Charlotte Burton

• Name — Charlotte Burton • Other Names — Charlotte B. Stuart, Charlotte Burton Stuart • Born — 30 May 1881 • Birthplace — San Francisco, California, U.S. • Died — 28 March 1942 • Place of death — Los Angeles, California, U.S. • Occupation — Actress • Children — 1

• Illustration — Burton in 1915

Charlotte E. Burton was born on May 30, 1881, in San Francisco, California. However there is some debate on her date of birth; some sources state she was born ten years later, on May 30, 1891; and other sources state she died at age 48 (which would be a date of birth around 1894).However, these alternatives dates of birth are implausible given her age in the 1902 photograph Burton attended The Cooper–Gerson School of Acting in San Francisco, where she studied under Leo Cooper. In December 1902, Burton participated in a theatrical program in South Park, San Francisco, presented by The Cooper–Gerson School of Acting.

Burton was signed by the American Film Manufacturing Company in 1912 where she worked for several years. She joined Essanay Studios which she sued in 1919 for $25,000 for breach of contract. She originally signed with the company believing she would be acting in mostly drama film but she was cast in mostly comedy films. Her salary had been $200 a week with an option for her services at the rate of $300 a week for a second year. Charlotte claimed that she was signed by Essanay business manager, Vernon R. Day, to a contract extending from November 1916 until November 1918. She was discharged without reason. When Burton came to the Chicago, studio she refused a role offered her in a Black Cat comedy, presented to her by Essanay president George K. Spoor. She declined because she was not a comedian. Instead, she accepted a role as leading lady in a film featuring Henry B. Wallace. She admitted that she was paid for ten weeks, at $200 per week, prior to being dumped by Essanay. Essanay executives claimed Burton automatically voided her contract when she refused the comedic part. Upon arriving in California, Burton stayed for a time at the Angleus. She came there from New York and was on her way to Santa Barbara, California, to work for the American Film Company, which had its studios there. In May 1916, Burton was involved in making The Man Who Would Not Die, directed by William F. Russell and Jack Prescott. The company of American and Canadian players spent a week in Long Beach, California, filming water scenes. Others in the cast were Harry Keenan and Leona Hutton. The script was written by Mabel Condon. Among her many co-stars in motion pictures were Mary Miles Minter, William Russell, Harold Lockwood, and Lottie Pickford.

Burton's first marriage was to Weston Birch Wooldridge in 1904. They had a daughter together, Charlotte Burton Wooldridge (married name Coombs). After her divorce she moved to Santa Barbara and dated Victor Fleming. In May 1917, Burton married actor William Russell in Santa Ana, California. They divorced in 1921. She remarried to contractor Darrell Stuart around 1928. She died at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles, California, on March 28, 1942, from a heart attack.

• Year — Film — Role — Notes • 1912 — It Happened Thus — the older daughter • 1913 — The Awakening • The Adventures of Jacques — Queen of France • The Finer Things — saddler's wife • The Rose of San Juan • The Road to Ruin • Her Big Story • The Oath of Pierre — Julia Naughton, of the border line • Through the Neighbor's Window • The Flirt and the Bandit • Trapped in a Forest Fire • The Shriner's Daughter • Calamity Anne, Heroine • 1914 — Lola — May, Lola's sister • The Mirror • The Redemption of a Pal — Irene, his sister • Jail Birds — Mrs. Patterson • The Final Impulse — Ruth • A Slice of Life — Jessie, Jim's wife • Old Enough to Be Her Grandpa — Lilyan DeVoe • In the Candlelight — Nina, a model • The Archeologist — Edna Lee • The Beggar Child — Rosa, his servant • 1915 — Refining Fires — Nina, the judge's daughter • Heart of Flame — Beppa • A Touch of Love — Martha • The Day of Reckoning — Rita Marr • She Walketh Alone — Rita Horton • The Diamond from the Sky — Vivian Marston • 1916 — The Thoroughbred — Angela Earle • The Craving — Roby • The Bruiser — Fen Bernham • The Highest Bid — Elsie Burleigh • The Strength of Donald McKenzie — Mab el Condon • The Man Who Would Not Die — Agnes • The Torch Bearer — Janet Dare • The Love Hermit — Marie Bolton • Lone Star — Helen Mattes • The Twinkler — Rose Burke • 1918 — Up Romance Road — Marta Millbanke • Hearts or Diamonds? — Adrienne Gascoyne • 1919 — Man's Desire — Vera Patton • 1920 — Polly of the Storm Country — Evelyn Robertson