Ethel Shannon

Biography

Ethel May Shannon's parents divorced when she was a child and her mother Agnes got a job as a housekeeper. After high school she moved to Los Angeles, California. A friend suggested that they should start working as film extras. In 1919 the lovely redhead co-starred with Bert Lytell in the comedy "Easy To Make Money," then was cast as Hoot Gibson's leading lady in the western "Roarin' Dan." Ethel was signed by producer B.P. Shulberg who gave her a starring role in the drama Maytime. She was also chosen to be one of the 1923 Wampas Baby Stars along with Evelyn Brent and Pauline Garon. On August 9, 1923 she married Robert Cary, a broker.; they split up two years later. Her success continued with the films "Lightning Romance", "Stop Flirting", and "The Phantom Express." Ethel married screenwriter Joseph Jackson in 1927. The following year their son Joseph Jr was born, and soon after, she decided to quit acting and become a full-time homemaker. Tragedy struck in May of 1932 when her husband Joseph drowned while swimming at Laguna Beach. Devastated by his death and began drinking heavily. In 1934 she announced her engagement to Louis Grau, secretary to the Cuban consulate, but they broke up soon after. Ethel returned to acting with a small role in the 1935 film Backfire. She spent the next decade out of the spotlight while she raised her son. Sadly she also continued to struggle with alcoholism. On July 10, 1951 she died from a pulmonary edema caused by cirrhosis of the liver. Ethel was only 53 years old. She was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.