When Mickey Rooney died, I wrote an obituary which pointed out that, after Mr. Rooney, just a few people were left who had acted in silent movies.
One of those few is now gone.
Carla Laemmle, aged 104, whose uncle, Carl Laemmle, founded Universal Studios and who was in both the silent version of Phantom of the Opera (1925) and the talking version of Dracula (1931) – in which she spoke the first line of the movie – has died of natural causes in Los Angeles.
This leaves only Jean Darling (92 years old), Peggy Jean Montgomery – better known as “Baby Peggy” (96) and two-time academy award winner Luise Rainer who is 104.
May Carla Laemmle rest in peace – and may Ms. Darling, Ms. Montgomery and Ms. Rainer continue to enjoy life to the fullest.
