Theo-Alice Jeanne Carpenter (February 1, 1917 [1] [2] – January 5, 1994) was an American child actress of the silent era [3] [4] whose career in the entertainment industry spanned 74 years. [5]
Born in Kansas City, Missouri, [1] Carpenter started her film career at the age of three. Her film debut came in Daddy Long Legs. [5] At age four, she traveled around the United States appearing in theaters on a promotional tour of her films. [6] Her fame grew in the early-1920s as she made a series of successful appearances in films such as, Helen's Babies with Baby Peggy, and The Sign of the Rose. Maturity led to a change of roles for Carpenter. Becoming a young woman, she moved into character roles. [6] She had occasional adult roles through 1940s, then she retired from film business.
Carpenter married Robert Grimes in 1949. [5] She had four daughters and one son from two marriages. In 1964, she and all five children performed in the Plaza Players' production of Gypsy in Oxnard, California. [6]
On January 5, 1994, Carpenter died of emphysema [5] in Oxnard, California, aged 76.
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1919 | Daddy-Long-Legs | Uncredited | |
Desert Gold | |||
1920 | The Luck of Geraldine Laird | Child | Credited as Theo-Alice Carpenter |
The Courage of Marge O'Doone | |||
The Dwelling Place of Light | |||
Peaceful Valley | Uncredited | ||
The Way Women Love | |||
The Adventures of Bill and Bob | Alternative title: The Adventures of Bill and Bob | ||
The Man from Nowhere | Alternative title: Rider from Nowhere | ||
1921 | Fighting Fate | Credited as Jean Carpenter | |
The Nut | Cupid Telephone Operator | Uncredited | |
Through the Back Door | Jeanne (age 5) | ||
A Kiss in Time | |||
The Stampede | Mary, Wagner's Little Daughter | Credited as Jean Carpenter | |
What No Man Knows | Mazie | ||
1922 | In the Name of the Law | With Baseball Hall of Famer Honus Wagner to her rescue | |
The Sign of the Rose | Dorothy Griswold | ||
Tess of the Storm Country | Uncredited | ||
1923 | Ashes of Vengeance | Anne | |
The Midnight Alarm | Susan | Credited as Jean Carpenter | |
Why Women Remarry | Mildred Talbot | ||
1924 | By Divine Right | Trent Baby | Alternative title: The Way Men Love |
A Boy of Flanders | Alios Cogez | Credited as Jean Carpenter | |
Helen's Babies | Budge | Credited as Jean Carpenter | |
1926 | Prince of Tempters | Flower girl | |
1931 | City Lights | Extra in restaurant scene | Uncredited Alternative title: City Lights: A Comedy Romance in Pantomime |
1937 | Glamorous Night | Gypsy Girl | Uncredited |
1945 | Week-End at the Waldorf | Telephone Operator | Uncredited, (final film role) |
Theo-Alice Jeanne Carpenter (February 1, 1917 [1] [2] – January 5, 1994) was an American child actress of the silent era [3] [4] whose career in the entertainment industry spanned 74 years. [5]
Born in Kansas City, Missouri, [1] Carpenter started her film career at the age of three. Her film debut came in Daddy Long Legs. [5] At age four, she traveled around the United States appearing in theaters on a promotional tour of her films. [6] Her fame grew in the early-1920s as she made a series of successful appearances in films such as, Helen's Babies with Baby Peggy, and The Sign of the Rose. Maturity led to a change of roles for Carpenter. Becoming a young woman, she moved into character roles. [6] She had occasional adult roles through 1940s, then she retired from film business.
Carpenter married Robert Grimes in 1949. [5] She had four daughters and one son from two marriages. In 1964, she and all five children performed in the Plaza Players' production of Gypsy in Oxnard, California. [6]
On January 5, 1994, Carpenter died of emphysema [5] in Oxnard, California, aged 76.
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1919 | Daddy-Long-Legs | Uncredited | |
Desert Gold | |||
1920 | The Luck of Geraldine Laird | Child | Credited as Theo-Alice Carpenter |
The Courage of Marge O'Doone | |||
The Dwelling Place of Light | |||
Peaceful Valley | Uncredited | ||
The Way Women Love | |||
The Adventures of Bill and Bob | Alternative title: The Adventures of Bill and Bob | ||
The Man from Nowhere | Alternative title: Rider from Nowhere | ||
1921 | Fighting Fate | Credited as Jean Carpenter | |
The Nut | Cupid Telephone Operator | Uncredited | |
Through the Back Door | Jeanne (age 5) | ||
A Kiss in Time | |||
The Stampede | Mary, Wagner's Little Daughter | Credited as Jean Carpenter | |
What No Man Knows | Mazie | ||
1922 | In the Name of the Law | With Baseball Hall of Famer Honus Wagner to her rescue | |
The Sign of the Rose | Dorothy Griswold | ||
Tess of the Storm Country | Uncredited | ||
1923 | Ashes of Vengeance | Anne | |
The Midnight Alarm | Susan | Credited as Jean Carpenter | |
Why Women Remarry | Mildred Talbot | ||
1924 | By Divine Right | Trent Baby | Alternative title: The Way Men Love |
A Boy of Flanders | Alios Cogez | Credited as Jean Carpenter | |
Helen's Babies | Budge | Credited as Jean Carpenter | |
1926 | Prince of Tempters | Flower girl | |
1931 | City Lights | Extra in restaurant scene | Uncredited Alternative title: City Lights: A Comedy Romance in Pantomime |
1937 | Glamorous Night | Gypsy Girl | Uncredited |
1945 | Week-End at the Waldorf | Telephone Operator | Uncredited, (final film role) |