Pearl White

Pearl White was born on March 4, 1889, in Green Ridge, Missouri, to Edgar White and Inez White. Pearl’s father was a farmer and Pearl had four brothers and sisters. She lost her mother at the age of three.

The family then moved to Springfield, Missouri in search of better fortune but did not have much success. In order to help her family, she started her stage career at the age of six, playing the role of ‘Eva’ in ‘Uncle Tom's Cabin’.

She became a circus equestrienne at the age of thirteen; however, a spinal injury compelled her to leave the job.

She joined the Diemer Theater Company when she was in high school and performed plays with them at night.

Pearl White left high school at the age of 18 and joined the Trousedale Stock Company to perform in their evening shows. She also continued her day job. Soon, she joined the Company full-time and traveled around the American Midwest.

For some time, she sang American songs and travelled to South America where she performed in casinos and dance halls. In 1910, she suffered some throat problem because of which her voice weakened.

She played small roles for many years before being noticed by the Powers Film Company in New York. She debuted in films the same year, featuring in a series for Pat Powers in the Bronx and refined her skills at physical comedy and stunt work.

In 1910, she was offered a role by Pathé Frères in ‘The Girl from Arizona’. The next year, she worked at Lubin Studios and other independent studios.

From 1912 to 1914, she worked with Crystal Film Company for a number of slapstick comedy shorts. Later, she took up work with Eclectic Film Company, a subsidiary of Pathé. She starred in the film serial ‘The Perils of Pauline’ directed by Louis J. Gasnier. The serial was immensely successful and made her famous.

Pearl White starred as the protagonist in 1914 serial, ‘The Perils of Pauline’. The story contained extensive action delivered perfectly by her.

From 1914–1920, she delivered big hits like ‘The Exploits of Elaine’ (1914-1915), ‘Pearl of the Army’ (1916-1917), ‘ ‘The House of Hate’ (1918), ‘The Black Secret’ (1919-1920), etc. wherein she performed dangerous stunts like racing cars, swimming across rivers, flying airplanes, etc.