Margaret Philpott, professionally known as Madge, was born in the state of Texas and began her journey in the world of theater, working with a stock company in Denver. Under a personal contract with a renowned Broadway producer, Madge received her big break when she replaced the esteemed Helen Hayes in the Broadway play "Dear Brutus". Her impressive stage performance led to her being signed by Fox Pictures, marking the beginning of her illustrious career in film.
Madge's early years in Hollywood were marked by her appearances in numerous movies during the 1920s, with her most notable roles being in "Lorna Doone" (1922) and "The Iron Horse" (1924). Her strong will and contrasting screen image of innocence often led to disagreements over roles, particularly by the late 1920s. Despite being cast in numerous films each year, Madge was featured in Fox's first dialogue feature, "Mother Knows Best" (1928). However, her refusal to work on the film "The Trial of Mary Dugan", which was specifically purchased for her, resulted in the termination of her contract with Fox.
It would take three years for Madge to return to the screen, this time in the cult classic "White Zombie" (1932) alongside the legendary Bela Lugosi. Unfortunately, her career was not regaining momentum, as she was merely one of the many old silent stars struggling to adapt to the changing landscape of the film industry. For the next few years, Madge appeared in a small number of low-budget films, and by 1936, her film career had effectively come to an end.
Madge's personal life was also marked by turmoil. In 1943, she made headlines when she shot her lover, millionaire A. Stanford Murphy, after he jilted her to marry another woman. She went on to marry two more men, Carlos Bellamy and Logan F. Metcalf, both of which ended in divorce. Madge did not have any children, and her life remained shrouded in mystery until her passing.
