Louise Lorraine's diminutive stature and delicate features might have appeared to be an unconventional combination for a serial heroine, yet she starred in an astonishing eleven physically demanding, action-packed cliffhangers, demonstrating a remarkable amount of spirit, often surpassing that of her peers in the genre.
Louise's introduction to the film industry began with an unexpected encounter, when a photography salesman knocked on the door of the suburban Los Angeles home she shared with her widowed mother and five siblings. The 13-year-old Lorraine answered the door, and the salesman was so taken by her appearance and demeanor that he advised her mother she would be well-suited for a career in the movies, mentioning a contact at the Ince Studio who could facilitate her entry.
Initially, Louise's mother refused to permit her daughter to pursue a career in the film industry, but eventually relented. Louise began by appearing in two-reel comedies for independent studios, subsequently alternating between Universal, MGM, and Warner Bros. She ultimately left the screen after making her second sound film in 1930, reportedly to dedicate herself to her second husband and two children.
Tragically, Louise Lorraine passed away in 1981.
