Blanche L. Friderici (January 21, 1878 – December 23, 1933) was an American film and stage actress, sometimes credited as Blanche Frederici.

Early years

Friderici was a native of Brooklyn, New York. Her parents were William E. Friderici and Rosetta Elizabeth Freeman Friderici.

Career

Friderici did not aspire to be an actress, but rather an acting and elocution teacher. However, her eyesight began to fail, deteriorating to the point she could no longer read, so she turned from teaching acting to actually acting. An admirer of her recitals introduced her to impresario David Belasco, who cast her in The Darling of the Gods. Between 1914 and 1927, Friderici appeared in nine Broadway theatre productions in New York City, including a production of 39 East (1919) and as Mrs. Davidson in the play Rain. Friderici appeared in sixty films from 1920 to 1934. Her début was as Miss McMasters in the film adaptation of 39 East (1920). In Night Nurse (1931), which starred Barbara Stanwyck and Clark Gable, she played a housekeeper too frightened to protect two children from a murder attempt. She portrayed a chaperone in Flying Down to Rio (1933). Her last film role was as a motel owner's wife in It Happened One Night (1934).

Personal life

Friderici married Donald Campbell in 1925.

Death

On December 24, 1933, was on her way by automobile to attend a Christmas service at General Grant National Park with her stage manager husband, Donald Campbell; she died of a heart attack just after they reached Visalia, California. She was 55.

Complete filmography