Julia Faye

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Julia Faye (September 24, 1893 – April 6, 1966) was a motion picture actress from Richmond, Virginia.

Career overview

Faye had resided in St. Louis, Missouri prior to coming to Hollywood in 1916, to visit friends. She visited one of the film studios and was introduced to Christy Cabanne. The two reminisced about St. Louis and discovered that they had lived next door to one another there. Cabanne persuaded Faye's reluctant mother to allow her to be in motion pictures.

She appeared in more Cecil B. DeMille movies than any other actress. She appeared in many of his silents and in every one of his movies from 1939's Union Pacific on. She was DeMille's mistress off-screen for quite some time and DeMille kept her employed in bit parts long after her career (and their relationship) was over, including his most famous film, The Ten Commandments (1956).

Movie actress

In 1919 Faye played the stenographer in Stepping Out. Cast with Enid Bennett, Niles Welch, and Gertrude Clair, Faye was complimented by a critic for playing her role with "class".It Pays To Advertise (1919) is a Paramount Pictures release adapted by Elmer Harris from the play of the same name by Rol Cooper Megrue and Walter Hackett. It was directed by Donald Crisp. Faye is among the actors with Lois Wilson depicting the leading lady. Changing Husbands (1924) is a Leatrice Joy comedy adapted from a magazine story entitled Roles. Faye joined Raymond Griffith and Zasu Pitts in the screen feature. Faye was listed as a member of the Paramount Stock Company School in July 1922. Its noteworthy personalities included Rudolph Valentino, Gloria Swanson, Betty Compson, Wallace Reid, Bebe Daniels, and Pola Negri.

When DeMille resigned as director general of Famous Players-Lasky, in January 1925, he became the production head of Cinema Corporation of America. He planned to direct two or three films per year and supervise the making of between ten and twenty more. Faye came along with him as did Joy, Rod La Roque, Florence Vidor, Mary Astor, and Vera Reynolds.

The Volga Boatman (1926) is directed by DeMille and named for the noted Russian song. William Boyd, Elinor Fair, and Faye have primary roles in a production DeMille called his greatest achievement in picture making. Faye's depiction of a tiger woman is esteemed as the most captivating of her career, to this point. Before this role she had been known for "silken siren roles". Theodore Kosloff played opposite her as a stupid blacksmith.

Faye played "Martha" in The King of Kings (1926). Christ, portrayed by H.B. Warner, is introduced with great majesty in the DeMille photodrama. A blind child searches for the Lord and the producer/director turns the camera gradually down to the child's eyes. The viewer sees Christ initially like the blind child whose sight is restored. Faye traveled to New York City for personal appearances in association with The King of Kings and to address a sales convention in Chicago, Illinois.

She was entombed in Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

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