Barbara Kent (December 16, 1907 – October 13, 2011) was a Canadian film actress, prominent from the silent film era to the early talkies of the 1920s and 1930s. In 1925, Barbara Kent won the Miss Hollywood Beauty Pageant.
Barbara Kent was born in Gadsby, Alberta, Canada, and grew up in Canada before her family moved to Hollywood, California. After finishing high school, she studied acting and sought opportunities in the film industry, which was thriving in the 1920s.
Kent’s acting career began with silent films in the mid-1920s. She gained attention with her debut in Fascinating Youth (1926), a film showcasing up-and-coming stars. However, it was her role in Flesh and the Devil (1926), starring Greta Garbo and John Gilbert, that truly put her in the spotlight. Kent played a pivotal supporting role, earning praise for her expressive acting style.
Kent is also remembered for her performance in Lonesome (1928), a silent film directed by Paul Fejos. The film, often lauded for its innovative storytelling and visual techniques, became one of her most enduring works. She made a successful transition to sound films in the late 1920s and starred opposite Harold Lloyd in Welcome Danger (1929) and Feet First (1930).
Kent lived a long life away from the public eye, passing away in Palm Desert, California, at the age of 103. Though her career in Hollywood was relatively short, her contributions to early cinema remain significant. Her work in both silent films and the transition to sound films showcased her versatility and ability to captivate audiences during a transformative period in filmmaking.
Barbara Kent is often remembered as one of the last surviving stars of Hollywood’s silent film era. Her legacy endures through restored prints of her films and retrospectives on early Hollywood cinema.
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