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{{Short description|American actress (1905–1977)}}

'''Leila Hyams''' ([[May 1]], [[1905]] – [[December 4]], [[1977]]) was an [[United States|American]] [[film]] [[actor|actress]].

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{{Infobox person

| name = Leila Hyams

| image = Leila Hyams photop829.jpg

| caption = Hyams in 1929

| birthname =

| birth_date = {{birth date|1905|5|1|mf=y}}

| birth_place = New York City, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|1977|12|4|1905|5|1|mf=y}}

| death_place = [[Bel Air, Los Angeles]], U.S.

| spouse = [[Phil Berg (talent agent)|Phil Berg]] (1927–1977, her death)

| mother = [[Leila McIntyre]]

| occupation = Actress

| yearsactive = 1924–1939 (features film), film short (1946)

}}

'''Leila Hyams''' (May 1, 1905 – December 4, 1977) was an American actress who came from a show business family. Her relatively short film career began in 1924 during the era of [[silent film]]s and ended in 1936 (excepting a 1946 [[film short]] appearance). The blonde blue-eyed ingenue and [[leading lady]] appeared in more than 50 film roles and remained a press favourite, with numerous magazine covers.

==Early life==

Born in [[New York, New York]] to [[vaudeville]] comedy performers [[John Hyams]] and [[Leila McIntyre]], Hyams appeared on-stage with her parents while still a child. As a teenager she worked as a [[model (person)|model]] and become well known across the United States after appearing in a successful series of newspaper [[advertising|advertisements]]. This success led her to [[Hollywood, California|Hollywood]]. She made her first film in [[1924]], and with her blonde hair, delicate features, and good natured demeanour, was cast in a string of supporting roles, where she was required to do very little but smile and look pretty. She proved herself capable of handling the small roles she was assigned, and over a period of time she came to be taken seriously as an actress. By [[1928]] she was playing starring roles, achieving success in ''[[Alias Jimmy Valentine]]'' (1928). The following year she appeared in the popular murder mystery ''[[The Thirteenth Chair]]'', a role that offered her the chance to display her dramatic abilities as a murder suspect.

She was born in New York City to [[vaudeville]] comedy performers John Hyams and [[Leila McIntyre]], who performed as the duo "Hyams and McIntyre"<ref name="von">{{cite book|last1=Cullen|first1=Frank|last2=Hackman|first2=Florence|last3=McNeilly|first3=Donald|title=Vaudeville old & new: an encyclopedia of variety performances in America|date=2007|publisher=Psychology Press|isbn=9780415938532|page=545|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XFnfnKg6BcAC&q=%22Leila+Hyams%22&pg=PA545|accessdate=6 March 2017|language=en}}</ref> Her mother was a noted Broadway performer, and both her parents appeared in films. They can be seen together in several Hollywood films, primarily in minor supporting roles or uncredited appearances, including ''[[The Housekeeper's Daughter]]'' (1939).

Hyams appeared on stage with her parents while still a child, working in their vaudeville act for five years, but unable to establish a successful theatre career, she turned to modelling, modelling clothing, cosmetics and dental care.<ref name=nyt/>

As [[Robert Montgomery (actor)|Robert Montgomery]]'s sister in the [[Chester Morris]] prison drama ''[[The Big House]]'' (1930), Hyams once again received positive reviews and the quality of her parts continued to improve.

==Film career==

Although she succeeded in films that required her to play pretty ingenues, and developed into a capable dramatic actress in [[1930s]] crime melodramas, she is perhaps best remembered for two early 1930s [[horror movie|horror movies]], as the wise-cracking but kind hearted circus performer in ''[[Freaks]]'' (1932), and as the heroine in ''[[Island of Lost Souls]]'' (1933).

By 1928, Hyams was playing starring roles, achieving success in [[MGM]]'s first [[talkie]] release, ''[[Alias Jimmy Valentine (1928 film)|Alias Jimmy Valentine]]'' (1928) opposite [[William Haines]], [[Lionel Barrymore]], and [[Karl Dane]]. The following year, she appeared in the popular murder mystery ''[[The Thirteenth Chair (1929 film)|The Thirteenth Chair]]'', a role that offered her the chance to display her dramatic abilities as a murder suspect. At [[Fox Film Corporation|Fox]] that same year, she appeared in director [[Allan Dwan|Allan Dwan's ]] now [[lost film|lost]] romantic adventure ''[[The Far Call]]'' opposite [[Charles Morton (actor)|Charles Morton]].She had a role as [[Robert Montgomery (actor)|Robert Montgomery]]'s sister in the prison drama ''[[The Big House (1930 film)|The Big House]]'' (1930) with [[Chester Morris]] and [[Wallace Beery]]. She then appeared in ''[[Surrender (1931 film)|Surrender]]'' (1931) in which [[Warner Baxter]] and [[Ralph Bellamy]] desperately competed for her attention.

