Normand, Mabel, 1894-1930

American film star Mabel Normand was born sometime between 1892 and 1895 on November 9th or 10th most likely in Staten Island, New York to Mary J. Drury and Claudeman Godemier "Claude" Normand, ad Amabel Ethelreid Normand. Around the age of 15 Normand began working as a model for artists, and received her first job in film in 1910 for Biograph Company, where she met Mack Sennett. In 1912 Sennett and Normand left Biograph for Keystone Film Company, where Normand redefined the comedic character in silent films. While working for the film Mickey for Sennett, she met her eventual husband, Lewis "Lew" Cody. The two wed on Febraury 8, 1926 in Ventura, California. Sennett's delay for the release of Mickey, led Normand to leave Keystone and the film corporation Sennett established for her, the Mabel Normand Feature Film Company for the new Goldwyn Film Company. Normand worked for Goldywn until 1920, when they released her from her contract due to a growing concern over her drug addiction. She made an appearance in Howard Hughes' first film, Swell Hogan, although the film never premiered and was reported as destroyed shortly after Hughes previewed the film.

She was at William Desmond Taylor's house the night of his murder, while the murder remains unsolved, media reports claim it was due to Taylor protecting Normand from a blackmailer. Normand's career suffered from this event, and her films were briefly banned. However, Sennett came to her aid and continued to produce films for her to star in. However, after her chauffer, Horace A. Green, killed a prominent figure in Hollywood, California Courland S. Dines, Normand's career would never recover. She developed tuberculosis in 1923, which eventually led to her death in 1930 in Monrovia, California.

Sources:

Genealogy files about "Amabel 'Mabel' Ethelreid Normand." Accessed on November 8, 2021 on FamilySearch.org.

"Mabel Normand." Encyclopedia Britannica, February 19, 2021. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mabel-Normand.

"Normand, Mabel (c. 1893–1930) ." Women in World History: A Biographical Encyclopedia. . Encyclopedia.com. (October 25, 2021). https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/normand-mabel-c-1893-1930