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The Breakthrough Years of Cinema Stars
First major success in 1912
Lillian Gish
Made her acting debut with D.W. Griffith at Biograph, appearing in films like An Unseen Enemy.
1914
1918
1919
1920
1920
1920
Mabel Normand
1912 marked Mabel Normand's breakthrough as a leading comedienne at Keystone Studios, notably starring in early Keystone comedies such as The Water Nymph and establishing her as a major figure in silent film comedy.
1915
1915
1916
1916
1918
1919
Dorothy Gish
Made her acting debut alongside sister Lillian for D.W. Griffith, appearing in An Unseen Enemy.
1914
1915
1915
1919
1919
1919
Sessue Hayakawa
Established his reputation in Los Angeles theatre, leading to his eventual film debut and international stardom.
1918
1919
1920
1920
1920
1922
Antonio Moreno
Made his film debut with Vitagraph, quickly establishing himself as a charismatic leading man.
1915
1920
1920
1920
1920
1920
Adolph Zukor
Founded the Famous Players Film Company, initiating the strategy of featuring legitimate stage stars.
1930
J. Farrell MacDonald
His first credited directing work, The Adventures of Bill, marked the beginning of his prolific 14-year career as a film director. This was a significant expansion of his role in early cinema beyond just acting.
1929

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