Madge Kirby

American actress, who immigrated to the United States of America in 1894. According to the 1920 Census, it would appear that she was widowed at this point. At the age of 20 year-old she unexpectedly married her 30 year-old very successful stage manager, Maurice B. Kirby (1875-1911). He came from a prominent, wealthy family and graduated college as a star football player who went into journalism, playwriting, and stage production. Their whirlwind marriage, after a substantial engagement, surprised everyone and was described by newspapers like something out of a Mack Sennett comedy. Their only child, Audrey, was born in 1908 (d.2002). In March of 1911, Maurice was mugged at a subway entrance and fell down a flight of stairs sustaining severe injuries and died in a hospital a few days later without gaining consciousness nor telling what had happened. Early reports were that the 35 year-old former football star had tripped and fell down the subway stairs. There were no witnesses. After a period of mourning, Madge made a very successful stage comeback and moved with her daughter to CA and began her successful stage and film career. About 1923, she married Edward F. Leuscher (1893-1952) who was a divorced, prominent wealthy rancher in Fresno, CA. In the 1930's & '40's he received State and Federal appointments to agricultural commissions. In 1927, by some miracle, daughter Audrey survived a horrific head-on automobile collision, as a passenger, virtually unscathed! Between 1942 & '47, Madge and Edward were divorced. He remarried and died in 1952 as a potato farmer. Madge didn't remarry before her death four years later. Entry in "Who's Who on the Screen?" (1920) mentions her height as 5'4", weight 125 lbs, black hair and eyes (though she typically wears a blond wig). It also states that she came to America at 9 and went onstage at age 14, working with L&H Person co-star Richard Carle , as well as Lew Fields and Fred Walton.