Biography
Griffith was born in Texarkana, Texas to John Lewis Griffin and Ambolina (Ambolyn) Ghio. She attended Sacred Heart Convent school in New Orleans and worked as a dancer before she began her acting career. Griffith began her screen career at the Vitagraph Studios in 1916. She later moved to First National, where she became one of their most popular stars. In 1928, she had the starring role in The Garden of Eden. The next year, in 1929, Griffith received an Academy Award nomination for her role in The Divine Lady. Griffith's first sound film, Lilies of the Field, was released in 1930. Griffith's voice did not record well (The New York Times stated that she "talked through her nose"), and the film was a box office flop. After appearing in one more motion picture, the British film Lily Christine in 1932, she retired from acting. She returned to the screen in 1962 in the low-budget melodrama Paradise Alley, which received scant release.
Movies & TV Shows
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The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) — Self
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The Divine Lady (1928) — Lady Emma Hart Hamilton
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The Garden of Eden (1928) — Toni LeBrun
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Black Oxen (1923) — Madame Zatianny / Mary Ogden
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Back Pay (1930) — Kitty (as Vivian Oakland)
- Tonight Starring Jack Paar (1957) — Self
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Paradise Alley (1962) — Mrs. Wilson
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Lilies of the Field (1930) — Mildred Harker
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Déclassé (1925) — Lady Heelen Haden
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Classified (1925) — Babs Comet
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A Virgin's Sacrifice (1922) — Althea Sherrill
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The Cost of High Living (1916) — Jack's Sister
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The Unknown Quantity (1919) — Mary Boyne
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Three Hours (1927) — Madeline Durkin
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Lilies of the Field (1924) — Mildred Harker
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Mademoiselle Modiste (1926) — Fifi
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Saturday's Children (1929) — Bobby Halevy
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The Marriage Whirl (1925) — Marian Hale
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The Lady in Ermine (1927) — Mariana Beltrami
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Prisoners (1929) — Riza Riga
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Lily Christine (1932) — Lily Christine Summerset
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Syncopating Sue (1926) — Susan Adams
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The Common Law (1923) — Valerie West
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The Adventure Shop (1919) — Phyllis Blake
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Infatuation (1925) — Violet Bancroft
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Outcast (1928) — Miriam
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Six Days (1923) — Laline Kingston
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The Broadway Bubble (1920) — Adrienne Landreth / Drina Lynn
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Into Her Kingdom (1926) — Grand Duchess Tatiana
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Moral Fibre (1921) — Marion Wolcott
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Divorce Coupons (1922) — Linda Catherton
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What's Your Reputation Worth? (1921) — Cara Deene
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Love's Wilderness (1924) — Linda Lou Heath
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Single Wives (1924) — Betty Jordan
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Island Wives (1922) — Elsa Melton
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The Tower of Jewels (1919) — Emily Cottrell
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The Whisper Market (1920) — Erminie North
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The Girl Problem (1919) — Erminie Foster
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The Garter Girl (1920) — Rosalie Ray
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Babs (1920) — Barbara Marvin