Doris Pawn (born Doris Alice Pahn; December 29, 1894 – March 30, 1988) was an American silent era film actress.

Doris Pawn
Pawn in 1920
Born
Doris Alice Pahn

(1894-12-29)December 29, 1894
DiedMarch 30, 1988(1988-03-30) (aged 93)
La Jolla, California, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1914–1923
Spouses
(m. 1917; div. 1920)
Paul Reiners
(m. 1928, divorced)
Samuel William Dunaway
(m. 1937; died 1969)

Early life

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Born and raised in Norfolk, Nebraska, Pawn spent her vacations on the ranch of an uncle. There, she learned to ride horseback.[1] She entered a business college to prepare for life as a typist. She came to California with her mother and brother and stayed in San Diego, California while her family returned east.[1]

Pawn eventually met director Wilfred Lucas. She was offered work as a fill in in the film Trey of Hearts (1914), while the company was on location in San Diego. So impressed were the filmmakers that she was offered additional work if she came along to Los Angeles, California.[1] Pawn worked for a period of three months as an extra.[citation needed]

Career

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Director Sydney Ayres coveted Pawn as a leading lady early in her screen career. In 1916, she appeared in her first Fox Film feature, Blue Blood and Red, directed by Raoul Walsh. Studios were impressed with her personal charm and ability to act naturally. She was especially gifted in the art of pantomime.[citation needed]

 
Doris Pawn in 1923

In addition to Fox, Pawn made movies with Universal, Goldwyn, and Paramount Pictures. She returned to Fox in 1921 for the making of Shame. She starred alongside John Gilbert and Anna May Wong. Her final films were two dramas, Fools and Riches and The Hero, along with a western, The Buster. Each of these productions was released in 1923.

Selected filmography

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Nebraska Girl Leaves Typewriter To Star In Fox Movie Drama of Western Life". The Lincoln Star. April 2, 1916. p. 31. Retrieved January 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  • Janesville, Wisconsin Daily Gazette, News Notes From Movieland, Thursday, July 19, 1917, p. 6.
  • Lincoln, Nebraska Sunday State Journal, On The Silver Screen, March 23, 1924, p. 15.
  • The Madison, Wisconsin Capitol Times, News Notes From Movieland, December 30, 1921, p. 14.
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