Career Highlights: The Way of All Flesh, What Price Glory?, The Snob
First Major Screen Credit: Love, Honor and Behave (1920)
Biography
Fresh out of Los Angeles Polytechnic High, Phyllis Haver paid a visit to the Mack Sennett studios, hoping to get a job as an actress. According to Haver, her "audition" consisted of having the attractiveness of her knees assessed by a bored Mack Sennett. Slightly more talented than most of the Sennett bathing beauties, Haver quickly worked her way up to leading roles, then left 2-reelers for a substantial career in silent features. Among her best roles were accused murderess Roxy Hart in the first film version of Chicago (1927) and the no-better-than-she-ought-to-be Shanghai Mabel in What Price Glory? (1927). Sensing that her career would end when talkies began, Haver retired in 1929 to marry a New York millionaire (According to one story, she invoked the "act of God" clause in her contract, cracking "if marrying a millionaire ain't an act of God, I don't know what is"). Divorced in 1945, Haver continued to live in wealthy retirement, appearing before the cameras one last time during a 1954 TV testimonial to her old boss Mack Sennett. In 1960, Phyllis Haver died of an overdose of barbiturates. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
She was born Phyllis O'Haver in Douglass, Kansas. When she was young, her family moved to Los Angeles, California, then a city of less than half a million people. Haver attended Los Angeles Polytechnic High. After graduating, she played piano to accompany the new silent films in local theaters.
Career
Haver auditioned for legendary comedy producer Mack Sennett on a whim. Sennett was impressed by the attractive teenager and hired her on the spot as one of his Bathing Beauties. Within a few years, she appeared as a leading lady in two-reelers for Sennett Studios.
During the early 1920s, Haver's popularity grew and directors sought her for female comedy roles. Her years of work at the Sennett Studios honed her acting and comedic skills. Haver played the part of Roxie Hart in the first film adaptation of Chicago in 1927, opposite Hungarian film actor Victor Varconi. The film was an international success and made Haver known around the world. One reviewer called her performance "astoundingly fine", and added that Haver "makes this combination of tragedy and comedy a most entertaining piece of work."[who?]
She was acclaimed for her performance in the 1928 box-office hit comedy film The Battle of the Sexes, directed by D. W. Griffith. Film critics wrote rave reviews about her.[who?] The next year, she appeared with Lon Chaney, Sr. in his last silent film, Thunder. As the Roaring Twenties drew to a close, talkies became popular. She retired from the industry with just two 'sound' films to her credit .
Personal life
She married millionaire William Seeman in 1929. The marriage was performed by New York Mayor James J. Walker at the home of Rube Goldberg, the cartoonist. The couple divorced in 1945. She was linked to other notable men throughout her lifetime, but only married once.