Maude Fealy, a renowned actress and dramatic teacher, was born on March 3, 1881, in Memphis, Tennessee, to actress Margaret Fealy. She made her acting debut at just three years old in her mother's production of "Faust". Over the next few years, Maude became quite successful, appearing in productions across the United States and Canada.
In 1901, she toured England and was rumored to be engaged to actor William Gillette, but she denied the story and there was never a marriage. Four years later, she married a young Englishman, Louis Sherwin, a drama critic for a Denver newspaper. However, her parents strongly opposed the marriage and took every opportunity to break it up. They eventually succeeded, and the couple divorced in 1909.
Maude later married actor James Durkin, who was more acceptable to her parents. The couple formed the Fealy-Durkin Stock Co., a traveling acting troupe. She agreed to make films with the Thanhouser Co. in 1911, appearing in a few films between her stage work. In 1913, she signed a three-year contract with the studio, starring in films such as "Moths" and "The Legend of Provence".
Her husband, James Durkin, was hired by Thanhouser as a director, but both left the company in 1914, before her contract ended, and returned to the stage. In 1916, she appeared in "The Immortal Flame" for low-budget Ivan Films. Later that year, she signed with Jesse Lasky Picture Co., staying with them for a year before returning to the stage.
Maude started her own stock company in Denver, Colorado, and toured the US in various productions well into the 1920s. In the 1930s, she returned to Hollywood and resumed her friendship with director Cecil B. DeMille, who gave her parts in many of his films. She stayed in Hollywood until the early 1940s, when she returned to Denver and began an acting school.
Later, she returned to Hollywood and opened an acting school there, with Nanette Fabray being one of her students. She still made occasional appearances in films, mainly those of her friend DeMille, including "The Ten Commandments" in 1956. Maude finally retired in 1957 and moved back to Denver, but continued to keep her hand in the theater, appearing in the occasional play and lecturing at a local college.
Maude Fealy passed away on November 8, 1971, at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California, due to arteriosclerosis. Her funeral and burial expenses were paid by her longtime friend, Cecil B. De Mille.
