Jinnie Frazer

Actor

Active: 1908

About Jinnie Frazer

Jinnie Frazer was an early American film actress who appeared during the pioneering days of cinema. Her only known film credit is in the 1908 D.W. Griffith-directed short film 'Rescued from an Eagle's Nest,' which was one of Griffith's earliest directorial efforts before he became a legendary filmmaker. Like many actors of this period, Frazer likely came from a theatrical background and made a brief transition to the new medium of motion pictures. The film itself was a dramatic short produced by the American Mutoscope and Biograph Company, one of the earliest film studios. Her career appears to have been extremely brief, consisting of just this single known appearance during the very first decade of commercial cinema. Unfortunately, like many early film performers, detailed records of her life and career have been lost to time, making her one of the many forgotten pioneers of early cinema.

The Craft

Milestones

  • Appeared in D.W. Griffith's early film 'Rescued from an Eagle's Nest' (1908)

Best Known For

Must-See Films

  • Rescued from an Eagle's Nest (1908)

Working Relationships

Worked Often With

  • D.W. Griffith

Studios

  • American Mutoscope and Biograph Company

Why They Matter

Impact on Culture

Jinnie Frazer represents the countless anonymous performers who participated in cinema's birth during the first decade of the 20th century. While her individual impact was minimal due to her brief film career, she was part of the foundational period when film was establishing itself as a new art form and entertainment medium. Her appearance in a D.W. Griffith film, even in his earliest days before he became known as the father of American cinema, places her within the historical context of film's development. She exemplifies how many early film actors were essentially pioneers, helping to establish the vocabulary of screen acting before the star system and Hollywood studios created the celebrity culture that would later define the industry.

Lasting Legacy

Jinnie Frazer's legacy is primarily as a representative of the anonymous early film pioneers whose contributions have been largely lost to history. Like many actors from 1908, she exists only as a name in film archives, a reminder that cinema was built by countless individuals whose names and stories have faded with time. Her single known film appearance connects her to the very beginnings of American narrative cinema and the early career of one of its most influential directors, D.W. Griffith.

Who They Inspired

Due to her extremely brief career with only one known film appearance, Jinnie Frazer had no documented influence on other actors or filmmakers. Her significance lies more in her participation in cinema's earliest days rather than any lasting artistic influence on the medium.

Off Screen

Very little is known about Jinnie Frazer's personal life, which is typical for actors from the very early silent era who often appeared in only one or two films before returning to other professions or the stage.

Did You Know?

  • Appeared in one of D.W. Griffith's earliest directorial efforts before he became famous
  • Worked during the first decade of commercial American cinema
  • Her film was produced by the pioneering American Mutoscope and Biograph Company
  • Like many early film actors, her career appears to have consisted of only this single film
  • Represents the countless anonymous performers who helped establish cinema as an art form

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Jinnie Frazer?

Jinnie Frazer was an early American film actress from the silent era who appeared in only one known film, 'Rescued from an Eagle's Nest' (1908), directed by D.W. Griffith during the very beginning of his career before he became a legendary filmmaker.

What films is Jinnie Frazer best known for?

Jinnie Frazer is known for only one film: 'Rescued from an Eagle's Nest' (1908), a dramatic short film that was one of D.W. Griffith's earliest directorial efforts for the American Mutoscope and Biograph Company.

When was Jinnie Frazer born and when did she die?

Unfortunately, the birth and death dates of Jinnie Frazer are unknown, which is common for many actors from the very early silent era who had brief film careers and minimal documentation.

What awards did Jinnie Frazer win?

Jinnie Frazer did not receive any known awards or recognition during her brief career in 1908, which predates the establishment of most formal film award ceremonies.

What was Jinnie Frazer's acting style?

There is no documented information about Jinnie Frazer's specific acting style, as she appeared in only one film during cinema's earliest days when screen acting techniques were still being developed and not extensively documented.

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Films

1 film