Minnette Barrett (March 25, 1880 – June 20, 1964) was an American actress. Born in Gainesville, Georgia, she began her career on the stage in California in 1899 as a member of Harry Corson Clarke's theater troupe. She worked in stock theatre, on tour, and in vaudeville in her early career. In 1904 she married Hiram Mitchell, the son of United States senator John H. Mitchell. She gave her first performance on Broadway in 1907, and performed periodically on the New York stage into the 1950s. She also appeared in a few silent films during the 1910s.
Life and career
Minnette Barrett was born in Gainesville, Georgia on March 25, 1880. Her real name was Minnie Smith and she was the daughter of Amelia de F. Smith. She began her career as a member of Harry Corson Clarke's theatre troupe in 1899; performing in What Happened to Jones at theaters in California. That same year she became a member of T. Daniel Frawley's theatre troupe which was then playing in San Francisco. In March 1900 she toured with Fawley's company to Oregon as Isabelle Popervach in Henry Arthur Jones's The Dancing Girl and as Sophie in David Belasco's The Charity Ball in 1900. The following month she performed at the Los Angeles Theater in Los Angeles with Fawley's troupe in An Unconventional Honeymoon, and in In Paradise.
Barrett portrayed Cornelia Van Gorder in both the original 1920 Broadway production and the 1937 Broadway revival of Mary Roberts Rinehart and Avery Hopwood hit play The Bat. Her other Broadway credits included The Show Off, Mr. Buttles (1910), Mother (1910, as Ardath Wetherill), In 1999 (1912) (playlet) Lovely Lady (1925), Desire Under the Elms (1952), and Mrs. McThing (1952-1953). She had roles in the silent filmsSalvation Nell (1915) and The Ragamuffin (1916). During World War II she led the American Theatre Wing's war bonds drive.
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