Carmelita Geraghty

Carmelita Geraghty (March 21, 1901 – July 7, 1966) was a prominent American actress and talented painter. Born in Rushville, Indiana, she was the daughter of screenwriter Thomas J. Geraghty. Carmelita began her film career as an extra in the early 1920s but quickly gained recognition when she was named one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars in 1924. This accolade propelled her to stardom, leading to notable performances, including a significant role alongside Virginia Valli in Alfred Hitchcock's debut film, The Pleasure Garden (1925). She also portrayed the character Jordan Baker in the 1926 adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and shared the screen with Clara Bow in My Lady of Whims (1925).

However, with the advent of sound in cinema, Geraghty's career began to wane, culminating in her final film appearance in the independent Western Phantom of Santa Fe (1936). After stepping away from acting, she flourished as an artist, with her works later showcased at the Weil Gardens in Paris during her later years.

Carmelita was married to Carey Wilson, a writer and producer for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, from 1934 until his passing in 1962. She passed away from a heart attack on July 7, 1966, at the Lombardy Hotel in Manhattan, at the age of 65. She is laid to rest at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in California, leaving behind a legacy in both film and art.