Actress. Born Augusta Appel, Lee was 5 years old when she was on Broadway performing in her well-know role as "Cuddles." Mother of writer James Kirkwood Jr., Lee appeared in "Blood and Sand" with Rudolph Valentino. As leading lady in 1930's "The Unholy Three" (opposite Lon Chaney Sr.) she was positioned to become one of the new sound era's first major stars. Unfortunately her screen career was bedeviled by severe bouts with what was referred to as tuberculosis but whispered to be the results of acute alcoholism. In 1936, Lee was a witness to the suicide of playboy Reid Russell, and the same year, she retired from 19 years in the movies and went back to Broadway.
Actress. Born Augusta Appel, Lee was 5 years old when she was on Broadway performing in her well-know role as "Cuddles." Mother of writer James Kirkwood Jr., Lee appeared in "Blood and Sand" with Rudolph Valentino. As leading lady in 1930's "The Unholy Three" (opposite Lon Chaney Sr.) she was positioned to become one of the new sound era's first major stars. Unfortunately her screen career was bedeviled by severe bouts with what was referred to as tuberculosis but whispered to be the results of acute alcoholism. In 1936, Lee was a witness to the suicide of playboy Reid Russell, and the same year, she retired from 19 years in the movies and went back to Broadway.
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