Phyllis Haver, born Phyllis O'Haver on January 6, 1899, in Douglas, Kansas, began her career in show business at a young age. Her family relocated to California, where she landed a job playing piano at a local movie theater. This caught the attention of producer Mack Sennett, who hired her as one of his "Sennett Bathing Beauties".
Between 1916 and 1920, Phyllis appeared in over 35 short films, quickly becoming one of the most popular of Sennett's bathing beauties due to her curvy figure and blonde hair. She eventually left Sennett's company and signed a contract with Cecil B. DeMille, co-starring with Olive Borden in Fig Leaves (1926) and Victor McLaglen in What Price Glory (1926).
Phyllis received rave reviews for her performances, including a notable role as Roxie Hart in Chicago (1927). In 1929, she married millionaire William Seeman, but despite being at the peak of her career, she decided to retire from acting and focus on her personal life.
The couple moved into an 11-room penthouse in New York City, where Phyllis said she loved being a wife and never wanted to return to Hollywood. However, after 16 years of marriage, Phyllis and William divorced, and she lived a reclusive life in a large house in Connecticut, rarely having visitors.
Phyllis's only companion was her longtime housekeeper, and she reportedly made several suicide attempts, becoming increasingly devastated after the death of her former boss, Mack Sennett. On November 19, 1960, at the age of 61, Phyllis took her own life with an overdose of barbiturates.
She was found in her bed, fully dressed and wearing makeup, and was buried at Grassy Hills Cemetery in Falls Village, Connecticut.
