Addie McPhail
Actor
About Addie McPhail
Addie McPhail was a prolific American actress of the late silent and early sound eras, appearing in over 60 films throughout her career. Born Addie Oakley Dukes in Kentucky, she moved to Hollywood in 1925 with a determined ambition to enter the film industry, quickly signing with the Stern Brothers studio. She became a staple of short-form comedy, notably starring in the popular 'Keeping Up with the Joneses' and 'The Newlyweds' series for Universal. Her career took a significant turn in 1930 when she met the legendary comedian Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle, who was then directing under the pseudonym William Goodrich. The two fell in love and married in 1932, with McPhail becoming a steadfast supporter during Arbuckle's attempts to revive his scandal-damaged career through vaudeville tours. Following Arbuckle's tragic death just one day after their first wedding anniversary in 1933, McPhail's interest in performing waned, though she continued to take occasional roles until 1941. In her later years, she dedicated nearly two decades of her life to volunteer nursing at the Motion Picture & Television Fund, maintaining a deep connection to the Hollywood community until her death at the age of 97.
The Craft
On Screen
McPhail was primarily a comedic actress known for her 'rough and tumble' slapstick abilities in short-form subjects. She possessed a versatile screen presence that allowed her to play both the 'pretty girl' romantic interest and the more grounded, often exasperated, domestic wife in domestic comedy series. Her style was characterized by the high-energy physical performance required by the Stern Brothers and Mack Sennett schools of comedy, though she later transitioned into more subtle bit parts in dramatic features.
Milestones
- Signed a contract with Stern Brothers/Universal within two weeks of arriving in Hollywood in 1925
- Starred as 'Mrs. Jones' in the long-running 'Keeping Up with the Joneses' comedy short series (1927-1928)
- Appeared in the classic Laurel and Hardy short 'Double Whoopee' (1929)
- Played a significant supporting role in the William Wyler-directed feature 'Has Anybody Here Seen Kelly?' (1928)
- Successfully toured the vaudeville circuit with Roscoe Arbuckle across the United States and Canada (1931-1932)
- Maintained a career spanning the transition from silent films to 'talkies', appearing in over 60 productions
Best Known For
Iconic Roles
Must-See Films
Accolades
Special Recognition
- Recognized for 17 years of volunteer service at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital
Working Relationships
Worked Often With
Studios
Why They Matter
Impact on Culture
Addie McPhail represents the resilient 'working actor' of the Golden Age, transitioning through the industry's most turbulent technological shifts. While she never achieved top-tier stardom, her presence in over 60 films, particularly in the comedy short genre, contributed to the foundational language of American screen humor. Her public role as the 'last wife' of Roscoe Arbuckle also played a part in the cultural rehabilitation of one of Hollywood's first major scandal victims, as she frequently spoke of his character and the 'forgiveness' he felt from the industry before his death.
Lasting Legacy
McPhail's legacy is twofold: as a prolific performer in the slapstick comedy shorts that defined early cinema, and as a dedicated member of the Hollywood community. Her 17 years of volunteer work at the Motion Picture & Television Fund retirement home demonstrated a lifelong commitment to the well-being of her peers. She is remembered by film historians as a vital link to the silent era, providing firsthand accounts of the lives of legends like Arbuckle, Buster Keaton, and Laurel and Hardy well into the 21st century.
Who They Inspired
Her influence is seen in her preservation of silent film history through her later-life interviews and her support of the Motion Picture & Television Fund, which helps sustain the industry's aging professionals.
Off Screen
Addie McPhail was married three times. Her first marriage was to songwriter and pianist Lindsay McPhail, with whom she had her only child. Her most famous marriage was to Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle; she remained his devoted companion through his final years and was with him when he died of a heart attack in 1933. Later in life, she was known as Addie Sheldon following a subsequent marriage.
Education
Attended schools in Madisonville and Providence, Kentucky, before moving to Chicago and eventually Hollywood.
Family
- Lindsay McPhail (1922-1932)
- Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle (1932-1933)
- Ervin Sheldon (dates unknown)
Did You Know?
- She was born Addie Dukes but took the surname McPhail from her first husband, Lindsay McPhail.
- She was with Roscoe Arbuckle in their New York hotel room when he suffered his fatal heart attack.
- McPhail appeared in the 1929 Laurel and Hardy short 'Double Whoopee', which also featured a young Jean Harlow.
- She won several stage and beauty contests in Chicago before moving to Hollywood.
- Her final film role was an uncredited part in the 1941 film 'The Cowboy and the Blonde'.
- She lived to be 97 years old, becoming one of the last surviving links to the silent film era.
- She once described her career as being 'like a small ship passing through a rough sea.'
- She worked as a volunteer nurse for many years, caring for former stars like Norma Shearer and Viola Dana.
In Their Own Words
Maybe I was never the actress I wanted to be. The rough and tumble of comedy was hard. It eventually cooled my ardor for acting.
I don't believe I ever did anything spectacularly enough in pictures or on stage to be remembered for it. I was like a small ship passing through a rough sea.
Roscoe died happy. He was with a girl who loved him and Hollywood had forgiven him and welcomed him back.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Addie McPhail?
Addie McPhail was an American film actress active during the silent and early sound eras, appearing in over 60 films. She is perhaps best known as the third and final wife of comedy legend Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle.
What films is Addie McPhail best known for?
She is known for her work in comedy shorts like 'Double Whoopee' (1929) and 'Up a Tree' (1930), as well as features such as 'Extravagance' (1930) and 'Midnight Daddies' (1930).
When was Addie McPhail born and when did she die?
She was born on July 15, 1905, in White Plains, Kentucky, and died at the age of 97 on April 14, 2003, in Canoga Park, California.
What was Addie McPhail's relationship with Roscoe Arbuckle?
McPhail met Arbuckle in 1930 while he was directing her in comedy shorts. They married in 1932 and she remained his devoted wife until his sudden death in 1933.
What did Addie McPhail do after retiring from acting?
After her film career ended in the early 1940s, she spent 17 years as a volunteer nurse at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital, serving the Hollywood community.
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Films
1 film