She also appeared in the controversial [[Jean Harlow]] film ''[[Red-Headed Woman]]'' (1932), the musical comedy ''[[The Big Broadcast]]'' (1932) with [[Bing Crosby]], [[George Burns]] and [[Gracie Allen]], and was widely praised for her comedic performance in ''[[Ruggles of Red Gap]]'' (1935).

Hyams acted in two early 1930s horror movies, as the wise-cracking but kind-hearted circus performer Venus in ''[[Freaks (1932 film)|Freaks]]'' (1932) and as the heroine in the [[Charles Laughton]]/[[Bela Lugosi]] film ''[[Island of Lost Souls (1932 film)|Island of Lost Souls]]'' (1932). She also appeared in the then-controversial [[Jean Harlow]] film ''[[Red-Headed Woman]]'' (1932) and the musical comedy ''[[The Big Broadcast]]'' (1932) with [[Bing Crosby]], [[George Burns]], and [[Gracie Allen]].

After ten years and fifty films, Hyams retired from acting in [[1936]], but remained part of the Hollywood community for the rest of her life. She was married to the agent [[Phil Berg]] from [[1927]] until her death in [[Bel Air, California]].

==TriviaPersonal life==

[[File:Wallace Ford and Leila Hyams in Freaks (2).jpg|thumb|right|Leila Hyams as Venus with [[Wallace Ford]] as Phroso the Clown in ''Freaks'' (1932)]]

Hyams was the original choice to play Jane in [[Tarzan the Ape Man]] (1932), but turned it down. The role was ultimately played in several [[Tarzan]] films by [[Maureen O'Sullivan]].

[[File:Wallace Ford, Johnny Eck, and Leila Hyams in Freaks.jpg|thumb|right|Wallace Ford, [[Johnny Eck]] and Hyams in ''Freaks'' (1932)]]

[[File:Hyams-Leila 1932.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Hyams in 1932]]

[[File:Leila-Hyams 1932.jpg|right|upright|thumb|Hyams in 1932]]

[[File:Hyams Dix Yellow Dust CM36.jpg|thumb|170px|right|Hyams with co-star [[Richard Dix]] in ''[[Yellow Dust (film)|Yellow Dust]]'' (1936), Hyams' last film.]]

Hyams married her Hollywood talent agent, [[Phil Berg (talent agent)|Phil Berg]], in 1927.<ref name=nyt/> In 1936, after a 12-year acting career and performing in 50 films, she retired from the motion-picture industry; nevertheless, she remained active in the Hollywood community for the rest of her life. In 1977, after a brief illness, Hyams died at age 72 at her home in [[Bel Air, Los Angeles|Bel-Air]] in Los Angeles. She was survived by her husband, Phil.<ref name="nyt">{{cite news|title=Leila Hyams, 72, 'Golden Girl' Of Movies in 20's and 30's, Dies|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/12/09/archives/leila-hyams-72-golden-girl-of-movies-in-20s-and-30s-dies.html|accessdate=16 March 2018|work=The New York Times|date=December 9, 1977|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315235537/https://www.nytimes.com/1977/12/09/archives/leila-hyams-72-golden-girl-of-movies-in-20s-and-30s-dies.html|archivedate=15 March 2018|___location=New York, New York City}}</ref>

==Complete filmography==

[[Category:1905 births|Hyams, Leila]]

{| class="wikitable sortable"

[[Category:1977 deaths|Hyams, Leila]]

|-

[[Category:American actors|Hyams, Leila]]

! Year

[[Category:Cinema actors|Hyams, Leila]]

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable" | Notes

|-

| 1924 || ''[[Sandra (1924 film)|Sandra]]'' || Mait Stanley || '''Lost''' film

|-

| rowspan=3 | 1926 || ''[[Dancing Mothers]]'' || Birdie Courtney ||

|-

| ''The Kick-Off'' || Marilyn Spencer ||

|-

| ''[[Summer Bachelors]]'' || Willowdean French ||

|-

| rowspan=5 | 1927 || ''[[The Brute (1927 film)|The Brute]]'' || Jennifer Duan || '''Lost''' film

|-

| ''[[White Pants Willie]]'' || Helen Charters || '''Lost''' film

|-

| ''[[The Bush Leaguer]]'' || Alice Hobbs || '''Lost''' film

|-

| ''[[One-Round Hogan]]'' || Helen Davis || '''Lost''' film

|-

| ''[[The Wizard (1927 film)|The Wizard]]'' || Anne Webster || '''Lost''' film

|-

| rowspan=6 | 1928 || ''[[The Branded Sombrero]]'' || Connie Marsh || '''Lost''' film

|-

| ''[[A Girl in Every Port (1928 film)|A Girl in Every Port]]'' || Widow in San Pedro, Belize ||

