Mildred Kornman
Born
Mildred Gene Kornman

(1925-07-10)July 10, 1925
Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
DiedAugust 19, 2022(2022-08-19) (aged 97)
Occupations
  • Actress
  • model
  • businesswoman
  • photographer
Years active1926–1962
SpouseNorton Hinsey (1943–?)
Websitewww.mildredkornman.com

Mildred Gene Kornman[1] (July 10, 1925 – August 19, 2022), also billed as Ricki VanDusen, was an American actress, model, businesswoman, and photographer. At the time of her death, she was one of the last living actresses of the silent era.

Life and career

Kornman was born in Hollywood on July 10, 1925.[2][3] She was the younger sister of fellow child actress Mary Kornman.[4] Her father was Eugene Kornman, a professional still photographer who was employed by Harold Lloyd at the time of Kornman's birth. She was named after Lloyd's wife, actress Mildred Davis.[1]

When Kornman was nine months old, she appeared with her sister Mary in The Fourth Alarm.[4] Along with Mary, she was featured in the Our Gang short films series. Mildred was initially a regular in the series, with appearances from 1926 to 1928, and returned for a second stint from 1930 until 1935, in uncredited, non-speaking roles when many children were needed for a scene, such as a classroom.

After graduating Hollywood High School, Kornman became an actress at 20th Century Fox, albeit only in uncredited roles, under the name Ricki VanDusen.[5] She was also a model, featuring in magazines such as Vogue and Harpers Bazaar, and in television commercials. She majored in art, English, and Spanish at the University of California, Los Angeles.[6] Kornman married Norton Hinsey on December 30, 1943.[7]

In 2014, Kornman attended a reunion of My Gang cast members, hosted by The Sons of the Desert as part of their 19th International Convention.[8] In 2015, aged 89, she was living on a remote ranch in Utah.[9] Kornman was one of the final surviving actors from the Our Gang series, which was produced from 1922 to 1944.[10] Kornman died on August 19, 2022, at the age of 97. She was one of the longest lived Our Gang cast members ever.[11][12][13]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1926Thundering FleasMildredShort film
1926The Fourth AlarmMildredShort film
1926War FeathersMildredShort film
1926The Nickel-HopperShort film
1927Bring Home the TurkeyMildredShort film
1927Ten Years OldMildredShort film
1927Love My DogLittle Girl on the Building LedgeShort film
1927Baby BrotherJackie's SisterShort film
1927Olympic GamesMildredShort film
1927Heebee JeebeesMildredShort film

Lost film

1928Dog HeavenMildredShort film
1928Playin' HookeybabyShort film
1928Spook-SpoofingMildredShort film
1928Rainy DaysMildredShort film
1928The Smile WinsMildredShort film
1928Edison, Marconi & Co.MildredShort film

Lost film

1928Barnum & Ringling, Inc.MildredShort film
1928Fair and MuddyMildredShort film
1930Teacher's PetstudentShort film
1930School's OutstudentShort film
1932Birthday BluesGirl at PartyShort film
1933Fish HookyStudentShort film
1935Little SinnerShort film
1936Our Gang Follies of 1936Short film
1937Hoosier Schoolboy(uncredited)
1938Mr. Boggs Steps Out(uncredited)
1938Mad About MusicSchoolgirl
1944Up in Arms(Goldwyn Girl) (uncredited)
1944Atlantic CityWoman at Racetrack (uncredited)
1945Diamond HorseshoeChorine (uncredited)
1945The Dolly SistersLady in Booking Office (uncredited)
1946Cinderella JonesJunior League Member (uncredited)
1947I Wonder Who's Kissing Her NowChorine (uncredited)
1947T-MenGirl on Plane (uncredited)
1953Abbott and Costello Go to MarsGirl (uncredited)
1962The InternsModel (uncredited)

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Mildred Davis Has Namesake". The Los Angeles Times. California, Los Angeles. July 20, 1925. p. 28. Retrieved August 4, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ↑ "New Generation". The Tampa Tribune. Florida, Tampa. April 22, 1928. p. 38. Retrieved August 4, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Welcome To The Official Mildred Kornman aka Ricki VanDusen Website". Ricki VanDusen! ~ One Of The First Super Models!. Archived from the original on April 17, 2022. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  4. 1 2 "'The Fourth Alarm' at the California". The Californian. California, Salinas. December 23, 1926. p. 4. Retrieved August 4, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ Maltin, Leonard; Bann, Richard W. (1992). The Little Rascals: The Life and Times of Our Gang. Crown. p. 249. ISBN 9780517583258.
  6. ↑ Hopper, Hedda (October 3, 1943). "Blond, Dark And Red – 1943 Goldwyn Girls". The Baltimore Sun. Maryland, Baltimore. p. Section 1–4. Retrieved August 4, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Chapel Ceremony Unites Charming Mildred Kornman and Lieut. Norton Hinesy". North Hollywood Valley Times. January 3, 1944. p. 4. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  8. ↑ Lee, Julia (2015). Our Gang: A Racial History of The Little Rascals. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press. ISBN 9781452949789.
  9. ↑ Lamont, Tom (May 23, 2015). "'I spent most of my life as a nobody': the last of the silent movie stars". The Guardian. Archived from the original on May 31, 2015. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
  10. ↑ Rubin, Rebecca (July 27, 2017). "Leonard Landy, 'Our Gang' Actor, Dies at 84". Variety. Archived from the original on April 17, 2022. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
  11. ↑ "'Our Gang' Actress, '40s Fashion Model Mildred Kornman Dies at 97". Extra TV. August 21, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  12. ↑ Mildred Kornman
  13. ↑ "Mildred Kornman, child actor of the silent film era who later modelled for Vogue – obituary". The Telegraph. September 19, 2022. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.