Lillian Knight (née Unold) (March 23, 1883 – May 16, 1946) was an American western star and silent film actress. An obituary called her "the First Film Queen of the West."[1]
Lillian Knight | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Lillian Unold March 23, 1883 |
| Died | May 16, 1946 (aged 63) |
| Other names | Lillian Dorris |
| Occupation(s) | performer, actress |
Early life and background
editShe was born Lillian E. Unold in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[2] When she was sixteen, she volunteered to ride a bronco side saddle when Tiger Bill's Wild West show was at Pabst Park. She won a cash prize and a contract with William Dickey, the show's owner.[3] She was billed as the world's greatest woman rider. She performed in the 101 Ranch, Tiger Bill, Pawnee Bill,[4] and Buffalo Bill shows.[5] She toured the country and rode wild horses; she became a "crack shot" and performed with Annie Oakley.[2]
Film career
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Knight came to California in 1906. She lived in Pasadena until five years before her death.[2]
She performed in films under the name Lillian Knight. Two of her early films were Custer's Last Fight and The Deserter. Later she worked in Tom Mix films.[5] She was in an accident in 1913 that stalled her career. She did not walk unassisted for four years following the accident.[2]
Personal life and death
editKnight was once engaged to Ken Maynard.[2] At the time of her death on May 16, 1946, in Pomona, California, she was known as Mrs. Lillian E. Dorris.[5] She died at Pomona Valley Community Hospital.[2] She was survived by her husband, William Dorris.[1]
Selected filmography
edit- Custer's Last Fight (1912)
- The Deserter (1912)
- The Silent Way (1914)
- The Resolve (1915)
- High Cost of Flirting (1915)
- The Jilt (1915)
- Margy of the Foothills (1916)
- The Silken Spider (1916)
References
edit- ^ a b "Obituary". The Pomona Progress Bulletin. 1946-05-16. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e f "Early Star Dies Here". The Pomona Progress Bulletin. 1946-05-16. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ McArthur, Annabel Douglas. "Lillian Knight, Stunt Rider." Exclusively Yours. Vol. 24. 1971.
- ^ "Wild West Wisdom and Frontier Frivolity: Lillian Knight". The Billboard. Vol. 29, no. 32. 1917-08-11. p. 28 – via Proquest.
- ^ a b c The Final Curtain. Billboard. 1946-06-08. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
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External links
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