|-

| ''[[The Crimson City]]'' || Nadine Howells ||

|-

| ''[[Honor Bound (1928 film)|Honor Bound]]'' || Selma Ritchie || '''Lost''' film

|-

| ''[[Land of the Silver Fox]]'' || Marie du Fronque ||

|-

| ''[[Alias Jimmy Valentine (1928 film)|Alias Jimmy Valentine]]'' || Rose || '''Lost''' film

|-

| rowspan=7 | 1929 || ''[[Spite Marriage]]'' || Ethyl Norcrosse ||

|-

| ''[[The Far Call]]'' || Hilda Larsen || '''Lost''' film

|-

| ''[[The Idle Rich (1929 film)|The Idle Rich]]'' || Joan Thayer aka Joan Van Luyn ||

|-

| ''[[Wonder of Women]]'' || Karen || '''Lost''' film

|-

| ''[[Masquerade (1929 film)|Masquerade]]'' || Sylvia Graeme ||

|-

| ''[[Hurricane (1929 film)|Hurricane]]'' || Mary Stevens ||

|-

| ''[[The Thirteenth Chair (1929 film)|The Thirteenth Chair]]'' || Helen O'Neill ||

|-

| rowspan=9 | 1930 || ''[[The Bishop Murder Case (film)|The Bishop Murder Case]]'' || Belle Dillard ||

|-

| ''[[The Girl Said No (1930 film)|The Girl Said No]]'' || Mary Howe ||

|-

| ''[[The Flirting Widow]]'' || Evelyn ||

|-

| ''[[The Big House (1930 film)|The Big House]]'' || Anne Marlowe ||

|-

| ''[[Sweethearts and Wives]]'' || Angela Worthington ||

|-

| ''[[The Sins of the Children]]'' || Alma Wagenkampf ||

|-

| ''[[Way Out West (1930 film)|Way Out West]]'' || Molly Rankin ||

|-

| ''[[Way for a Sailor]]'' || Joan ||

|-

| ''[[Part Time Wife]]'' || Mrs. Murdock ||

|-

| rowspan=7 | 1931 || ''[[Gentleman's Fate]]'' || Marjorie Channing ||

|-

| ''[[Men Call It Love]]'' || Connie ||

|-

| ''[[Stepping Out (1931 film)|Stepping Out]]'' || Eve Martin ||

|-

| ''[[The Phantom of Paris]]'' || Cecile Bourrelier ||

|-

| ''[[New Adventures of Get Rich Quick Wallingford]]'' || Dorothy ||

|-

| ''[[Surrender (1931 film)|Surrender]]'' || Axelle von Meirbach ||

|-

| ''The Christmas Party'' || Herself || Short subject <br /> Uncredited

|-

| rowspan=4 | 1932 || ''[[Freaks (1932 film)|Freaks]]'' || Venus ||

|-

| ''[[Red-Headed Woman]]'' || Irene Legendre ||

|-

| ''[[The Big Broadcast]]'' || Anita Rogers ||

|-

| ''[[Island of Lost Souls (1932 film)|Island of Lost Souls]]'' || Ruth Thomas ||

|-

| rowspan=4 |1933 || ''[[The Constant Woman]]'' || Lou ||

|-

| ''[[Horse Play]]'' || Angelica Wayne ||

|-

| ''[[Sing Sinner Sing]]'' || Lela Larson ||

|-

| ''[[Saturday's Millions]]'' || Joan Chandler ||

|-

| rowspan=3 | 1934 || ''[[The Poor Rich]]'' || Grace Hunter ||

|-

| ''[[Affairs of a Gentleman]]'' || Gladys Durland ||

|-

| ''[[No Ransom]]'' || Barbara Winfield ||

|-

| rowspan=3 | 1935 || ''[[Ruggles of Red Gap]]'' || Nell Kenner ||

|-

| ''[[People Will Talk (1935 film)|People Will Talk]]'' || Peggy Trask ||

|-

| ''[[1,000 Dollars a Minute]]'' || Dorothy Summers ||

|-

| 1936 || ''[[Yellow Dust (film)|Yellow Dust]]'' || Nellie Bryan ||

|-

| 1943 || ''First Aid'' || Red Cross Worker || Short subject

|}

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==External links==

{{Portal|Biography}}

{{commons category}}

*{{YouTube|astTQs-kk-0|Clip of Leila Hyams}}

*[http://film.virtual-history.com/person.php?personid=700 Leila Hyams at Virtual History]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hyams, Leila}}

[[Category:1905 births]]

[[Category:1977 deaths]]

[[Category:American film actresses]]

[[Category:American silent film actresses]]

[[Category:Actresses from New York City]]

[[Category:Actresses from Greater Los Angeles]]

[[Category:20th-century American actresses]]

[[Category:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract players]]