Born 1906 in Richmond, Virginia, American actress Olive Borden began her career during the silent film era. She was nicknamed “the Joy Girl”, after playing the lead in the 1927 film of that same title. She was known for her jet-black hair and stunning overall beauty.
At the peak of her career in the mid-1920s, Borden was earning $1,500 a week. In 1927, she walked out on her contract with Fox after refusing to take a pay cut. By 1929, her career began to wane due to her rumored reputation for being temperamental and her difficulty transitioning to sound films. She made her last film, Chloe, Love Is Calling You, in 1934 and moved on to stage work for a time.
By the late 1930s, Borden had declared bankruptcy and stopped acting. During World War II, she joined the Women’s Army Corps. She was later honorably discharged with distinction after sustaining a foot injury during service. She attempted a comeback in films, however, she was hindered by her alcoholism and health problems.
In 1945, Borden began working at the Sunshine Mission, a home for impoverished women located in the skidrow section of Los Angeles. She died there in 1947 of a stomach ailment and pneumonia at the age of 41. Take a look at these beautiful photos to see portraits of Olive Borden in the 1920s and 1930s.
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