feature Films|publisher=American Film Institute|location=Los Angeles|title=Rhea Mitchell Filmography|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Person/129381-Rhea-Mitchell?sid=034b0f0d-f8fd-41cc-ac5c-9cb6b262aa46&sr=5.387441&cp=1&pos=0&isMiscCredit=false|archive-url=https://archive.today/20190106233858/https://catalog.afi.com/Person/129381-Rhea-Mitchell?sid=034b0f0d-f8fd-41cc-ac5c-9cb6b262aa46&sr=5.387441&cp=1&pos=0&isMiscCredit=false|archive-date=January 6, 2019}}</ref>
In 1916 she played in ''The Brink'' with Forrest Winant and Arthur Maude,<ref>{{cite news|title=Unique Theater|work=Marshfield Times|date=April 26, 1916|page=4|location=Marshfield, Wisconsin}}</ref> in the sociological drama ''A Camille of the Barbary Coast'' (1916),<ref>{{cite news|work=The Oregon Daily Journal|location=Portland, Oregon|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34176297/the_oregon_daily_journal/|date=May 28, 1916|page=2|title=Photoplays|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> and as Constance Bonacieux in Charles Swickard's ''The Three Musketeers''.<ref name=afi/>
Other notable roles include Frank Lloyd's drama ''The Blindness of Divorce'' (1918), in which she had the female starring role opposite Charles Clary.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34176804/the_des_moines_register/|work=The Des Moines Register|location=Des Moines, Iowa|title=''The Blindness of Divorce'' trade advertisement|date=August 18, 1918|page=22|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
===1920–1952: Later career=== After 1917, her roles became smaller and she appeared in a handful of films through the mid-30s and in several bit parts during the early 1950s which often went uncredited. In 1936, she appeared in an uncredited part in ''San Francisco'', starring Clark Gable, and directed by W. S. Van Dyke, who had directed Mitchell in ''The Hawk's Trail'' in 1916.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1977&dat=19360717&id=OUsiAAAAIBAJ&pg=2719,1915962&hl=en|work=San Jose News|title=Brilliant Picture to Close Its Show Tomorrow Night|date=July 17, 1936|access-date=July 1, 2016|page=27}}</ref> In 1927, Mitchell wrote two films: ''The Dude Desperado''{{sfn|Rainey|1990|p=79}} and ''The Home Trail'', the latter of which was directed by William Wyler.{{sfn|Miller|2013|p=402}}
She later had uncredited roles in Jacques Tourneur's ''The Ship That Died'' (1938),<ref name=afi/> as a nurse in the Lana Turner-led romantic comedy ''Marriage Is a Private Affair'' (1944),<ref name=afi/> and as a seamstress in ''The Unfinished Dance'' (1947).<ref name=afi/> In 1948, Mitchell had a minor role as Jeny in Frank Capra's ''State of the Union''.<ref name=afi/> Her last screen credit was in director Fred Zinnemann's film adaptation of ''The Member of the Wedding'' (1952), portraying a townswoman.<ref name=afi/>
==Death== After her retirement from films, Mitchell managed a large apartment house in Los Angeles. While managing a second apartment in 1957—the La Brea District Apartments at 3477 S. La Brea Avenue<ref name=lablog>{{cite news|work=Los Angeles Times|location=Los Angeles, California|url=https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedailymirror/2007/09/strangler-strik.html|date=September 17, 2009|title=Strangler strikes|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200130102038/https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedailymirror/2007/09/strangler-strik.html|archive-date=January 30, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>—a disgruntled houseboy named Sonnie Hartford, Jr. strangled her to death in the building with the cord of her blue silk dressing gown.<ref name=telegram>{{cite news|title=Ex-Star Slain, Jail Houseboy|date=September 17, 1957|work=Long Beach, California Press-Telegram|location=Long Beach, California|page=1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=Los Angeles Times|location=Los Angeles, California|title=Ex-Actress Strangled|date=September 17, 1957|page=38}}</ref> Her body was found the following day, stuffed in a small dressing room in her apartment.<ref>{{cite news|work=Lubbock Evening Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43280324/lubbock_evening_journal/|location=Lubbock, Texas|title=Houseboy Held In Death of Ex-Star Following Lie Test|agency=Associated Press|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 17, 1957|page=1}}</ref> An article in the ''Press-Telegram'' read in part:
{{quote|A search still was being made by police for a 'baldish, middleaged man' who reportedly kept company recently with the never-married Miss Mitchell. Seattle police were asked to question Miss Mitchell's only known relative, an aunt, Mrs. John Benson. Police said there was no sign of a struggle or criminal attack. Her body was discovered by the houseboy. The actress, known as Ginger to her friends, had played opposite such silent film stars as William S. Hart, Tom Mix, King Baggot and Bert Lytell.... She had appeared in film bit roles as recently as 1951.<ref name=telegram/>}}
Hartford pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.<ref name=sentence/> In March 1958, he was given a prison sentence of five years to life.<ref name=sentence>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34169798/the_san_bernardino_county_sun/|title=Killer of Ex-Actress Gets Prison Sentence|via=Newspapers.com|work=The San Bernardino County Sun|location=San Bernardino, California|date=March 21, 1958|page=8}}</ref>
Mitchell is interred at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles.{{sfn|Ellenberger|2001|p=141}}
==Filmography== {{Main|List of Rhea Mitchell performances}}
==References== {{reflist}}
===Sources=== *{{cite book|last=Ellenberger|first=Allan R.|year=2001|title=Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory|publisher=McFarland|location=Jefferson, North Carolina|isbn=978-0-786-45019-0}} *{{cite book|last=Katchmer|first=George A.|title=A Biographical Dictionary of Silent Film Western Actors and Actresses|year=2015|publisher=McFarland|location=Jefferson, North Carolina|isbn=978-1-476-60905-8}} *{{cite book|last=Miller|first=Gabriel|year=2013|title=William Wyler: The Life and Films of Hollywood's Most Celebrated Director|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|location=Lexington, Kentucky|isbn=978-0-813-14210-4}} *{{cite book|last=Rainey|first=Buck|year=1990|title=Those Fabulous Serial Heroines: Their Lives and Films|publisher=Scarecrow Press|location=Lanham, Maryland|isbn=978-0-810-81911-5}} *{{cite book|last=Rainey|first=Buck|year=1992|title=Sweethearts of the Sage: Biographies and Filmographies of 258 Actresses Appearing in Western Movies|publisher=McFarland|location=Jefferson, North Carolina|isbn=978-0-899-50565-7}}
==External links== {{commons category|Rhea Mitchell}} * {{IMDb name|id=0593671}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mitchell, Rhea}} Category:1890 births Category:1957 deaths Category:Actresses from Portland, Oregon Category:American film actresses Category:American silent film actresses Category:American stage actresses Category:American women screenwriters Category:Burials at Hollywood Forever Cemetery Category:Deaths by strangulation in the United States Category:People murdered in Los Angeles Category:American vaudeville performers Category:Murdered actors Category:Western (genre) film actresses Category:20th-century American actresses Category:20th-century American women writers Category:20th-century American screenwriters Category:People murdered in 1957 Category:Women in Los Angeles