Martha Mattox

Martha Mattox (June 19, 1879 – May 2, 1933) was an American silent film actress most notable for her portrayal of Mammy Pleasant in the 1927 film The Cat and the Canary. She also played a role in Torrent (1926). She died from a heart ailment at age 53. Born in Natchez, Mississippi, Mattox attended East Mississippi College, where she studied dramatic art. A 1923 article in the Calgary Herald newspaper described her as "a full-blooded Creole", of Spanish descent on her father's side and French on her mother's.Her initial acting was on stage, including performances with the Marion Leonard Company. After working on stage, she began performing in films, initially in Westerns and action films and later in melodramas and comedies. Her film debut came in 1915, and she played a variety of roles in the silent-film era.Activities in Mattox's personal life included donating prizes and selecting winners in the Better Baby Exposition.On May 2, 1933, Mattox died of heart disease in Sidney, New York, at age 53.