Lois Hardwick
Actor
About Lois Hardwick
Lois Hardwick was a prominent child actress of the silent film era, best remembered as the fourth and final young star to portray the title character in Walt Disney's pioneering 'Alice Comedies' series. Born in 1917, she was personally selected by Walt Disney to succeed Anne Shirley (then known as Dawn O'Day) in the role of Alice, a live-action girl who interacted with an animated world and her cartoon companion, Julius the Cat. Her tenure in the series spanned ten shorts in 1927, beginning with 'Alice's Circus Daze' and concluding with the series finale, 'Alice in the Big League.' Following the conclusion of the Disney series, Hardwick transitioned to the 'Buster Brown' comedy shorts produced by Stern Brothers for Universal, where she played the recurring role of Mary Jane until 1929. Despite her early success and the technical significance of her work in early live-action/animation hybrids, she retired from the screen as a teenager to pursue a private life. Her career remains a vital link in the early history of the Walt Disney Studio, representing the final evolution of the character that helped establish Disney's reputation in Hollywood.
The Craft
On Screen
As a child performer in the silent era, Hardwick's style was characterized by high physical energy and expressive pantomime, necessary for interacting with non-existent animated characters. She was noted for her athletic ability, often performing stunts like tightrope walking or acrobatics in her Disney shorts. Unlike her predecessors, her portrayal of Alice was often more tomboyish and active, fitting the increasingly complex gags of the late 1920s.
Milestones
- Selected by Walt Disney as the fourth and final actress to play Alice in the 'Alice Comedies' (1927)
- Starred in the final film of the 'Alice Comedies' series, 'Alice in the Big League' (1927)
- Portrayed Mary Jane in the popular 'Buster Brown' comedy short series (1928-1929)
- Appeared as a bit player in the Academy Award-winning silent classic '7th Heaven' (1927)
- Successfully bridged the transition from Disney's experimental shorts to mainstream studio comedy series at Universal
Best Known For
Iconic Roles
Must-See Films
Accolades
Special Recognition
- Recognized in Disney history as one of the four original 'Alice' girls who helped launch the studio
Working Relationships
Worked Often With
Studios
Why They Matter
Impact on Culture
Lois Hardwick's primary cultural impact lies in her role as the final 'Alice' in the Disney 'Alice Comedies.' These films were revolutionary for their time, featuring a live-action child in a fully realized cartoon world, a precursor to modern visual effects. By appearing in the final ten shorts, Hardwick helped close the chapter on the series that provided the financial and creative foundation for what would become the Walt Disney Company. Her work in the 'Buster Brown' series also contributed to the popularity of comic strip adaptations in early cinema.
Lasting Legacy
Hardwick's legacy is preserved within the archives of animation history. While many of her films were lost for decades, the surviving shorts like 'Alice the Whaler' and 'Alice in the Big League' are studied by film historians to understand the evolution of Disney's storytelling. She remains a 'Disney Legend' in spirit, representing the era before Mickey Mouse when the studio's identity was tied to the 'Alice' character.
Who They Inspired
As one of the earliest examples of a child actor working extensively with 'empty space' (to be filled by animation), her performances influenced the technical approach to live-action/animation interaction that would later be perfected in films like 'Mary Poppins' and 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit.'
Off Screen
Lois Hardwick was born to Stanley Howard Hardwick and Agnes Margarethe Langhorst. After her child acting career ended in 1929, she lived a relatively private life away from the Hollywood spotlight. She married Joseph Henry Burton in 1934 and later moved to the Chicago area. There is frequent historical confusion between her and Lois May Hardwick (the first wife of actor Donald Sutherland), but records confirm the 'Alice' actress was Lois Ann Hardwick who died in 1968.
Education
Public schooling in Los Angeles during her years as a child performer.
Family
- Joseph Henry Burton (m. 1934)
Did You Know?
- She was the only one of the four Alice actresses to appear in the series' final year (1927).
- Six of the ten Disney shorts she starred in are currently considered lost films.
- She performed her own acrobatics in 'Alice's Circus Daze.'
- She is often confused with a Canadian woman of the same name who married Donald Sutherland; however, the Disney actress was born in 1917 and died in 1968.
- Her final film, 'Alice in the Big League,' featured her as a baseball umpire.
- She was only 9 years old when she was cast by Walt Disney.
In Their Own Words
I'm going to be the umpire! (Intertitle from 'Alice in the Big League', 1927)
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Lois Hardwick?
Lois Hardwick was an American child actress of the 1920s best known for being the final actress to play the lead role in Walt Disney's 'Alice Comedies' series.
What films is Lois Hardwick best known for?
She is best known for her 10 'Alice' shorts, including 'Alice in the Big League' and 'Alice the Whaler,' as well as her role as Mary Jane in the 'Buster Brown' comedies.
When was Lois Hardwick born and when did she die?
She was born on July 22, 1917, in Chicago, Illinois, and passed away on August 3, 1968, at the age of 51.
Was Lois Hardwick married to Donald Sutherland?
No. This is a common historical error. The Disney actress Lois Ann Hardwick (1917-1968) is a different person from Lois May Hardwick (1936-1968), who was Donald Sutherland's first wife.
What was Lois Hardwick's acting style?
She was known for a highly physical and athletic acting style, often performing stunts and acrobatic maneuvers while interacting with animated characters.
Why is Lois Hardwick significant to film history?
She represents the final iteration of Walt Disney's first major success, the Alice character, which helped the Disney brothers establish their studio in Hollywood before the creation of Mickey Mouse.
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Films
1 film
