Novak, Eva (1898–1988)
Novak, Eva (1898–1988)
American film actress. Born Barbara Eva Novak, Feb 14, 1898, in St. Louis, Missouri; died of pneumonia in Woodland Hills, California, April 17, 1988; younger sister of silent star Jane Novak (1896–1990); niece of Vitagraph star Anne Schafer; married William Reed; children: 2 daughters.
Began career as Mack Sennett Bathing Beauty; made her mark in Westerns and action movies, frequently playing opposite Tom Mix and performing her own stunts; career dwindled as sound came in, but she made a comeback (1940s) and continued playing occasional character roles through mid-1960s; films include The Speed Maniac (1919), The Daredevil (1920), The Torrent (1921), Boston Blackie (1923), Sally (1925), Irene (1926), The Medicine Man (1930), The Bells of St. Mary's (1945), Sunset Boulevard (1950), Sergeant Rutledge (1960) and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962).