Agnes Ayres
From Wikipedia Agnes Ayres (April 4, 1892 – December 25, 1940) was an American actress who rose to fame during the silent film era. She was known for her role as Lady Diana Mayo in The Sheik and The Son of the Sheik opposite Rudolph Valentino. She was born Agnes Eyre Henkel in Carbondale, Illinois to Solon and Emma Slack Henkel on April 4, 1898. She had an older brother named Solon William Henkel born in 1888. Ayres began her career in 1914 when she was noticed by an Essanay Studios staff director and cast as an extra in a crowd scene. After moving to New York City with her mother to pursue a career in acting, Ayres was spotted by actress Alice Joyce. Joyce noticed the physical resemblance the two shared, which eventually led to Ayres being cast in Richard the Brazen (1917) as Joyce's character's sister. Ayres' career began to gain momentum when Paramount Pictures founder Jesse Lasky began to take an interest in her. Lasky gave her a starring role in the Civil War drama Held by the Enemy (1920), and also lobbied for parts for her in several Cecil B. DeMille productions. It was during this time that Ayres married, and quickly divorced, Captain Frank P. Schuker, an army officer whom she had wed during World War I. She also began a romance with Lasky. In 1921, Ayres shot to stardom when she was cast as Lady Diana Mayo, an English heiress opposite "Latin lover" Rudolph Valentino in The Sheik. Ayres later reprised her role as Lady Diana in the 1926 sequel Son of the Sheik. Following the release of The Sheik, she went on to have major roles in many other films including The Affairs of Anatol (1921) starring Wallace Reid, Forbidden Fruit (1921), and Cecil B. DeMille's epic The Ten Commandments (1923). By 1923, Ayres' career began to wane following the end of her relationship with Jesse Lasky. She married Mexican diplomat S. Manuel Reachi in 1924. The couple had a daughter before divorcing in 1927. In 1929, Ayres lost her fortune and real estate holdings in the Crash of '29. That same year, she also appeared in her last major role in The Donovan Affair, starring Jack Holt. To earn money, she left acting and played the vaudeville circuit. She returned to acting in 1936, confident that she could make a comeback. Unable to secure starring roles and somewhat overweight, Ayres appeared in mostly uncredited bit parts, and finally retired from acting for good in 1937. After her retirement, Ayres became despondent and was eventually committed to a sanatorium. She also lost custody of her daughter to Reachi, in 1939. She died from a cerebral hemorrhage on December 25, 1940 at her home at the age of 42. She is interred in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. For her contribution to motion pictures, Agnes Ayres has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6504 Hollywood Boulevard.
The Ten Commandments
as The OutcastThe first part tells the story of Moses leading the Jews from Egypt to the Promised Land, his...
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The Sheik
as Lady Diana MayoSheik Ahmed desperately desires feisty British socialite Diana, so he abducts her and carries...
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Maid of Salem
as Townswoman (Uncredited)When a young woman named Barbara Clarke has an affair with adventurer Roger Coverman, it causes...
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Hollywood
as Agnes AyresAngela comes to Hollywood with only two things: Her dream to become a movie star, and Grandpa....
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The Son of the Sheik
as Diana - Wife of the SheikAhmed, son of Diana and Sheik Ahmed Ben Hassan, falls in love with Yasmin, a dancing girl who...
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Small Town Girl
as Catherine (uncredited)Kay is a girl living in a small rural town whose life is just too dull and repetitious to bear....
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Bought and Paid For
as Virginia BlaineJimmy Gilley is engaged to Fanny Blaine. Jimmy would like to live in a more luxurious style, so...
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The Affairs of Anatol
as Annie ElliottSocialite Anatol Spencer, finding his relationship with his wife lackluster, goes in search of...
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Forbidden Fruit
as Mary MaddockMary Maddock works as a seamstress to bring home money while her husband Steve, unemployed, has...
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Midnight Taxi
as Society WomanA federal agent goes to work for a taxi company believing it to be a front for a gang of...
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The Legend of Rudolph Valentino
as Self (archive footage)A documentary of Hollywood's first great Latin Lover, the contradictions in his personal life,...
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Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10)
as Self (archive footage)The edition of Screen Snapshots celebrates 25 years of production. It looks at the content of...
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Held by the Enemy
as Rachel HayneDuring the Civil War, Rachel Hayne, a young widow, is among those "held by the enemy" when her...
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The Guilty One
as Irene ShortThe Guilty One is a 1924 mystery film.
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The Ordeal
as Sybil BruceSybil marries George Bruce, an alcoholic 20 years her senior, In order to provide for her...
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Morals for Men
as Bessie HayesJoe (Tearle) and Bessie (Ayres), living in sin and just scraping by. Bessie thinks Joe has...
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Racing Hearts
as Virginia KentAutomobile maker John Kent is an old-fashioned sort who refuses to advertise his car line. His...
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The Donovan Affair
as Lydia RankinInspector Killian tries to solve a murder case with his assistant Carney.
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The Marriage Maker
as Alexandra VancyA matchmaker sets out to have a rich woman marry the not-so-rich boy she loves, and tries to...
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Her Market Value
as Nancy DumontHer Market Value is a 1925 American silent melodrama film directed by Paul Powell and starring...
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Eve's Love Letters
as The wifeAgnes Ayres was apparently a star of feature film who is top billed in this one-off Hal Roach...
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Cappy Ricks
as Florrie RicksWhen seaman Matt Peasley and his friend, Murphy (Hugh Cameron), go ashore in San Francisco, they...
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Clarence
as Violet PinneyClarence Smith is an ex-soldier who is hired for odd jobs by Mr. Wheeler primarily because he...
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The Venturers
as Mary MarsdenThe one was a venturer - the other an adventurer - the one a man who wanted to see adventure,...
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Sacred Silence
as Madge SummersLieut. Ralph Harrison is in love with Major Marston's wife, who pretends to love him. Harrison's...
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Detained
as uncreditedWhen a convict forcibly changes places with our hero Stan, he's taken to the pokey in the...
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Life in Hollywood No. 7
as HerselfPart of a 7-part series exploring all aspects of Hollywood.
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A Little Ouija Work
as uncreditedA newlywed invites his old poker friend to meet his wife. But his friend has a plan to use their...
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Go and Get It
as Helen AllenWrestling legend Bull Montana plays a murderous gorilla with a human brain transplant who is...
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The Furnace
as Folly ValanceFolly Vallance marries millionaire Anthony Bond for his money, but he insists on a marriage in...
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The Heart Raider
as Muriel Gray (a speed girl)A young troublemaker sets her eyes on a confirmed bachelor.
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The Inner Voice
as BarbaraMark Reid, a young prospector, discovers gold in the Sierra foothills. He meets an old man known...
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Too Much Speed
as Virginia MacMurranEgotistical race-car driver Dusty Rhoades learns that humility pays off even better than acclaim.
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The Lane That Had No Turning
as MadelinetteLouis Racine has inherited great wealth and married famed singer Madelinette, whom he...
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The Story Without a Name
as Mary WalsworthAlan Holt is a radio expert who has invented a death ray machine for the U.S. government....
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Motherhood
as The MotherEuropean peasants Albert & Louise are separated by war with Albert only able to return once...
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The Awful Truth
as Lucy SatterleeUnfounded suspicions lead a married couple to begin divorce proceedings.
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The Love Special
as Laura GageJim Glover is an engineer in charge of constructing a railroad to the sea. He gives the company...
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