Gertrude Claire

Gertrude Claire (July 16, 1852 – April 28, 1928) was an actress of the American stage and Hollywood silent motion pictures. Claire was born in Chicago, Illinois, and began appearing onstage at the age of 16. She played minor roles in New York City. In the coming years she began to play leads. The actors of note she appeared with included John Drew Jr., Edwin Booth, and Richard Mansfield.

She began work in films while the industry was still based in New York. Then she moved to Hollywood, where she was part of the first motion picture playing company organized there. Claire had roles in 123 films beginning in 1910 and continuing until 1928. Her last appearance in movies was in the Clara Bow feature film Red Hair (1928).

On April 28, 1928, Claire died at her home in Hollywood, aged 76. Her funeral was conducted in the chapel of Hollywood Forever Cemetery. She was interred at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.