Harriet Hammond | |
Birth Date: | 20 October 1899 |
Birth Place: | Kansas, US |
Death Place: | Valley Center, California, US |
Yearsactive: | 1918–1930 |
Occupation: | Actress |
Harriet Hammond (October 20, 1899 - September 23, 1991) was an American actress of the silent era. She appeared in more than 40 films between 1918 and 1930.
Hammond, who was appearing in prominent roles in the Mack Sennett comedy features, was born in Kansas but had lived in Los Angeles, since her early childhood and was a graduate of Los Angeles High Schools.
Hammond studied piano and languages at Baylor and planned to become a concert pianist.[1] The strain of six hours a day practice, however, proved too severe, and her health broke down. Starting as one of the Sennett Bathing Beauties she simultaneously developed great power as a comedian, and the Sennett figure. Miss Hammond appeared in "Gee Whiz!" and "By Golly."
She was a blond, had blue eyes and weighed a hundred and fifteen pounds. Miss Hammond was five feet seven inches high, and was a splendid athlete, excelling in water sports.[2]
Hammond was injured by a premature explosion on a film set. The blast blew her against an iron railing, and the injury made her an invalid for two years. She also had a nervous breakdown, but she returned to acting in January 1925.[3] She sued Fox Film Corporation and related Fox companies for $118,500 damages.[4]