Carol Dempster

Former Denishawn dancer who made her debut in a small part in D.W. Griffith's "The Girl Who Stayed Home" (1918) and appeared in many of the director's films, playing prominent roles in his "Scarlet Days," "A Romance of Happy Valley" and "True Heart Susie" (all 1919). After Lillian Gish went on to work with other directors in the 1920s, Dempster became the pioneering director's muse, starring in Griffith's "Dream Street" (1921), "One Exciting Night" (1922), "The White Rose" (1923) and "Isn't Life Wonderful?" and "America" (both 1924). She also costarred with John Barrymore in the 1922 version of "Sherlock Holmes" and with W.C. Fields in two 1925 films: "Sally of the Sawdust" and "That Royal Girl." Dempster walked away from her contract with Griffith to marry and retired from acting.