Agnes Ayres

Agnes Ayres

From Wikipedia Agnes Ayres (April 4, 1892 – December 25, 1940) was an American actress who rose to fame during the silent film era. She was known for her role as Lady Diana Mayo in The Sheik and The Son of the Sheik opposite Rudolph Valentino. She was born Agnes Eyre Henkel in Carbondale, Illinois to Solon and Emma Slack Henkel on April 4, 1898. She had an older brother named Solon William Henkel born in 1888. Ayres began her career in 1914 when she was noticed by an Essanay Studios staff director and cast as an extra in a crowd scene. After moving to New York City with her mother to pursue a career in acting, Ayres was spotted by actress Alice Joyce. Joyce noticed the physical resemblance the two shared, which eventually led to Ayres being cast in Richard the Brazen (1917) as Joyce's character's sister. Ayres' career began to gain momentum when Paramount Pictures founder Jesse Lasky began to take an interest in her. Lasky gave her a starring role in the Civil War drama Held by the Enemy (1920), and also lobbied for parts for her in several Cecil B. DeMille productions. It was during this time that Ayres married, and quickly divorced, Captain Frank P. Schuker, an army officer whom she had wed during World War I. She also began a romance with Lasky. In 1921, Ayres shot to stardom when she was cast as Lady Diana Mayo, an English heiress opposite "Latin lover" Rudolph Valentino in The Sheik. Ayres later reprised her role as Lady Diana in the 1926 sequel Son of the Sheik. Following the release of The Sheik, she went on to have major roles in many other films including The Affairs of Anatol (1921) starring Wallace Reid, Forbidden Fruit (1921), and Cecil B. DeMille's epic The Ten Commandments (1923). By 1923, Ayres' career began to wane following the end of her relationship with Jesse Lasky. She married Mexican diplomat S. Manuel Reachi in 1924. The couple had a daughter before divorcing in 1927. In 1929, Ayres lost her fortune and real estate holdings in the Crash of '29. That same year, she also appeared in her last major role in The Donovan Affair, starring Jack Holt. To earn money, she left acting and played the vaudeville circuit. She returned to acting in 1936, confident that she could make a comeback. Unable to secure starring roles and somewhat overweight, Ayres appeared in mostly uncredited bit parts, and finally retired from acting for good in 1937. After her retirement, Ayres became despondent and was eventually committed to a sanatorium. She also lost custody of her daughter to Reachi, in 1939. She died from a cerebral hemorrhage on December 25, 1940 at her home at the age of 42. She is interred in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. For her contribution to motion pictures, Agnes Ayres has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6504 Hollywood Boulevard.
    Known for
    Acting
    Place of birth
    Carbondale, Illinois, USA
    Birthday
    4/4/1892
The Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments
6.5
The Story Without a Name
The Story Without a Name
0
Hollywood
Hollywood
7
The Donovan Affair
The Donovan Affair
6
Screen Snapshots, Series 3, No. 12
0
The Sheik
The Sheik
5.9
Racing Hearts
Racing Hearts
0
The Affairs of Anatol
The Affairs of Anatol
5.6
The Legend of Rudolph Valentino
The Legend of Rudolph Valentino
0
The Son of the Sheik
The Son of the Sheik
6.3
Too Much Speed
Too Much Speed
0
Clarence
Clarence
0
The Guilty One
The Guilty One
0
The Ordeal
The Ordeal
0
Eve's Love Letters
Eve's Love Letters
6.3
Mrs. Balfame
Mrs. Balfame
0
Sacred Silence
Sacred Silence
1
Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10)
Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10)
0
Go and Get It
Go and Get It
6
Bought and Paid For
Bought and Paid For
0
The Venturers
The Venturers
0
Small Town Girl
Small Town Girl
6.2
A Daughter of Luxury
0
Midnight Taxi
Midnight Taxi
5
Morals for Men
Morals for Men
0
A Little Ouija Work
A Little Ouija Work
0
Forbidden Fruit
Forbidden Fruit
6.1
Detained
Detained
5.5
The Inner Voice
The Inner Voice
0
Life in Hollywood No. 7
Life in Hollywood No. 7
0
Her Market Value
Her Market Value
0
The Marriage Maker
The Marriage Maker
0
Don't Call It Love
Don't Call It Love
0
The Love Special
The Love Special
0
The Awful Truth
The Awful Truth
5
The Heart Raider
The Heart Raider
0
Cappy Ricks
Cappy Ricks
0
The Love Goddesses
The Love Goddesses
6.3
The Furnace
The Furnace
0
Held by the Enemy
Held by the Enemy
0
Maid of Salem
Maid of Salem
5.9
Motherhood
Motherhood
0
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Nuxt Movies
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