Virginia Davis was born on December 31, 1918, in Kansas City, Missouri, to a traveling furniture salesman father and a devoted housewife mother, Margaret Davis. With her father often away for weeks at a time, Margaret focused all her attention on Virginia, enrolling her in dancing lessons and modeling auditions from the tender age of two.
Virginia's striking appearance, complete with long curls, soon landed her roles in local advertisements that played between films in Kansas City theaters. She also attended Georgie Brown's Dramatic School, where she honed her skills in drama and dance. In the summer of 1923, 22-year-old Walt Disney, a struggling but ambitious director, spotted Virginia in an advertisement and was immediately captivated by her charm.
Disney contacted Margaret Davis, and the two collaborated to create the first short film of the Alice series, Alice's Wonderland, which was filmed at the Davis home in Kansas City. The film marked Disney's first live appearance in one of his own cartoons, alongside Margaret Davis. After filming, Disney returned to Hollywood, where he began building his movie empire with just forty dollars and a single short film featuring Virginia Davis.
The Davis family soon followed Disney to Hollywood, motivated by Virginia's health issues, which her doctor attributed to the humid climate of Kansas City. Virginia signed a contract with Disney for a salary of $100 a month, and she began filming the Alice shorts in Walt Disney's first studio, his uncle's garage. Her brother Roy O. Disney served as cameraman, and the Disney family dog Peggy appeared in many of the films.
The Alice series became a huge success, providing Disney with his first national recognition. However, as the series progressed, Disney's focus shifted towards animation, reducing Virginia's live-action role. She appeared in only about thirteen of the Alice shorts before her contract was terminated. Virginia later auditioned for the role of Snow White in Disney's film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, but her mother refused the frugal salary offered, and she did not get the part.
Virginia went on to have small roles in full-length films, including The Harvey Girls in 1946. She eventually left acting to pursue a degree from the New York School of Interior Design. After graduating, she worked as an editor for the magazine "Living for Young Homemakers" in the 1950s and later became a real estate agent in Connecticut and California.
Virginia's life took a dramatic turn in the 1990s, when interest in the Alice series was rekindled. Living in retirement in Montana, she was suddenly flooded with fan requests and accolades. She was honored as the guest of honor at the Pordonone Silent Film Festival in Italy in 1992 and was inducted as a Disney Legend in 1998. Virginia also became an active participant in silent film festivals and events at Disneyland and Walt Disney World, cementing her legacy as a pioneering figure in the early days of animation.
