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PRISCILLA DEAN
ODDLING about the stage while an infant, with the famed Joseph Jefferson, while the latter was making "Rip Van Winkle" immortal as a theatrical production, Priscilla Dean may be said to have secured a flying start as an actress.
But the young Miss had more than this, for her mother was May Preston Dean, a widely known emotional actress at the time. Therefore, the way was well paved for the future cinema star.
Priscilla Dean was born in New York, and secured her education by private tutorage during her infantile professional career.
She was particularly fortunate in playing child parts with great actors. One of these was in James A. Hearne's "The Children of Kings." Eventually she became a featured member of the Ben Greet Players, who presented Shakespearian repertoire throughout the country.
Her first taste of the pictures was upon her return to New York. Phillip Smalley, the director, used her in three one-reel dramas, one of which was called "The Merry Widow."
She continued her stage career, appearing with the famous "Follies Bergere," where she did a dance specialty. This was at the age of 14 years.
D. W. Griffith, who selected many of his future stars "on sight," saw the dancing Priscilla and made her an offer. Therefore, her permanent screen career began at the old Biograph studio, in the Bronx, New York.
Following the crowd, Miss Dean went to Los Angeles and the film colony there, where she worked in several series of comeedies with the Eddie Lyons-Lee Moran comedy team.
Her elevation to stardom in screen drama began when Lois Weber, the woman director, cast Miss Dean as the "vamp" in "Even As You and I." Her rise was rapid thereafter.
Prominent among Miss Dean's later successes are: "The Two-Souled Woman," "The Wildcat of Paris," "The Brazen Beauty," "The Wicked Darling," "The Silk -Lined Burglar," "Pretty Smooth," "The Exquisite Thief," "The Chatterbox," "The Virgin of Stamboul," "Outside the Law," "The Flame of Life," "White Tiger" and "Under Two Flags."
The star is five feet four inches tall, weighs 135 pounds, and has dark brown hair and brown eyes. She is married to Wheeler Oakman, a well-known leading man.
Priscilla Dean is leaving her studio dressing room to go on the set.
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