Martha Mattox (June 19, 1879 – May 2, 1933) was an American silent film actress most notable for her portrayal of Mammy Pleasant in the 1927 film The Cat and the Canary. She also played a role in Torrent (1926). She died from a heart ailment at age 53.
Biography
Born in Natchez, Mississippi, Mattox attended East Mississippi College, where she studied dramatic art.[1] A 1923 article in the Calgary Herald newspaper described her as "a full-blooded Creole", of Spanish descent on her father's side and French on her mother's.[2]
Her initial acting was on stage,[1] including performances with the Marion Leonard Company.[2] After working on stage, she began performing in films, initially in Westerns and action films and later in melodramas and comedies.[1] Her film debut came in 1915, and she played a variety of roles in the silent-film era.[3]
Activities in Mattox's personal life included donating prizes and selecting winners in the Better Baby Exposition.[4]
On May 2, 1933, Mattox died of heart disease in Sidney, New York, at age 53.[1]
