Alma Aiken

Actor

Active: 1920

About Alma Aiken

Alma Aiken was a silent film actress whose entire known film career consisted of a single appearance in the 1920 Paramount Pictures production 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' starring John Barrymore. Her role in this classic adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's novella appears to have been her only foray into motion pictures, as no other film credits have been documented. Like many actors during the silent era, particularly those in minor roles, her career was brief and she seemingly vanished from the film industry after this single appearance. The 1920 version of 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' was a significant production for Paramount, featuring elaborate sets and Barrymore's transformative performance that became legendary in Hollywood history. Aiken's participation in this notable film places her within the context of early Hollywood's golden age, though her specific contribution remains largely undocumented. Her story represents the countless supporting players and bit actors who briefly appeared in classic films but whose lives and careers remain largely unknown to film historians.

The Craft

Milestones

  • Appeared in the 1920 Paramount production 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' starring John Barrymore

Best Known For

Iconic Roles

  • Unknown role in 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' (1920)

Must-See Films

  • Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920)

Working Relationships

Studios

  • Paramount Pictures

Why They Matter

Impact on Culture

Alma Aiken's cultural impact is minimal due to her extremely brief film career, consisting of only one appearance in a notable silent film. Her participation in 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' (1920) places her within the historical context of early Hollywood cinema, though her specific contribution to the film's legacy remains undocumented. She represents the countless anonymous supporting players who populated early Hollywood productions but whose names and stories have been lost to time.

Lasting Legacy

Alma Aiken's legacy is that of a typical silent-era bit player whose career consisted of a single film appearance. While she had the opportunity to work on a significant production featuring one of the era's biggest stars, John Barrymore, her contribution to cinema history is limited to being credited among the cast of this classic adaptation. Her story illustrates how many early film actors appeared briefly in notable productions before disappearing from the industry entirely.

Who They Inspired

Given her extremely limited filmography, Alma Aiken had no documented influence on other actors or directors in the film industry.

Off Screen

Very little is known about Alma Aiken's personal life, as was common for many supporting actors in the silent era who appeared in only one or two films.

Did You Know?

  • Her entire known film career spanned only one year: 1920
  • She appeared in the same film as John Barrymore, one of the most celebrated actors of the silent era
  • The 1920 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' was considered a major production for Paramount Pictures
  • Like many silent film actors in minor roles, her specific part in the film is not well documented
  • Her story represents the thousands of anonymous actors who briefly appeared in early Hollywood films

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Alma Aiken?

Alma Aiken was a silent film actress who appeared in only one known film, the 1920 production of 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' starring John Barrymore. Her career was extremely brief, lasting only a single year, and little is known about her life beyond this single film credit.

What films is Alma Aiken best known for?

Alma Aiken is known exclusively for her appearance in 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' (1920), a Paramount Pictures production starring John Barrymore. This appears to be her only film role, making her entire filmography consist of this single notable silent film.

When was Alma Aiken born and when did she die?

Unfortunately, Alma Aiken's birth and death dates are not documented in film history records. This lack of biographical information is common for many supporting actors from the silent era who had very brief careers in early Hollywood.

What awards did Alma Aiken win?

Alma Aiken did not receive any known awards or nominations for her work in film. This was typical for bit players and supporting actors during the silent era, particularly those who appeared in only one or two productions.

What was Alma Aiken's acting style?

Due to the extremely limited documentation of her work and the fact that her role was likely minor, Alma Aiken's specific acting style is not known. Like many supporting actors of her era, her performance style would have reflected the dramatic, exaggerated techniques common in silent film acting.

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Films

1 film