Vera Sisson (July 31, 1891 – August 6, 1954)[1] was an American actress of the silent era.[1]

Vera Sisson
Born(1891-07-31)July 31, 1891
DiedAugust 6, 1954(1954-08-06) (aged 63)
OccupationActress
Years active1913–1926
Spouse
(m. 1916; died 1953)

Biography

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Vera Sisson was born on July 31, 1891, in Salt Lake City.[2] She received her education at Brownlee Collegiate School for Girls in Denver, Colorado. In 1912, Sisson applied for work as an extra at Universal Pictures and made her film debut in The Helping Hand (1913). Sisson received recognition as J. Warren Kerrigan's leading lady in seven successful films, including The Sandhill Lovers (1914), The Oyster Dredger (1915), and A Bogus Bandit (1915).

In 1915, Sisson was offered a contract with Biograph Studios, and the following year she married actor and director Richard Rosson.

Sisson costarred with Harold Lockwood and Virginia Rappe in Paradise Garden (1917), Rudolph Valentino in The Married Virgin (1918), and Constance Talmadge in Experimental Marriage (1919). Her final film appearance was in Love 'Em and Leave 'Em (1926), starring Evelyn Brent and Louise Brooks.

On May 1, 1939, Sisson and her husband Rosson, along with two other British nationals, were arrested on a charge of espionage in Vienna, Austria by the Gestapo, allegedly for filming military hardware. They were held in solitary confinement for 34 days and released.[3]

On May 31, 1953, Richard Rosson committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning. A year later, on August 6, 1954, Sisson committed suicide by barbiturate overdose.[4] She is buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery near her brother in law Arthur Rosson.

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1913 A Mix-Up in Pedigrees The Stenographer Short
Always Together The Old Bricklayer's Daughter Short
The House in the Tree May – age 18 Short
The Helping Hand Ellen – age 19 Short
How Freckles Won His Bride Vera Short, Unconfirmed
Helen's Stratagem Helen Rockwood – John's Sister Short
1914 The Ten of Spades Jess – the Waif Short
An Academy Romance Vera Short
The Rival Dentists Jane Payne Short
Some Boy Short
A Murderous Elopement Mabel Short
Hawkeye and the Cheese Mystery Pansy Buttermilk Short
Too Much Married Tottie Coughdrop Short
The Seat of the Trouble Edna Short
The Bolted Door Natalie Judson Short
The Lion Harriet Courtney Short
Women and Roses Wallace's Wife Short
As Fate Willed Marion Stearns Short
Toilers of the Sea Jessie Scott Short
The Call Back Emily Forbes Short
The Golden Ladder Short
The Sandhill Lovers Meg, Hardy's Daughter Short
The Silent Witness Vera Short
A Twentieth Century Pirate Penelope Hampton Short
At Mexico's Mercy Brenda Short
Value Received Frances De Vere Short
Out of the Valley Mrs. Osborne Short
A Man and His Brother Eleanor Hess – the Farmer's Daughter Short
Weights and Measures Kitty Donely Short
There Is a Destiny Jeanne de Jean – the Fisherman's Daughter Short
The Man from Nowhere Lolita – the Stranger's Sweetheart Short
Little Meg and I Meg Anderson Short
A Gentleman from Kentucky Nell Hastings Short
The Proof of a Man Alma Wilson Short
Disillusioned Velma Benning Short
His Father's Son Mrs. Horton - Cal Jr.’s Mother Short
His Heart His Hand and His Sword Princess Beatrix de Grandlieu Short
The Empire of Illusion Princess Beatrix de Grandlieu Short
The Inn of the Winged Gods Princess Beatrix de Grandlieu Short
1915 A Bogus Bandit The Drifter's Daughter Short
Martin Lowe, Financier Short
The Storm Helen Cartwright Short
The Guardian of the Flock Rosaria Short
The Stool Pigeon Mildred Moore Short
For Cash Vera Ronceval Short
The Oyster Dredger Vera – an Heiress Short
Martin Lowe, Fixer Helen Stebbins Short
The Trust Florence Allison Short
According to Value Mabel Stewart – Arthur's Sweetheart Short
The Chimney's Secret Short, Uncredited
The Rehearsal Evelyn Payne Short
His Wife's Story Louise Blair Short
The Worth of a Woman Mrs. Holmes Short
His Hand and Seal Short
The Laurel of Tears Esther Browne Short
The Chief Inspector Lucille Palmer – George's Daughter Short
A Woman Without a Soul Cora Martin Short
Her Stepchildren Rose Short
The Tides of Retribution Nellie Carpenter Short
1916 The Avenging Shot Short
Stronger Than Woman's Will Short
The Iron Will Henrietta Short
The Guilt of Stephen Eldridge Eleanor Curzon Short
The Mystery of Orcival Laurence Short
The Battle of Truth Belle Bolter Short
The Man Who Called After Dark Dorothy – Whitmore's Ward Short
The Larrimore Case The Girl in the Case Short
Fit for Burning Constance Grey Short
The Iron Woman Elizabeth Ferguson
That Sharp Note Short
1917 The Hidden Spring Thora Erickson
Paradise Garden Una Habberton
1918 The Married Virgin Mary McMillan
1919 Experimental Marriage Dot Harrington
The Veiled Adventure Eve Gardiner
The Heart of Youth Evie Atherton
His Official Fiancée Cicely Harradine
1920 The Marriage Blunder
1921 The Avenging Arrow Unconfirmed
The Sage–Brush Musketeers Short
1926 Love 'Em and Leave 'Em Mrs. Whinfer

References

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  1. ^ a b "Vera Sisson". BFI. British Film Institute. Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  2. ^ "Stellar Attractions". The Movie Magazine. 2 (3): 30. December 1915. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  3. ^ Erickson, Hal (May 31, 1953). "Richard Rosson > Overview". AllMovie. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
  4. ^ Ellenberger, Allen R. (May 1, 2001). Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory. McFarland. p. 150. ISBN 978-0786450190.
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