Virginia Fox

Born: 1902-04-19

Virginia Fox was born in Wheeling, West Virginia (though her grave erroneously lists Charleston, W.Va. as her place of birth), the daughter of Marie (née Oglseby) and Frederick Fox. While on vacation from boarding school, Fox traveled to visit a friend in Los Angeles. The two made a casual stop by the studio of Mack Sennett, where she was hired on the spot and made a bathing beauty in the studio's films. Fox went on to star as leading lady in many of the early films of Buster Keaton, including 1920's highly-regarded "Neighbors". In 1924 she married film producer Darryl F. Zanuck, with whom she had three children, Darrylin (b. 1931), Susan Marie (1935–1980), and Richard Darryl (1934–2012). Fox retired from acting, but was known as a behind-the-scenes influence on her husband's business decisions. The couple separated in 1956 over the studio mogul's affairs with other women, though they were never legally divorced; but according to Zanuck biographers, she cared for him at their home from the time he became mentally incapacitated in the early 1970s until his death in 1979. She was buried near Darryl Zanuck at the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Westwood, Los Angeles. Despite some Internet accounts to the contrary, Virginia Fox was not related to William Fox, whose name is preserved in the company 20th Century Fox, which Darryl Zanuck created and led for decades. William Fox founded Fox Studios, but had lost control of it by the time Zanuck acquired it and merged it into his own empire.


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The Paleface

as Indian Maiden
Released: 1922-01-01

A butterfly collector unwittingly wanders into an Indian encampment while chasing a butterfly,...

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Down on the Farm

as Minor Role
Released: 1920-04-17

The day starts off as any normal day on Roach's farm, where Teddy, the farmhouse dog, is doing...

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The Haunted House

as Bank President's Daughter
Released: 1921-02-21

Buster Keaton is a bank teller who becomes involved with a hold-up, counterfeiters, and a...

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Cops

as Mayor's Daughter (uncredited)
Released: 1922-03-11

Buster Keaton gets involved in a series of misunderstandings involving a horse and cart....

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The Electric House

as The Millionaire's Daughter
Released: 1922-10-01

Botany major Buster mistakenly graduates in electrical engineering and is hired to wire a new home.

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Frank Capra's American Dream

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 1997-01-01

A documentary looking at the life and career of film director Frank Capra. Hosted by Ron Howard.

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The Goat

as The Police Chief's Daughter
Released: 1921-05-15

A series of adventures begins when Buster is mistaken for Dead Shot Dan, the evil bad guy.

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Hard Luck

as Virginia
Released: 1921-03-14

A down on his luck young man makes several attempts at committing suicide but fails them too. He...

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The Play House

as Twin (uncredited)
Released: 1921-10-26

After waking from the dream of a theater peopled entirely by numerous Buster Keatons, a lowly...

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Neighbors

as The Girl (uncredited)
Released: 1920-12-12

The Romeo and Juliet story played out in a tenement neighborhood with Buster and Virginia's...

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The Blacksmith

as Horsewoman
Released: 1922-07-21

Buster clowns around in a blacksmith's shop until he and the smithy get in a fight which sends...

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The Love Nest

as The Girl
Released: 1923-03-01

In an attempt to forget his lost sweetheart, Buster takes a long trip at the sea when he's...

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Don't Weaken!

as Dance Pupil (uncredited)
Released: 1920-09-05

A dancing instructor gets involved with a newly rich family.

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Why Beaches Are Popular

as Bathing Girl
Released: 1919-05-10

This short was a promo piece for Mack Sennett's Yankee Doodle in Berlin

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The Cave Man

as Party Girl (uncredited)
Released: 1926-02-06

A bored society girl cuts a hundred dollar bill in half, writes a message on one half for...

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