People active in the silent era and people who keep the silent era alive. Copyright © 1999-2024 by Carl Bennett and the Silent Era Company. All Rights Reserved.

Photograph: Silent Era image collection.

Olga Baclanova

Born 19 August 1893 in Moscow, Russia, as Olga Vladimirovna Baklanova.
Died 6 September 1974 in Vevey, Vaud, Switzerland.

Daughter of Vladimir Baklanov and Alexandra (Baklanova).

Married Vlademar Zoppi, 1922; divorced 23 February 1929; one child.
Married Nicholas Soussanin, 5 March 1929; divorced 1935;
stepson, actor Nicholas Saunders, born 2 June 1914.
Married Richard Davis, 1937; until Olga’s death, 6 September 1974.

Olga Baclanova was trained as a stage actor at the Moscow Art Theatre and began motion picture work prior to the Russian Revolution. Her last Russian film production was [Bread] (1918), after its production she continued stage work. In 1925, Baclanova travelled with the Moscow Art Theatre to the United States. After their tour was completed and the troupe due to return to Russia, Baclanova refused to leave America and later was allowed to defect. She was performing in a stage play in Los Angeles in 1927 when she was offered the opportunity to work in motion pictures again.

Baclanova appeared in American film productions in the silent era by Norma Talmadge Productions (1927), Universal Pictures Corporation (1928), and Paramount Famous Lasky Corporation (1928-1929).

References: MoPicAlmanac-1929 p. 11 : Website-IMDb.