Topic: Diana Serra Cary (AKA "Baby Peggy"), 101

[GreenCanaries]

One of the, if not the last surviving star of the silent era. "Through" at only 7 years old, she carved out a solid career as an author and silent film historian later in life. R.I.P.

(NY Times obituary)

[metaldams]

Looking over her filmography, the only thing I’ve seen her in was RETURN OF CHANDU, a serial where she was an extra at a party.  She was 16 in that serial and “washed up” already....film career wise.  It actually seemed like she led an interesting life and very well may be the last of the silent era.  Is this confirmed? There’s gotta be some infant from a 1928 film hanging on somewhere, but yeah,  that era is basically gone.  May she Rest In Peace and may I do a YouTube search this weekend for her work.

[hiramhorwitz]

One of the, if not the last surviving star of the silent era. "Through" at only 7 years old, she carved out a solid career as an author and silent film historian later in life. R.I.P.

Ms. Cary's truly amazing life story is documented in her autobiography "What Ever Happened to Baby Peggy?"  Very eloquently written and insightful - quite unbelievable that she grew up well-adjusted as an adult after enduring horrific challenges as a young child supporting a dysfunctional family who squandered her substantial earnings and left her with nothing.  Not only did she find her own personal success as an adult, but she also lived a happy and obviously extremely long life.

Shown below is the cover of her book, which has been re-published by BearManor Media since 2009 and is still available.  I highly recommend this book, and treasure my copy which was inscribed to me by Ms. Cary in 2010.

[Umbrella Sam]

R.I.P. I recall seeing one of her films a while ago, but can’t remember the name of it at the moment. Hopefully TCM will do another marathon in her honor as they’ve occasionally done in the past (assuming they haven’t already).

[Umbrella Sam]

Looking over her filmography, the only thing I’ve seen her in was RETURN OF CHANDU, a serial where she was an extra at a party.  She was 16 in that serial and “washed up” already....film career wise.  It actually seemed like she led an interesting life and very well may be the last of the silent era.  Is this confirmed? There’s gotta be some infant from a 1928 film hanging on somewhere, but yeah,  that era is basically gone.  May she Rest In Peace and may I do a YouTube search this weekend for her work.

She was the last star of the silent era, but there are a few child actors with small roles that are apparently still around. Here’s a list:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_surviving_silent_film_actors

(Yeah, I know it’s Wikipedia, but they all have sources at least).

[metaldams]

She was the last star of the silent era, but there are a few child actors with small roles that are apparently still around. Here’s a list:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_surviving_silent_film_actors

(Yeah, I know it’s Wikipedia, but they all have sources at least).

Cool list, thanks.  The baby in THE KID still alive at 100, I had no clue.

[hiramhorwitz]

Here's a neat photograph of Ms. Cary from her young adult years, courtesy of Lon Davis: