Volume III: Biographies

O'BRIEN, Geraldine *

Actress (1915)

Thanhouser Career Synopsis: Geraldine O'Brien, well-known as a stage actress, appeared in several Thanhouser films in 1915.

Biographical Notes: Geraldine O'Brien was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1894 and was educated at a convent in Canada. She saw Sarah Bernhardt perform in Baltimore, was impressed, and determined that she would follow in the great French star's steps. Geraldine's sister, Nora, was already on the stage and had achieved a degree of success. At the age of 17 Miss O'Brien was on stage in a stock company in Baltimore, earning $5 per week. This did not impress her parents, who suggested that she try another line of endeavor. Against their wishes, Geraldine took her savings, which amounted to $4.50, and bought a train ticket for New York City, where she alighted with just fifty cents remaining, and spent the night with a girl friend. The next morning she attracted the notice of Edgar Selwyn, who was taken with her Southern accent, and she was signed for the part of a black waitress in The Country Boy for $30 per week at the Liberty Theatre.

At the age of 18 Geraldine O'Brien was seen in New York and on the road as the little bride with Ann Murdock in Excuse Me, after which she was unemployed. Seeking diversion, she traveled to Australia. Upon her return, she landed the title role in Sylvia Runs Away at the Playhouse Theatre, followed by a small part in The Miracle Man, after which she was sidelined for a year with what she described as a "complete nervous breakdown." Around this time she was married in New York City, on October 21st, to Charles Edward Morris. In 1914 and 1915 she was on stage for Cohan and Harris at the Astor Theatre in New York City. At the end of the latter year she had an acclaimed part in an unacclaimed play, Devil's Garden.

On the Screen: Geraldine O'Brien's motion picture career included work with Lubin (lead in The Girl and the Ogre) and work with Cissy Loftus in the 1913 Famous Players release of A Lady of Quality. For Thanhouser, she acted in two films which were released in the autumn of 1915. Although it was announced that she had been signed as a player for important roles, she remained in New Rochelle for just a short time. In 1916 Geraldine O'Brien was in the Popular Plays and Players (Herbert Blaché; released through Pathé Gold Rooster) film, A Woman's Fight, and others. Directory listings in 1916 and 1918 noted that she was 5'5" tall, weighed 130 pounds, and had dark hair and violet blue eyes. For pastimes she enjoyed horseback riding, swimming, and other outdoor sports.

Note: Her first name was listed erroneously as "Gertrude" in several notices in The Moving Picture World.

Thanhouser Filmography:

1915: His Wife (10-28-1915), The Fisherwoman (10-31-1915)

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