Enid Markey

Enid Markey (February 22, 1894 – November 15, 1981) was an American actress of theater, film, and television. She originated the role of Jane in films,[1] playing the character twice in 1918 (Tarzan of The Apes; The Romance of Tarzan). Her career extended into the 1960s.

Enid Markey
Born	February 22, 1894 Dillon, Summit County Colorado, USA
Died	November 15, 1981 (aged 87) Bay Shore, New York
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1911-1968

Early years

Markey was born in Dillon in Summit County in north central Colorado. Her education came in a Denver, Colorado, boarding school.[1]

Career

Markey acted on stage and in vaudeville before turning to motion pictures.[1] Her first film role was in The Fortunes of War (1911). During the production of The Wrath of the Gods (1914), Markey, a "leading lady with the New York Motion Picture Company", was "badly injured" during the production.[2] During her scene in which the lava flow destroys the village she was surrounded by smoke and fumes and nearly asphyxiated, but had recovered by May 1914.[3]

After Markey made the first two Tarzan films, she turned to acting on stage, saying, "I really wanted to learn how to act."[4] She acted in 29 Broadway plays, beginning with Up in Mabel's Room (1919) and ending with What Did We Do Wrong? (1967).[5]

During the 1950s and 1960s she appeared in several television guest-starring roles, including The Andy Griffith Show as Barney Fife's landlady, Mrs. Mendelbright, and in an episode of Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., as Grandma Pyle. She also had two appearances in The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.

In the 1960-1961 season, Markey had a regular role as Aunt Violet Flower in the CBS comedy Bringing Up Buddy, co-starring Frank Aletter and Doro Merande. Markey and Merande played spinster aunts who provide a home for their bachelor nephew, stockbroker Buddy Flower, played by Aletter.[6]

Her last appearance was in The Boston Strangler (1968).

Personal life

Markey married American Can Company executive George W. Cobb in 1942. He died in 1948.[4]

Death

On November 15, 1981, Markey died South Side Hospital in Bay Shore, New York,[4] at the age of 87.

Partial filmography

• The Battle of Gettysburg (1913)
• Shorty's Sacrifice (1914, Short) - Ethel Somners
• The Wrath of the Gods (1914)
• The Cup of Life (1915) - Ruth Fiske
• The Darkening Trail (1915) - Ruby McGraw
• The Mating (1915) - Daisy Arnold
• The Iron Strain (1915) - Octavia Van Ness
• Between Men (1915) - Lina Hampdon
• Aloha Oe (1915) - Kalaniweo
• The Despoiler (1915) - Sylvia Damien
• Civilization (1915) - Katheryn Haldemann
• The Conqueror (1916) - Viva Madison
• The No-Good Guy (1916) - Lucia Andrada
• The Phantom (1916) - Avice Bereton
• The Captive God (1916) - Lolomi
• Shell 43 (1916) - Adrienne von Altman
• Lieutenant Danny, U.S.A. (1916) - Ysobel Ventura
• Jim Grimsby's Boy (1916) - Bill Grimsby
• The Devil's Double (1916) - Naomi Tarleton
• Blood Will Tell (1917) - Nora North
• The Yankee Way (1917) - Princess Alexia
• The Curse of Eve (1917) - Eva Stanley
• The Zeppelin's Last Raid (1917) - The girl
• Cheating the Public (1918) - Mary Garvin
• Tarzan of the Apes (1918) - Jane Porter
• Six Shooter Andy (1918) - Susan Allenby
• The Romance of Tarzan (1918) - Jane
• Mother, I Need You (1918)
• Sink or Swim (1920) - Princess Alexia
• Snafu (1945) - Aunt Emily
• The Naked City (1948) - Mrs. Hylton
• Take One False Step (1949) - Clara (uncredited)
• The Boston Strangler (1968) - Edna (final film role)

References

1. Katchmer, George A. (2009). A Biographical Dictionary of Silent Film Western Actors and Actresses. McFarland. p. 233. ISBN 9781476609058. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
2. "New York Motion Picture Company". Motion Picture News. May 23, 1914. p. 56. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
3. "Miss Enid Markey". Illustrated Films Monthly (Mar - August 1914). p. 382. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
4. Fraser, C. Gerald (November 16, 1981). "Enid Markey, Actress, Dead; Starred in First Tarzan Film". The New York Times. p. B 18. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
5. "Enid Markey". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on August 10, 2020. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
6. Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 137. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.

External links

• Enid Markey on IMDb
• Enid Markey at the Internet Broadway Database
• Enid Markey papers, 1895-1971, held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts