Lina Clamour

Actor

Active: 1914

About Lina Clamour

Lina Clamour was a very obscure actress from the silent film era, whose entire known cinematic output consists of a single appearance in the 1914 short film 'Miseries of the Needle.' She was part of the vast pool of performers who populated the burgeoning American film industry during its transitional years, often working for small, independent studios on one-reel productions. Her career, like that of many of her contemporaries, was exceedingly brief, likely spanning only a few months or perhaps just the duration of the single film shoot. There is no record of her appearing in any other films before or after this role, suggesting she may have been an extra, a bit player who did not pursue acting further, or an individual whose career was cut short by the volatile nature of the early film business. She represents the countless anonymous faces who contributed to the foundation of cinema but whose names and stories have been lost to time. Her legacy is not one of individual achievement but as a symbol of the transient, often ephemeral nature of stardom in the earliest days of Hollywood.

The Craft

Milestones

  • Appeared in the 1914 silent short film 'Miseries of the Needle'

Best Known For

Must-See Films

  • Miseries of the Needle (1914)

Why They Matter

Impact on Culture

Lina Clamour's cultural impact is not derived from her own achievements but from her representation of the thousands of anonymous actors who formed the backbone of the early silent film industry. Her existence, documented by a single film credit, serves as a poignant reminder of the transient nature of fame and the immense number of performers whose contributions to cinema have been forgotten. She highlights the vast scale of film production in the 1910s, where even minor roles required a constant influx of new talent, most of whom would never achieve lasting recognition. Her story, or lack thereof, underscores the challenges of film historiography and the many gaps that remain in our knowledge of cinema's pioneers.

Lasting Legacy

The legacy of Lina Clamour is one of historical obscurity, a testament to the ephemeral nature of early Hollywood careers. She is a figure of interest primarily to film historians and archivists who seek to document every participant in cinema's formative years, no matter how minor their role. Her name survives only in filmographies and databases dedicated to cataloging the earliest motion pictures, making her a footnote in the grand narrative of film history. While she left no body of work to be studied or celebrated, her legacy is the very fact of her participation, a single data point that helps paint a fuller, though still incomplete, picture of the silent era's vast and often anonymous workforce.

Who They Inspired

Given her brief and undocumented career, Lina Clamour had no discernible influence on other actors or the trajectory of filmmaking. Her role was likely too minor to have been noticed by audiences or industry professionals, and she did not have a public profile from which to exert influence. Her influence, if any, is purely academic, serving as an example for researchers studying the demographics and career paths of bit players in the early 20th-century film industry.

Off Screen

Due to the extremely limited documentation of Lina Clamour's life and career, there is no available information regarding her personal life, family, or background. She is known only from a single film credit, and no biographical details have been preserved in film archives, trade publications, or historical records from the period.

Did You Know?

  • Lina Clamour's entire known filmography consists of only one film.
  • The film she appeared in, 'Miseries of the Needle' (1914), is itself a lost film, with no known surviving copies.
  • Her name is often cited in discussions about the vast number of 'one-film actors' from the silent era.
  • There are no known photographs of Lina Clamour in circulation.
  • Her name does not appear in any major biographical dictionaries of American film actors.
  • The specific role she played in 'Miseries of the Needle' is unknown, as detailed cast lists for the film have not survived.
  • Her career is representative of the thousands of performers who worked in early cinema but were never credited in surviving print materials.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Lina Clamour?

Lina Clamour was an American actress from the silent film era who is known for appearing in only one movie, the 1914 short film 'Miseries of the Needle.' She represents the many obscure performers who had brief, undocumented careers in early Hollywood.

What films is Lina Clamour best known for?

Lina Clamour is known exclusively for her role in the 1914 silent short 'Miseries of the Needle.' This film is now considered lost, with no surviving copies available for viewing.

When was Lina Clamour born and when did she die?

Unfortunately, the birth and death dates for Lina Clamour are unknown. Her biographical details, including her place of birth and real name, have been lost to history due to her extremely brief and minor career.

What awards did Lina Clamour win?

Lina Clamour did not win any awards for her work in film. During the era she was active, the major film award systems like the Academy Awards had not yet been established.

What was Lina Clamour's acting style?

There is no information available about Lina Clamour's acting style. The film she appeared in is lost, and no contemporary reviews or critiques describing her performance have survived.

Learn More

Films

1 film