May Allison American stage and film actress Date of Birth: 14.06.1890 Country: USA

1. Biography of May Allison
2. Early Life and Career
3. Film Career and Partnership with Harold Lockwood
4. Decline in Popularity and Later Life
5. Personal Life
6. Later Years and Death

Biography of May Allison

May Allison, an American theater and film actress, achieved great success in silent films in the early 20th century.

Early Life and Career

May Allison was born on June 14, 1890, in Rising Fawn, Georgia. She was the youngest of five children of Dr. John Simon 'Sam' Allison and Nannie Virginia 'Wise' Allison. With her expressive and romantic gaze, Allison made her Broadway debut in 1914 in the play "Apartment 12-K" before settling in Hollywood, where the film industry was just emerging.

Film Career and Partnership with Harold Lockwood

Allison appeared on the big screen in 1915 in the drama "Fool There Was," which made actress Theda Bara a star. When May Allison landed a role in Allan Dwan's romantic comedy "David Harum," starring Harold Lockwood, audiences quickly fell in love with this on-screen duo. Allison and Lockwood became one of the first beloved romantic pairs in Hollywood, despite never having a romantic relationship off-screen. They starred in approximately 25 successful films during the World War I era.

Decline in Popularity and Later Life

However, the eternal on-screen love eventually lost its appeal to audiences, and their collaboration ended for a different reason. Lockwood died in 1918 at the age of 31, falling victim to the Spanish flu epidemic that claimed many lives. After this, Allison's popularity declined sharply. She continued to act in the 1920s but never came close to the level of recognition she had achieved with Lockwood. Before retiring from the film industry, May Allison appeared in the drama "The Telephone Girl" in 1972 alongside Madge Bellamy and Warner Baxter.

Personal Life

In 1920, Allison married screenwriter and actor Robert Ellis. The marriage ended in 1923. She then married James R. Quirk, the editor of "Photoplay" magazine, which lasted until 1932. Her third marriage, to Carl Norton Osborne, lasted for over forty years. Osborne passed away in 1982.

Later Years and Death

During her later years, Allison spent most of her time at her vacation home in Tucker's Town, Bermuda. She passed away on March 27, 1989, in Bratenahl, Ohio.