Mae Gaston

Mae Gaston

Actor

Active: 1918-1918

About Mae Gaston

Mae Gaston was an American actress who worked briefly during the silent film era, with her entire known filmography consisting of productions from 1918. She appeared in supporting roles in several films that year, including the dramatic adaptation 'Little Orphant Annie,' the crime thriller 'The Craving,' and the mystery 'The Finger of Justice.' Her career appears to have been exceptionally brief, spanning only a single year during the height of World War I when the film industry was rapidly evolving. Like many actors of the silent era who worked in supporting capacities, detailed records of her life and career are scarce, suggesting she may have been a contract player or bit performer rather than a leading lady. Her disappearance from film records after 1918 could indicate she left the industry, married and changed her name, or pursued other career opportunities outside of entertainment.

The Craft

Milestones

  • Film debut in Little Orphant Annie (1918)
  • Appeared in three films in 1918
  • Worked during the silent film era

Best Known For

Must-See Films

  • Little Orphant Annie (1918)
  • The Craving (1918)
  • The Finger of Justice (1918)

Why They Matter

Impact on Culture

Mae Gaston's cultural impact was minimal due to her extremely brief career in supporting roles during a single year of the silent era. She represents the countless actors who contributed to early cinema but whose names have been largely lost to history, highlighting the transient nature of fame in early Hollywood and the difficulty of preserving records of lesser-known performers from this period.

Lasting Legacy

Mae Gaston's legacy is primarily that of a representative example of the many supporting actors who populated silent films but left little trace in historical records. Her filmography, though brief, contributes to our understanding of the scale of film production in 1918 and the number of performers needed to populate the rapidly expanding movie industry during World War I.

Who They Inspired

Given her brief career in supporting roles, there is no documented evidence of Mae Gaston influencing other actors or directors in any significant way. Her career was too short and her roles too minor to have established any lasting influence on the craft of acting or the film industry.

Off Screen

Very little is documented about Mae Gaston's personal life, which is common for supporting actors from the silent era who did not achieve star status. Her brief career spanned only 1918, and she vanished from film records afterward, making it difficult to trace her subsequent life events.

Did You Know?

  • Her entire known filmography consists of only three films from 1918
  • She worked during the final years of World War I
  • Like many silent era actors, her birth and death dates are unknown
  • Her career appears to have lasted only one calendar year
  • She represents the thousands of anonymous performers who populated early silent films
  • No photographs or extensive biographical information about her survive in major film archives
  • Her disappearance from film records after 1918 remains unexplained

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Mae Gaston?

Mae Gaston was an American actress who worked briefly during the silent film era in 1918, appearing in supporting roles in three films including 'Little Orphant Annie,' 'The Craving,' and 'The Finger of Justice.'

What films is Mae Gaston best known for?

Mae Gaston is known for her appearances in three 1918 films: 'Little Orphant Annie,' 'The Craving,' and 'The Finger of Justice,' though these appear to be her only credited film roles.

When was Mae Gaston born and when did she die?

Mae Gaston's birth and death dates are unknown, which is common for many supporting actors from the silent era whose personal details were not well documented.

What awards did Mae Gaston win?

There are no records of Mae Gaston receiving any awards or nominations during her brief film career in 1918.

What was Mae Gaston's acting style?

Due to the limited documentation of her career and the loss of most of her films, Mae Gaston's specific acting style is unknown, though she would have worked within the conventions of silent film performance of the late 1910s.

Learn More

Films

3 films