Patsy Ruth Miller
Patsy Ruth Miller was an American film actress who played Esméralda in The [Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923 film)|The Hunchback of Notre Dame] opposite Lon Chaney.
Early years
Miller, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Oscar W. Miller, was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. As a girl, she had a screen test in Hollywood, but her mother was advised to take her home because she had no potential to be an actress. She was born Ruth Mae Miller but changed her name to avoid confusion with another actress, Ruth Miller, who was already active in film. She attended Mary Institute and St. Louis [Country Day School|Mary Institute] in St. Louis.Career
After being discovered by actress Alla Nazimova at a Hollywood party, Miller got her first break with a small role in Camille, which starred Rudolph Valentino. Her roles gradually improved, and she was chosen as a WAMPAS Baby Star in 1922. In 1923, she was acclaimed for her performance as Esmeralda in The Hunchback of Notre Dame opposite Lon Chaney.In the later part of the decade Miller appeared chiefly in light romantic comedies, opposite such actors as Clive Brook and Edward Everett Horton. Among her film credits in the late 1920s are Broken Hearts of Hollywood, A Hero for a Night, Hot Heels, and The Aviator. She retired from films in 1931. She may have attempted a comeback when she appeared on stage in 1933 in "Eve the Fifth" at Harold Lloyd's Beverly Hills [Little Theatre for Professionals], although her intentions are not clear. She made a cameo appearance in the 1951 film Quebec, which starred John Barrymore Jr., and stated in her autobiography that she had participated as a joke. She came out of retirement to do the film Mother in 1978 by Brian Pinette. She later achieved recognition as a writer. She won three O. Henry Awards for her short stories, wrote a novel, radio scripts, and plays. She also performed for a brief time on Broadway.