100th BIRTHDAY

Eunice Elenor Woodruff

By Allan R. Ellenberger

Today would be the 100^th birthday of Eunice Woodruff – not a name that is well-known or remembered. There are no photographs or extensive biographies that are known to exist of her. Eunice was a child actress in silent films and was born on December 12, 1910 (not on November 10 as is listed on imdb.com) the oldest of four children of George and Florence Woodruff and as far as we know, the only actress in the family.

George made his living as a landscape artist and Florence owned a used clothing store. From what is known about Eunice, she got her start with D. W. Griffith in what was probably a small uncredited role in Intolerance (1916). That led to parts in Ashes (1916) with Corinne Griffith and in Virtuous Sinners (1919) which is best known as featuring the not-yet famous Rudolph Valentino in a bit part. Other films included Street Wolf and appearances in two Dorothy Dalton films. Her last appearance was in the Arline Pretty starring film, Crossed Currents (1921).

At some point in early 1921, Eunice was stricken with an undisclosed illness and died on July 12, 1921 at her home at 1331 Fleming Street in Hollywood, near the corner where Sunset and Fountain intersect. She was ten years old. The imdb states that Eunice died in Pomona, California which is incorrect. The confusion probably comes from the fact that Fleming Street no longer exists in Hollywood, however, there is a street by that name in Pomona. At some point before 1930, those few blocks of Fleming Street north of Sunset, were renamed Hoover.

Eunice’s funeral was held at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament in Hollywood; burial was in Hollywood Cemetery. Eunice was survived by her parents and her siblings, Dolores, 8; Maurice, 5 and Thelma, 3.

 Eunice’s mother Florence is the only family member buried near her

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