Mabel Taliaferro

Who was Mabel Taliaferro?

Mabel "Nell" Taliaferro was an American stage, and a silent screen actress, known as the Sweetheart of American Movies. Taliaferro was descended on her father's side from one of the early families who settled in Virginia in the 17th century, the Taliaferros, whose roots are in northern Italy.

Born as Maybelle Evelyn Taliaferro in New York City and raised in Richmond, Virginia, in 1912 her career began with the Selig Studios film version of Cinderella co-starring her then husband Thomas Carrigan. She continued performing in films through her retirement in 1921. In 1940, she appeared in her final picture, My Love Came Back. Taliaferro was a sister of film and stage actress Edith Taliaferro and the cousin of actress Bessie Barriscale. Her first husband was amusement park designer and manager Frederic Thompson.