Carmel Myers, a silent screen star, was a prominent figure in the early days of cinema, renowned for her glamorous and enticing on-screen presence, particularly as a vamp. Born at the turn of the century in San Francisco to immigrant parents, her father, a rabbi, had emigrated from Australia, while her mother came from Austria. Her older brother, Zion Myers, would later become a successful writer and director in Hollywood.
The family relocated to Los Angeles when Carmel was a teenager, and her father, an acquaintance of director D.W. Griffith, advised Griffith on the biblical scenes for his movie Intolerance (1916),in which Carmel received a bit role as a dancer. She was subsequently signed by Universal and quickly rose through the ranks, appearing alongside Rudolph Valentino in A Society Sensation (1918) and All Night (1918).
Carmel later expanded her repertoire, working with various studios. Her most notable film was the epic extravaganza Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925),in which she portrayed Iras, the seductive Egyptian temptress who sought to entice both Ramon Navarro and Francis X. Bushman. Dressed to the nines, she was a huge success, and MGM subsequently signed her for their films The Devil's Circus (1926) and Tell It to the Marines (1926),each attempting to outdo the elaborate costumes she wore in "Ben-Hur".
As the transition to talkies took place, Carmel's role in films gradually diminished, and she began to appear in supporting roles more frequently. Eventually, she was relegated to minor parts, and in the 1950s, she attempted to revive her career through television, making her debut in July 1951 with her own interview show, The Carmel Myers Show (1951),in which she conversed with notable figures in the entertainment industry, including Richard Rodgers and Sigmund Romberg. However, the show only lasted for one season.
Carmel was married three times and eventually turned her focus to real estate. She also founded Carmel Myers, Inc., which distributed French fragrances. Carmel Myers passed away on November 9, 1980.
