Anita Garvin

Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Anita Garvin (February 11, 1907 – July 7, 1994) was an American actress and comedian who appeared in both silent and sound films. She is best known for her work with comedians Laurel and Hardy and Charley Chase. Garvin was born in New York City.] Her two sisters who danced in vaudeville encouraged her talents. At age 12, she lied to an agent saying she was "almost sixteen" and got a job being a bathing beauty for one of Mack Sennett's stage shows. The following year she joined the Ziegfeld Follies. She took pride in being the only woman allowed to touch Will Rogers's ropes. She also appeared in Earl Carroll Vanities. Garvin went on tour with the musical Sally staying with the show for two seasons, then decided to stay in California when the tour left that stop in 1924. In Hollywood, Garvin began working for Christie Film Company's comedies. She recalled her co-star Bobby Vernon dropping butter on the floor onto which she stepped and tumbled, cementing her career as a comedian. Charles Lamont brought her over to work for Educational Pictures. In 1926, Hal Roach took her under contract, where she appeared in many silent films with Charley Chase, James Finlayson, and Max Davidson as well as playing occasional supporting roles in feature films. Standing around 6 feet tall, "her regal countenance and deadpan expression" made her the perfect comic foil. Roach later considered her "one of his finest actresses." Reflecting upon her frequent co-star Stan Laurel, Garvin observed: "One thing about Stan--with apologies to a lot of directors--they thought they were directing him. And they thought they were directing the picture. But Stan was the one...He was very clever about it. The director was never cognizant of the fact that he was not doing all the directing. Stan's mind was going all the time, always thinking of gags and things to do. The script didn't mean a thing." Garvin appeared in a total of eleven Laurel and Hardy films. In 1928, she was teamed with Marion Byron as a short-lived female version of Laurel and Hardy. Along with Edgar Kennedy, Byron and Garvin appeared in A Pair of Tights, an "acknowledged masterpiece."

Known For

Topper

Our Modern Maidens

On With the Show!

A Chump at Oxford

Laurel & Hardy: Year Two

Why Girls Love Sailors

The Play Girl

Sally

All Movies (74)

• Laurel & Hardy: Year Two2024 · as (archive footage) (uncredited)
• He Asked for It1940
• Sunk by the Census1940
• Bested by a Beard1940 · as Mrs. Vivian Errol
• A Chump at Oxford1940 · as Mrs. Vandevere (uncredited)
• Truth Aches1939 · as Mrs. Errol
• Home Boner1939
• Swiss Miss1938 · as Tradesman's wife
• Topper1937
• Sleepless Hollow1936 · as Harry's Wife
• While the Cat's Away1936 · as Emma
• Merry Wives of Reno1934 · as Male-Seeking Woman in Hotel Lobby (uncredited)
• His Silent Racket1933 · as Mrs. Finlayson
• Asleep in the Feet1933 · as Dance Hall Hostess
• The Millionaire Cat1932 · as Natalie
• Yoo-Hoo1932 · as Anita
• Show Business1932 · as Anita Garvin
• The Hollywood Handicap1932
• Murder at Midnight1931 · as Party Guest (uncredited)
• The Skulls1931 · as Señora Laurel
• Be Big!1931 · as Mrs. Laurel (uncredited)
• The Chiselers1931 · as Mme. Laurel
• Whispering Whoopee1930 · as Miss Garvin
• Blotto1930 · as Mrs. Laurel
• Sally1930 · as Party Guest (uncredited)
• Dynamite1929 · as Undetermined Role (uncredited)
• Red Hot Rhythm1929 · as Mable
• Stepping Out1929 · as The Date
• Hunting the Hunter1929
• Our Modern Maidens1929 · as Bridesmaid (uncredited)
• The Single Standard1929 · as Packy's Jealous Girlfriend at Art Exhibition (uncredited)
• Modern Love1929 · as Mrs. Weston - the Brunette
• On With the Show!1929 · as Chorine (uncredited)
• Movie Night1929
• The Charlatan1929 · as Mrs. Paynter
• Trent's Last Case1929 · as Ottilie Dunois
• Off to Buffalo1929 · as Mrs. Brown
• A Pair of Tights1929 · as Anita
• Going Ga-Ga1929 · as Anita
• Feed 'em and Weep1928
• Imagine My Embarrassment1928
• Roaming Romeo1928 · as The Princess
• Their Purple Moment1928 · as Oliver's Girlfriend
• Fandango1928
• The Play Girl1928 · as Millie
• From Soup to Nuts1928 · as Mrs. Culpepper
• The Battle of the Century1927 · as Slips on pie (uncredited)
• Never the Dames Shall Meet1927 · as Edna's Sister
• Fighting Fathers1927 · as Mrs. Sniffleblaster
• Assistant Wives1927 · as Gwendolyn - the Flapjack Queen
• Hats Off1927 · as Customer at top of stairs
• Sailors, Beware!1927 · as Madame Ritz
• With Love and Hisses1927 · as Captain Bustle's 1st girlfriend
• Why Girls Love Sailors1927 · as Captain's Wife
• Baby Brother1927 · as Amorous nursemaid
• Forgotten Sweeties1927
• Upstream1927 · as Theatre Audience Admirer at Stage Door
• Two-Time Mama1927 · as Mrs. Dazzle
• Many Scrappy Returns1927 · as Wellington's Wife
• The Motor Boat Demon1927 · as Colleen
• Bertha the Sewing Machine Girl1926 · as Flo Mason
• Raggedy Rose1926 · as Janice
• Move Along1926 · as Rich girl with roses
• Creeps1926
• For Sadie's Sake1926
• My Swedie1925 · as Ethel Lorraine
• Fair But Foolish1925
• A Taxi War1925
• Book Bozo1925
• The Sleuth1925 · as The other woman
• In the Grease1925 · as Physical Culture teacher
• A Dangerous Peach1925 · as Mrs. Wilson
• The Last Man on Earth1924 · as A Millionairess (uncredited)
• Bright Lights1924