Lita Chevret

Chevret was born on May 27, 1908, in Oakland, California, to show-business parents, who ensured that she received training in both singing and dance.{{cite news |title=Lita Chevret |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1331524/Lita-Chevret.html |accessdate=7 August 2018 |work=The Telegraph |date=May 25, 2001 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807185112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1331524/Lita-Chevret.html |archivedate=7 August 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://maewest.blogspot.com/2012/05/mae-west-lita-chevret.html|publisher=Mae West Blog|title=Mae West: Lita Chevret|date=May 29, 2012 |accessdate=September 28, 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140929011449/http://maewest.blogspot.com/2012/05/mae-west-lita-chevret.html|archivedate=September 29, 2014 }}{{Unreliable source?|date=August 2018}}

Chevret began acting with a stock theater company when she was 16 years old.{{cite news |last1=Thomas |first1=Dan |title=Hollywood Film Shop |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/38006588/lita_chevret/ |accessdate=October 28, 2019 |work=The Pittsburgh Press |date=July 6, 1931 |location=Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh |page=17|via = Newspapers.com}} She also appeared in Berkeley productions of Irving Pichel and in Fanchon and Marco revues.{{cite news |title=Lita Chevet in 'Rio Rita' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/38008603/lisa_chevret/ |accessdate=October 28, 2019 |work=California, Los Angeles |date=December 15, 1929 |location=California, Los Angeles |page=Part III - 16|via = Newspapers.com}}

Based on her dancing ability, Chevret broke into the film business in 1929's Fox Movietone Follies of 1929, with an uncredited role. The following year she appeared in Words and Music in a small unbilled role, in John Wayne's first film where he had a significant role (billed as Duke Morrison).{{cite web|url=http://www.mediabang.org/name-160972-lita-chevret|publisher=Media Bang|title=Lita Chevret profile|accessdate=September 28, 2014}} That same year, she appeared in RKO Radio Pictures' Rio Rita, their most successful picture of the year.{{cite book|title=The RKO Story|last1=Jewell|first1=Richard B.|last2=Harbin|first2=Vernon|publisher=Arlington House|year=1982|place=New York|page=20 |isbn=0-517-546566}}

In 1930, RKO would offer Chevret a 3-year contract, which would be renewed for an additional 3 years. However, she was relegated to mostly small and bit roles while under contract with RKO. When her contract expired in 1936, she made the decision not to renew, and to attempt to become a freelance actress.

She continued acting for another five years, still in small and often unbilled roles, until her retirement in 1941. Her final role was a small part in The Philadelphia Story.{{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/SearchResult.aspx?s=&Type=PN&Tbl=&CatID=DATABIN_CAST&ID=99754&searchedFor=Lita_Chevret_&SortType=ASC&SortCol=RELEASE_YEAR|publisher=American Film Institute|title=Lita Chevret profile|accessdate=September 28, 2014}}

Chevret was married to Alfred Hickman{{cite news |title=All day she trills her A-E-I-O-U's |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/38008659/lisa_chevret/ |accessdate=October 28, 2019 |work=The Los Angeles Times |date=December 15, 1929 |location=California, Los Angeles |page=Part III - 15|via = Newspapers.com}} and Carlton Williams.{{cite news |title=Journalists' (sic) Wife Cast in Role |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/38007969// |accessdate=October 28, 2019 |work=Kenosha News |date=August 3, 1938 |location=Wisconsin, Kenosha |page=11|via = Newspapers.com}}

(Filmography based on the AFI database, with supplemental information from Media Bang)

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Category:1908 births

Category:2001 deaths

Category:Actresses from California

Category:Actors from Oakland, California

Category:20th-century American actresses