Charlie Chaplin started his movie career in the silent film industry in 1914. His trademark character, The Tramp, first appeared in his second released film that same year called Kid Auto Races at Venice. It is well known that The Tramp became Chaplin’s signature role in all his movies, what is not well known is Chaplin had a leading lady in most of his early films.

In 33 of Chaplin’s movies, as well as films his movie company produced, a starlet he discovered was his “leading lady.”  Her name was Edna Purviance.

Edna was born on October 21, 1895, in Paradise Valley, Nevada. Her mother was an English immigrant, Louisa Wright Davey, and her father, Matt Gates Purviance, an American “vintner” — a wine merchant.

When discovered in 1915, the young Edna Purviance was working as a stenographer. While “sipping coffee at Tate’s Café on Hill Street in Noe Valley” one day, “a Chaplin talent scout, Carl Strauss, recognized [her] potential. Strauss was in the town purposely scouting for a leading lady for Charlie Chaplin, so a meeting was arranged for her to meet Chaplin.”

At first Chaplin thought Edna was too serious for comedic roles, but she impressed Chaplin enough that he decided to give her roles in his movies. Over time, Edna Purviance became so closely associated with Chaplin in supporting roles “that trade reviewers took exception when she was away. Columnist Julian Johnson, reporting on Chaplin’s solo performance in One A.M., wrote: ‘Congratulations, Mr. Chaplin, on speaking your piece so nicely, but — come on back, Edna!’.”  Edna Purviance appeared in most of Chaplin’s well known productions, two of which are A Dog’s Life in 1918 and The Kid in 1921.

It was rumored that Chaplin and Purviance had a romantic relationship from 1916 to 1917, when it was suddenly ended.  It was purported that Edna read a news article about Chaplin having married a 16-year old girl named Mildred Harris, a relationship that was a complete surprise to Purviance. The alleged marriage was just that . . . alleged, never proven to be fact. Despite Chaplin’s inamorata, Edna and Charlie continued to be close friends.

Purviance’s last appearance in a Chaplin produced film was the 1923 film A Woman of Paris, which was also her first leading role and Chaplin’s first purely dramatic produced film.  According to southwestsilents.com:

But A Woman of Paris is a masterpiece. It is a film that secures Chaplin’s artistry as a pioneering filmmaker overall and far more than a genius locked in a comic sphere. His directing is flawless and to the point and his storytelling (which Chaplin wrote) is sharp.

As for everything happening in front of the camera; Edna Purviance is perfect in the film as Marie St. Clair, a figure who beautifully glides through every shot and holds every scene. It’s her presence during the large set pieces, in this case, entertaining Parisian parties that really makes herself shine. Purviance’s approach and attitude within the entire film gives us the sense of confidence that she was able to build up over the past eight years working alongside Chaplin.

The southwestsilents.com articles also opines:

But A Woman of Paris is Edna Purviance’s film. It’s a film that Chaplin specially designed and produced for her and her alone. It’s a film that should have established the next stage in Purviance’s career. But it didn’t. And it’s a real shame. A Woman of Paris is as perfect as any Chaplin film that had come before or come afterwards.

Unfortunately, around the same time, Purviance was linked to a scandal that resulted in the film being banned in some cities.  It was reported at that time, Edna and another actress, Mabel Normand, were guest of a millionaire oil broker, Courtland Stark Dines on New Year’s Day 1924.  Normand’s chauffeur, R. C. Greer, a.k.a. Joe Kelly, started a heated argument with Dines because he refused to allow Normand to leave. Alcohol was supposed to have exasperated the argument. Witnesses stated that Greer obtained a revolver that belonged to Normand and shot Dines. Luckily, the wound was not fatally.

From 1927 to her retirement, Edna lived quietly in Hollywood.   She married a Pan-American Airlines pilot in 1938, John Squire, and remained married until his death in 1945.  Chaplin kept Purviance on his payroll after her last film until her death in 1958, paying her $1,000 a month.

Chaplin replaced Edna Purviance as his leading lady. The reason given was that having performed a dramatic role, Edna no longer wanted to be a comedic actress. Her replacement, Lita Grey, was 16 when she married Chaplin in 1924 in a private ceremony in Mexico. Grey did appear in The Kid in a supporting role and, of course, met Chaplin. Grey was already pregnant when the couple married; however, Chaplin was not charged with having sexual relations with a minor. Chaplin and Grey had two sons before the marriage ended in a highly publicized divorce in 1927. Their divorce involved scandalous allegations against Chaplin that resulted in a significant financial settlement made to Grey.

Edna Purviance is remembered as a very significant actress of the silent film era and being Charlie Chaplin’s “leading lady, contributing to the emotional depth of his films.” Undoubtedly, Chaplin had an affection and great respect for Edna Purviance that lasted beyond their days of acting together in movies.

I feel it fitting that America remember Edna Purviance as she was in her “heyday” as an actress in early films. These photo will provide an understanding of why Charlie Chaplin was mesmerized by Edna Purviance.