Claire Du Brey: Movies & Box Office

Claire Du Brey, born Clara Violet Dubreyvich on August 31, 1892 in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, was an American actress whose career spanned the silent and early sound eras of Hollywood, making her a noteworthy figure in early twentieth‑century cinema. She grew up in a Catholic household, attended a convent school, and even trained as a nurse before embarking on her film career, a fact that later colored rumors about her relationship with fellow actress Marie Dressler. In 1897 she traveled west from Idaho in a covered wagon with her mother and grandfather, an adventurous journey that foreshadowed her later willingness to take on a wide variety of roles. Du Brey began working for Universal Studios in 1916 and quickly became a prolific performer, appearing in more than two hundred films between 1916 and 1959, with notable silent‑era titles such as Anything Once (1917), Social Briors (1918), The Devil's Trail (1919), and Dangerous Hours (1919). She was also recognized for her athletic abilities, excelling in swimming, riding, golf, tennis and motoring, and she cultivated an interest in horticulture that she pursued throughout her life. As the industry transitioned to sound, Du Brey's on‑screen opportunities dwindled, leading her to work as an agent in the 1930s, representing talents like Mary Carlisle, Richard Cromwell, and Kitty Kelly, while collaborating with former star Anna Q. Nilsson. Contemporary biographies suggest she shared a long‑term romantic relationship with Marie Dressler, although some sources describe her simply as Dressler’s caregiver during the latter’s final illness. Du Brey married Los Angeles medical doctor Norman Gates on November 25, 1911; the marriage ended in divorce in the 1920s. She lived to the remarkable age of 100, passing away in Los Angeles on August 1, 1993, leaving behind a legacy of versatility and endurance in a rapidly evolving film industry.