Acting · New York City, New York, USA · Born February 11, 1906
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Anita Garvin (February 11, 1907 – July 7, 1994) was an American actress and comedian who appeared in both silent and sound films. She is best known for her work with comedians Laurel and Hardy and Charley Chase. Garvin was born in New York City.] Her two sisters who danced in vaudeville encouraged her talents. At age 12, she lied to an agent saying she was "almost sixteen" and got a job being a bathing beauty for one of Mack Sennett's stage shows. The following year she joined the Ziegfeld Follies. She took pride in being the only woman allowed to touch Will Rogers's ropes. She also appeared in Earl Carroll Vanities. Garvin went on tour with the musical Sally staying with the show for two seasons, then decided to stay in California when the tour left that stop in 1924. In Hollywood, Garvin began working for Christie Film Company's comedies. She recalled her co-star Bobby Vernon dropping butter on the floor onto which she stepped and tumbled, cementing her career as a comedian. Charles Lamont brought her over to work for Educational Pictures. In 1926, Hal Roach took her under contract, where she appeared in many silent films with Charley Chase, James Finlayson, and Max Davidson as well as playing occasional supporting roles in feature films. Standing around 6 feet tall, "her regal countenance and deadpan expression" made her the perfect comic foil. Roach later considered her "one of his finest actresses." Reflecting upon her frequent co-star Stan Laurel, Garvin observed: "One thing about Stan--with apologies to a lot of directors--they thought they were directing him. And they thought they were directing the picture. But Stan was the one...He was very clever about it. The director was never cognizant of the fact that he was not doing all the directing. Stan's mind was going all the time, always thinking of gags and things to do. The script didn't mean a thing." Garvin appeared in a total of eleven Laurel and Hardy films. In 1928, she was teamed with Marion Byron as a short-lived female version of Laurel and Hardy. Along with Edgar Kennedy, Byron and Garvin appeared in A Pair of Tights, an "acknowledged masterpiece."
MovieLaurel & Hardy: Year Two
2024
as (archive footage) (uncredited)
He Asked for It
1940
Sunk by the Census
1940
MovieBested by a Beard
1940
as Mrs. Vivian Errol
MovieA Chump at Oxford
1940
as Mrs. Vandevere (uncredited)
Truth Aches
1939
as Mrs. Errol
Home Boner
1939
MovieSwiss Miss
1938
as Tradesman's wife
MovieTopper
1937
Sleepless Hollow
1936
as Harry's Wife
MovieWhile the Cat's Away
1936
as Emma
MovieMerry Wives of Reno
1934
as Male-Seeking Woman in Hotel Lobby (uncredited)
MovieHis Silent Racket
1933
as Mrs. Finlayson
MovieAsleep in the Feet
1933
as Dance Hall Hostess
The Millionaire Cat
1932
as Natalie
Yoo-Hoo
1932
as Anita
MovieShow Business
1932
as Anita Garvin
The Hollywood Handicap
1932
MovieMurder at Midnight
1931
as Party Guest (uncredited)
MovieThe Skulls
1931
as Señora Laurel
MovieBe Big!
1931
as Mrs. Laurel (uncredited)
MovieThe Chiselers
1931
as Mme. Laurel
MovieWhispering Whoopee
1930
as Miss Garvin
MovieBlotto
1930
as Mrs. Laurel
MovieSally
1930
as Party Guest (uncredited)
MovieDynamite
1929
as Undetermined Role (uncredited)
MovieRed Hot Rhythm
1929
as Mable
MovieStepping Out
1929
as The Date
Hunting the Hunter
1929
MovieOur Modern Maidens
1929
as Bridesmaid (uncredited)
MovieThe Single Standard
1929
as Packy's Jealous Girlfriend at Art Exhibition (uncredited)
MovieModern Love
1929
as Mrs. Weston - the Brunette
MovieOn With the Show!
1929
as Chorine (uncredited)
MovieMovie Night
1929
MovieThe Charlatan
1929
as Mrs. Paynter
MovieTrent's Last Case
1929
as Ottilie Dunois
Off to Buffalo
1929
as Mrs. Brown
MovieA Pair of Tights
1929
as Anita
Going Ga-Ga
1929
as Anita
MovieFeed 'em and Weep
1928
MovieImagine My Embarrassment
1928
Roaming Romeo
1928
as The Princess
MovieTheir Purple Moment
1928
as Oliver's Girlfriend
Fandango
1928
MovieThe Play Girl
1928
as Millie
MovieFrom Soup to Nuts
1928
as Mrs. Culpepper
MovieThe Battle of the Century
1927
as Slips on pie (uncredited)
MovieNever the Dames Shall Meet
1927
as Edna's Sister
Fighting Fathers
1927
as Mrs. Sniffleblaster
MovieAssistant Wives
1927
as Gwendolyn - the Flapjack Queen
MovieHats Off
1927
as Customer at top of stairs
MovieSailors, Beware!
1927
as Madame Ritz
MovieWith Love and Hisses
1927
as Captain Bustle's 1st girlfriend
MovieWhy Girls Love Sailors
1927
as Captain's Wife
MovieBaby Brother
1927
as Amorous nursemaid
MovieForgotten Sweeties
1927
MovieUpstream
1927
as Theatre Audience Admirer at Stage Door
MovieTwo-Time Mama
1927
as Mrs. Dazzle
MovieMany Scrappy Returns
1927
as Wellington's Wife
The Motor Boat Demon
1927
as Colleen
MovieBertha the Sewing Machine Girl
1926
as Flo Mason
MovieRaggedy Rose
1926
as Janice
MovieMove Along
1926
as Rich girl with roses
Creeps
1926
For Sadie's Sake
1926
My Swedie
1925
as Ethel Lorraine
MovieFair But Foolish
1925
A Taxi War
1925
Book Bozo
1925
MovieThe Sleuth
1925
as The other woman
In the Grease
1925
as Physical Culture teacher
A Dangerous Peach
1925
as Mrs. Wilson
MovieThe Last Man on Earth
1924
as A Millionairess (uncredited)
Bright Lights
1924
