Margaret McWade

Margaret McWade
Still with Louis Calhern and Margaret McWade in The Blot (1921)
Born	Margaret May Fish (1871-09-03)September 3, 1871 Chicago, Illinois
Died	April 1, 1956(1956-04-01) (aged 84) Los Angeles, California
Other names	Margaret May
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1914-1945
Spouse(s)	Edward McWade

Margaret McWade (born Margaret May Fish; September 3, 1871 – April 1, 1956) was an American stage and film actress. She began her career in vaudeville in the early 1890s. Her most memorable role was as one of The Pixilated Sisters, in which she was in a comedic stage act with actress Margaret Seddon. Later in 1936 they reprised their roles in the movie, Mr Deeds Goes to Town.

Margaret May Fish was born September 3, 1871 in Chicago, Illinois, the eldest of three daughters. A number of short biographies state that Fish was born in 1872; however, the 1900 U.S. Census reports her birth in 1871.

During her early career Margaret May Fish went by the stage name, Margaret May. In the late 1890s while performing in vaudeville she met fellow actress Margaret Seddon. The two actresses teamed up to create a stage act known as the, The Pixillated Sisters. The act proved to be a hit for the duo. Years later they would reprise the The Pixilated Sisters in the 1936 movie Mr. Deeds Goes to Town.

Margaret and her husband, Edward McWade appeared in a number of stage performances together in Boston and New York before their marriage. Their earliest stage appearance together was in March 1892 in Boston. They were cast as supporting characters in, County Fair at the Whitney Opera House. Until late 1919 Margaret continued to use her stage name Margaret May.

Margaret McWade made her silver screen debut in the 1914 silent film, The Drama of Heyville, starring Marc McDermott and directed by Ashley Miller. She was under contract to The Edison Film Company and then was later picked up by the Vitagraph Film Company. She went on to act in a total of 59 films from 1914-54.

Between films she was a prolific stage actress touring the U.S. with a number of different theatrical companies. Margaret also toured in theater shows with her husband Edward, several which he wrote. In April 1901, Edward McWade wrote and produced the play, Winchester, at the American Theater in New York. The play was based upon an event during the Civil War. Edward McWade wrote a supporting role for his wife. In the following year, 1902 he wrote the play, The Land of Mystery, a romantic drama in which Margaret also had a role.

In 1922, McWade was cast in the movie Blot which was produced and directed by Lois Weber. Blot is consider by many critics to be Lois Weber's greatest filmed work. McWade played Mrs. Griggs, and is described in reviews as the “old mother hubbard, shouldering most of the burden for the penny pinching family.” The movie went on to receive critical acclaim, which paved the way for more acting roles. McWade was most often described as playing the mother, aunt, older sister, spinster and later in her career as the grandmother. In a Louisiana newspaper, Monroe Morning Works, in June 5, 1938, she is described physically as “the one with the angular face and black hair”.