Mildred Kornman obit

'Our Gang' Actress, '40s Fashion Model Mildred Kornman Dies at 97

 

She was not on the list.

Mildred Kornman, one of the last people known to have appeared in Silent Era silent movies, died August 19 at 97, according to longtime friend Robert Satterfield.

Kornman had been the last woman and the third-to-last person left alive from the silents, having appeared in over 20 "Our Gang" comedy shorts from 1926-1935, her career bridging the Silent and Sound Eras.

The only two people still alive who are thought to have appeared in a silent film are Garry Watson (who was an infant) and Donnie "Beezer" Smith.

Post-"Our Gang," Kornman appeared in a dozen features, always uncredited, from 1937-1962, was a rare surviving actor who had worked with Laurel and Hardy, and in the '40s became an in-demand high-fashion model under the moniker Ricki VanDusen, gracing the covers of Bazaar and Vogue and posing for the likes of Irving Penn.

Kornman had made many appearances at fan conventions over the years, where she was a favorite. "Everything, when it gets older, becomes more popular," she opined in a 2015 interview with The Guardian.

Born July 10, 1925, Kornman was the younger sister of Mary Kornman, an "Our Gang" star. They were the daughters of still photographer Eugene Kornman, who worked for Silent superstar Harold Lloyd.

She made her screen debut at the age of 1 month in "The Thundering Fleas" (1926), nearly 100 years before her passing, but grabbed more attention as an "Our Gang" regular from 1926-1928. Her other credits in the series, from 1930 on, were for extra work.

After her acting and modeling careers were over, Kornman took up her father's profession of photography.

Kornman was born in Hollywood on July 10, 1925. She was the younger sister of fellow child actress Mary Kornman. Her father was Eugene Kornman, a professional still photographer who was employed by Harold Lloyd at the time of Kornman's birth. She was named after Lloyd's wife, actress Mildred Davis.

When Kornman was nine months old, she appeared with her sister Mary in The Fourth Alarm. Along with Mary, she was featured in the Our Gang short films series. Mildred was initially a regular in the series, with appearances from 1926 to 1928, and returned for a second stint from 1930 until 1935, in uncredited, non-speaking roles when many children were needed for a scene, such as a classroom.

After graduating Hollywood High School, Kornman became an actress at 20th Century Fox, albeit only in uncredited roles, under the name Ricki VanDusen. She was also a model, featuring in magazines such as Vogue and Harpers Bazaar, and in television commercials. She majored in art, English, and Spanish at the University of California, Los Angeles. Kornman married Norton Hinsey on December 30, 1943.

In 2014, Kornman attended a reunion of My Gang cast members, hosted by The Sons of the Desert as part of their 19th International Convention. In 2015, aged 89, she was living on a remote ranch in Utah. Kornman was one of the final surviving actors from the Our Gang series, which was produced from 1922 to 1944.

Filmography

Year       Title       Role       Notes

1926      Thundering Fleas              Mildred                Short film

1926      The Fourth Alarm             Mildred                Short film

1926      War Feathers     Mildred                Short film

1926      The Nickel-Hopper                          Short film

1927      Bring Home the Turkey Mildred                Short film

1927      Ten Years Old     Mildred                Short film

1927      Love My Dog      Little Girl on the Building Ledge Short film

1927      Baby Brother      Jackie's Sister     Short film

1927      Olympic Games                 Mildred                Short film

1927      Heebee Jeebees               Mildred                Short film

Lost film

1928      Dog Heaven        Mildred                Short film

1928      Playin' Hookey   baby      Short film

1928      Spook-Spoofing                Mildred                Short film

1928      Rainy Days          Mildred                Short film

1928      The Smile Wins Mildred                Short film

1928      Edison, Marconi & Co.    Mildred                Short film

 

Lost film

1928      Barnum & Ringling, Inc. Mildred                Short film

1928      Fair and Muddy                 Mildred                Short film

1930      Teacher's Pet     student                Short film

1930      School's Out       student                Short film

1932      Birthday Blues   Girl at Party        Short film

1933      Fish Hooky          Student                Short film

1935      Little Sinner                        Short film

1936      Our Gang Follies of 1936                               Short film

1937      Hoosier Schoolboy           (uncredited)      

1938      Mr. Boggs Steps Out       (uncredited)      

1938      Mad About Music             Schoolgirl           

1944      Up in Arms          (Goldwyn Girl) (uncredited)        

1944      Atlantic City        Woman at Racetrack (uncredited)           

1945      Diamond Horseshoe       Chorine (uncredited)     

1945      The Dolly Sisters               Lady in Booking Office (uncredited)        

1946      Cinderella Jones               Junior League Member (uncredited)       

1947      I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now              Chorine (uncredited)     

1947      T-Men   Girl on Plane (uncredited)           

1953      Abbott and Costello Go to Mars                 Girl (uncredited)             

1962      The Interns         Model (uncredited)