Natalie Talmadge

Biography

Natalie Talmadge was the middle daughter of the original "stage mother", Margaret Talmadge (Peg). Her two sisters, Constance Talmadge (the comedienne) and Norma Talmadge (the tragedian) were also in the movies, and had their own production companies, bankrolled by Norma's husband in the 1920s, Joseph M. Schenck. Natalie married Buster Keaton in 1921. She only played one further role, "Virginia Canfield" in Keaton's Our Hospitality (1923). She had worked for Comique as a script girl/secretary for Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle in 1917, and traveled west with the troupe when Schenck found new premises for "Roscoe" in California. She spent a lot of time signing autographs on behalf of her popular sister, Constance. Anita Loos, author of "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes", wrote a book called "The Talmadge Girls", which is mainly about Constance and Norma; Loos based the philosophy of "Lorelei Lee" on the philosophy of Peg Talmadge ("Get the money, and then get comfortable"). Natalie ended her days after her divorce from Keaton in a house in Santa Monica, a confirmed alcoholic. Apart from "Our Hospitality", she appeared in supporting roles in several of her sister Norma's films (now believed to be lost).

Known For

Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages

as Favorite of the Harem (uncredited)

Our Hospitality

as Virginia Canfield

The Haunted House

as Fainting Female Bank Customer (uncredited)

The Balloonatic

as Woman on sidewalk

His Wedding Night

as Pretty Lady in car (uncredited)

The Love Expert

as Dorcas Winthrop

Yes or No

as Emma Martin

A Country Hero

as Bit Part (uncredited)

The Isle of Conquest

as Janis Harmon

The Passion Flower

as Milagros