Minta Durfee

Biography

Araminta Estelle "Minta" Durfee was a pioneering American silent film actress who began her career as a chorus girl at 17 and became the first leading lady of Charlie Chaplin. She was married to Roscoe Arbuckle from 1908 until their separation in 1921, and later divorced him in 1925. A devoted friend to Mabel Normand during her public scandals, Durfee remained close to Arbuckle despite his career destruction following Virginia Rappe's death, praising him as "the most generous human being I've ever met".