Virginia Cherrill, an American actress of great renown, was born on April 12, 1908, on a rural farm in Carthage, Illinois, to James E. and Blanche (née Wilcox) Cherrill. Growing up as a Chicago society girl, Cherrill had no aspirations of a film career until she visited Hollywood and met the illustrious Charlie Chaplin at a boxing match, where he sat next to her. This chance encounter led to her being cast in his iconic film City Lights (1931),a role that would forever etch her name in the annals of cinematic history.
Cherrill's performance as the blind flower girl in City Lights remains her most memorable, although her working relationship with Chaplin on the film was often strained. In fact, she was initially fired from the production, and Chaplin planned to reshoot her scenes with Georgia Hale. However, he ultimately decided to keep Cherrill on board, realizing that too much money had already been invested in the film. Her friendship with close pal Marion Davies played a significant role in Cherrill's successful negotiation for a better deal.
After her stint in City Lights, Cherrill appeared in a few more films, including the 1931 Gershwin musical Delicious, alongside the talented Janet Gaynor. However, she ultimately decided to retire from the film industry in 1936, following the release of Troubled Waters. Cherrill's personal life was marked by multiple marriages, with her second husband being the dashing actor Cary Grant, whom she wed from 1934 to 1935. Her third husband was the esteemed George Child-Villiers, 9th Earl of Jersey, whom she married from 1937 to 1946.
Cherrill's longest and most enduring marriage was to Florian Martini, with whom she resided in Santa Barbara, California, until her passing on November 14, 1996, at the age of 88. Despite her numerous marriages, Cherrill remained childless throughout her life. In recognition of her significant contributions to the world of cinema, Cherrill was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located at 1545 Vine Street.
