Madge Kirby
born: 12 April 1884
Brixton, London,
England		 died: 11 July 1956
Fresno, California,
United States of America
(age 72)
American actress, who immigrated to the United States of America in 1894. According to the 1920 Census, it would appear that she was widowed at this point.
At the age of 20 year-old she unexpectedly married her 30 year-old very successful stage manager, Maurice B. Kirby (1875-1911). He came from a prominent, wealthy family and graduated college as a star football player who went into journalism, playwriting, and stage production. Their whirlwind marriage, after a substantial engagement, surprised everyone and was described by newspapers like something out of a Mack Sennett comedy. Their only child, Audrey, was born in 1908 (d.2002).
In March of 1911, Maurice was mugged at a subway entrance and fell down a flight of stairs sustaining severe injuries and died in a hospital a few days later without gaining consciousness nor telling what had happened. Early reports were that the 35 year-old former football star had tripped and fell down the subway stairs. There were no witnesses.
After a period of mourning, Madge made a very successful stage comeback and moved with her daughter to CA and began her successful stage and film career. About 1923, she married Edward F. Leuscher (1893-1952) who was a divorced, prominent wealthy rancher in Fresno, CA. In the 1930's & '40's he received State and Federal appointments to agricultural commissions.
In 1927, by some miracle, daughter Audrey survived a horrific head-on automobile collision, as a passenger, virtually unscathed! Between 1942 & '47, Madge and Edward were divorced. He remarried and died in 1952 as a potato farmer. Madge didn't remarry before her death four years later.
Entry in "Who's Who on the Screen?" (1920) mentions her height as 5'4", weight 125 lbs, black hair and eyes (though she typically wears a blond wig). It also states that she came to America at 9 and went onstage at age 14, working with L&H Person co-star Richard Carle, as well as Lew Fields and Fred Walton.
Real name: Madge Whitehead
Height: 5'4"		 Films listed on this page: all films made with Stan Laurel.

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▼ NON-HAL ROACH FILMS

1918		 Huns And Hyphens
Vera Bright

1918		 Bears And Bad Men
Tillie Slawson

1918		 Frauds And Frenzies
Dollt Dare

Acknowledgements:
Larry Semon: Daredevil Comedian of the Silent Screen by Claudia Sassen
https://archive.org/stream/cu31924075696165#page/n101/mode/1up (article in Film Flashes: The Wit & Humor of a Nation in Pictures (1916)
https://archive.org/stream/whoswhoonscreen00foxc#page/321/mode/1up (Who's Who On The Screen - 1920)
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M53V-5D3
https://archive.org/stream/13thcensus1910po1026unit#page/n691/mode/1up
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:24XW-1G7 (1928 passenger list)
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-21848-38505-33?cc=1923888 (1928 passenger list)
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHQ2-Z15 (1920 Census)
https://archive.org/stream/14thcensusofpopu108unit#page/n756/mode/1up (1920 Census)
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XC8H-P2Z (1930 Census)
https://familysearch.org/ark:/ 61903/1:1:Q7D3-K6Z (1891 England Census)
https://familysearch.org/ark:/ 61903/1:1:MSN5-LN1 (1900 Census)
https://familysearch.org/ark:/ 61903/1:1:XCDH-7D9 (1930 Census)
https://familysearch.org/ark:/ 61903/1:1:K9QV-QFS (1940 Census)
Her marriage record (https://familysearch.org/ark:/ 61903/1:1:2497-MF8) says her parents were JOHN and MAY VINCENT.
The father's name matches the 1900 Census, but the mother's name in the first two census records is ELIZABETH. However, the 1940 Census does list her as MAY WHITEHEAD.
Younger brother HARRY (born 13 May 1885 -- died circa May 1957 -- buried 21 May 1957)'s middle name was VINCENT.
Maybe it was ELIZABETH/MAY's maiden name (or perhaps JOHN's middle name?) and MADGE adopted it as a stage name?
HARRY lists his mother on his WWI draft reg. card as MAY ELIZABETH WHITEHEAD. It says the same on MAY's CA Death Index entry
(b. 1 Jan 1856 [possibly not real birthdate] - d. 15 Jun 1959).
https://familysearch.org/ark:/ 61903/1:1:KXYK-RBB (WWI DRC)
https://familysearch.org/ark:/ 61903/1:1:F36L-YMV (WWII DRC)
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi- bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=121342 545
https://familysearch.org/ark:/ 61903/1:1:VPKF-62Q (May, CA Death Index)
https://fultonhistory.com/Fulton.html
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2497-MF8 (1906 Jan; marriage to Maurice B. Kirby)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WCD-5WP (1908 Feb 9: dau Audrey born)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M53V-5D3 (1910 Census: with Husband & Daughter)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPBX-TTZQ (1911 Mar 23: husband dies)
https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=MT19270314.2.47&e=-------en--20--1-byDA-txt-txIN-%22audrey+kirby%22-------1 (1927: Audrey almost killed)
Jim Jarvis (bio notes and information)
Jesse Brisson (information)

This page was last updated on: 14 April 2023