Biography

Sophisticated, dark-haired star of silent screen comedy. Of English and Italian ancestry, Madeline was the daughter of engineer John W. Hurlock and his Italian wife Sallie. She was educated in Philadelphia and first appeared on stage there with the Little Theatre. Moving on to New York, Madeline acted and danced in musical comedy at the Century Roof Garden and made her Broadway debut in the ensemble cast of 'The Rose of China' in 1919. After several years of toiling in support, she was spotted in 1923 by the producer Mack Sennett and signed as leading lady for a series of two-reel comedies, cast opposite the likes of Ben Turpin, Harry Langdon and Billy Bevan. In 1925, she was voted a WAMPAS Baby Star which greatly helped to raise her profile in Hollywood.

Madeline was known for her poise and comedy timing, even under trying circumstances, such as, when pinned underneath a lion in Circus Today (1926). Her best known appearance was as Lady Tarbotham in the frenetically-paced early Laurel & Hardy effort, Duck Soup (1927).

Madeline retired from films after the coming of sound and later became affiliated with the New York literary set, via her second husband, the playwright and screenwriter Marc Connelly. She got married a third time to former film critic, turned playwright, Robert E. Sherwood. After his death in 1955, she spent her many remaining years well away from the limelight and died at the age of 89.