Laura La Plante, Silent Screen Star, Dies at 91
By The Associated Press
October 16, 1996 | Los Angeles
Laura La Plante, a silent screen star who made the transition from silent screams to audible sobs and songs, died on Monday at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, Calif. She was 91.
Miss La Plante, who was considered the Doris Day of her era because of her girl-next-door persona in an age of glamour queens, died of complications from pneumonia, said a spokeswoman for the hospital.
Miss La Plante was 15 years old when she entered films as a Christie Comedy Bathing Beauty. By 1921, she had played a number of roles, including a Tom Mix Western, "The Texan." In 1922, she played the title role in the first "Penrod" film.
She later appeared in such films as "The Cat and the Canary" (1927), "Show People" (1928) and "The Canary Murder Case" (1929).
With the advent of sound, Miss La Plante continued her career, appearing in such films as "The Broadway Melody" (1929), "The Girl Said No" (1930) and "Caught" (1931).
She retired from films in 1934 to marry John Gilbert, the silent film star. They divorced in 1936.
Miss La Plante is survived by a daughter, Leslie Gilbert-Lurie, and a granddaughter.
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