Silent film actress and Western show performer. Born Lillian Elizabeth Unold, she began her career at age 16 when she performed in "Tiger Bill's Wild West Show" by riding a bronco side-saddle. This won her a cash prize and a contract with the shows owner, William Dickey to travel around the country and ride wild horses in many popular shows. She also became a sharpshooter and performed in the Buffalo Bill, Pawnee Bill, Tiger Bill, and 101 Ranch shows where she was billed as "the world's greatest woman rider" performing with fellow sharpshooter Annie Oakley. After gaining a reputation as a crack rider and pistol shot she was offered a part as an Indian girl in the film "Custer's Last Fight" being filmed in Santa Monica, California in 1909. She appeared in many other productions including Charlie Chaplain's "Hideout," Thomas Ince's "The Deserter," and the 30-episode serial "The Diamond From the Sky." She performed her own stunts and suffered many injuries over the years. While riding a horse during the filming of a picture in 1913 she fell 40 feet from a cliff which ended her movie career. By 1917 she had recovered enough to perform again with Pawnee Bill, however she retired from show business in 1918.
Silent film actress and Western show performer. Born Lillian Elizabeth Unold, she began her career at age 16 when she performed in "Tiger Bill's Wild West Show" by riding a bronco side-saddle. This won her a cash prize and a contract with the shows owner, William Dickey to travel around the country and ride wild horses in many popular shows. She also became a sharpshooter and performed in the Buffalo Bill, Pawnee Bill, Tiger Bill, and 101 Ranch shows where she was billed as "the world's greatest woman rider" performing with fellow sharpshooter Annie Oakley. After gaining a reputation as a crack rider and pistol shot she was offered a part as an Indian girl in the film "Custer's Last Fight" being filmed in Santa Monica, California in 1909. She appeared in many other productions including Charlie Chaplain's "Hideout," Thomas Ince's "The Deserter," and the 30-episode serial "The Diamond From the Sky." She performed her own stunts and suffered many injuries over the years. While riding a horse during the filming of a picture in 1913 she fell 40 feet from a cliff which ended her movie career. By 1917 she had recovered enough to perform again with Pawnee Bill, however she retired from show business in 1918.
Bio by: pLot Lzrd
Family Members
Spouse
Advertisement
See more Knight memorials in:
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
