Florence Deshon

Biography

Daughter of Samuel and Florence C. Danks, Florence Deshon's heritage blended Austrian and English roots. Her early career blossomed on the stage, where she shared the boards with Mary Boland in 'My Lady's Dress' and showcased her comedic talent in 'Seven Chances'. Her transition to the silver screen began in 1915 with her debut in Edward Jose's Pathe production, 'The Beloved Vagabond'. Over a prolific period, Deshon captivated audiences in two dozen silent melodramas and crime thrillers. Among her extensive filmography, Paul Scardon's 1918 Vitagraph production, 'The Desired Woman', co-starring Harry T. Morey, stands as perhaps her most memorable work. Her final cinematic bow came as Sally McTurk in John Francis Dillon's 'The Roof Tree' (1921), alongside William Russell for Fox Film Co. Hoping to reignite her screen career, Deshon relocated to the vibrant artistic community of Greenwich Village, New York. Tragedy, however, intervened. On February 4th, she was discovered unconscious on the third floor of her apartment building. The scene was perplexing: a bedroom window lay open, yet the air was heavy with the scent of illuminating gas emanating from an open jet. Newspaperwoman Minnie Morris made the somber discovery. Despite being rushed to the hospital by ambulance, all attempts to revive her proved futile. She passed away the following afternoon. Her death was immediately clouded in mystery. Given that her apartment was specifically wired for electricity, the question arose as to why she would have relied on a lone gas jet and subsequently failed to turn it off. While initial speculation suggested an accidental death, with no apparent motive for suicide, the New York Medical Examiner officially corroborated this view. Yet, persistent whispers of suicide, potentially spurred by grief, continued to linger.