Claire Windsor American silent film actress Date of Birth: 14.04.1892 Country: USA

Biography of Clara Windsor

Clara Viola, also known as Ola, was born on April 14, 1892, in Coker City, Kansas. Her ancestors were immigrants from Scandinavia. In May 1914, Clara married Willis Bowes, and they had a son named David William two years later. However, the couple divorced in 1920.

Clara moved to Seattle with her parents and son before the divorce. She won a local beauty contest and then decided to pursue a career in the film industry. In 1919, Clara made her screen debut and spent the next two years playing minor roles. In 1920, she caught the attention of Lois Weber, a producer and one of the first female film directors, who offered her a contract with Paramount Pictures for a weekly salary of $150. Over the next two years, Weber cast Clara in leading roles in five films and increased her salary to $350 in 1921. During this period, Clara often posed for photographs with the legendary Charlie Chaplin, which helped promote her name in the press.

In 1922, Clara was selected as one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars, an annual honor for promising young actresses. She signed a contract with Goldwyn Pictures, which later merged with Metro Pictures to become MGM. Her career rapidly developed and reached its peak in 1924 when she starred in the drama "Son of the Sahara." During the filming, Clara began a romance with her co-star, actor Bert Littell, and they got married in Mexico in 1925. However, their marriage ended in divorce in 1927.

Throughout the 1920s, Clara actively appeared in films and became one of the leading stars at MGM. Although she did not remarry, she gained notoriety for her scandalous love affairs. In the late 1920s, she started a relationship with actor Charles Rogers, nicknamed Buddy, who was 12 years younger than her. Later, she became involved with Philip Plant, a wealthy playboy and the former husband of actress Constance Bennett. Tragically, on June 16, 1930, a yacht carrying Clara and Plant collided with another vessel, resulting in the death of one crew member. This incident garnered significant media attention, and shortly after, Windsor and Plant ended their relationship.

In 1931, Clara's name was involved in a scandal when Marion Reed, the wife of her new lover Alfred Reed, a stockbroker from Boston, sued her for compensation of $100,000. The court awarded Marion Reed $75,000. Clara's career came to an end with the advent of the sound film era and possibly due to her age approaching forty. She appeared in only six sound films, mostly in supporting roles. In 1938, Clara retired from the film industry.

During the 1940s and 1950s, Clara performed in theater productions and appeared in several Broadway plays. She also engaged in public activities. Clara Windsor passed away from a heart attack on October 23, 1972. She was posthumously honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.