Born: Harriet Acker October 23rd, 1893 Trenton, NJ. Died August 16th, 1978 Los Angeles, CA.  Buried Holy Cross Cemetery Culver City, CA

Occupation: Actress, Years Active: 1913-1955

Married: Rudolph Valentino (1919, marriage lasted 6 hours but a divorce was not sought or granted until 1923)

Known for: Being “Mrs. Valentino” even though Rudy was barely using that name when he married her.  Actress b-list level in silent films, took small mostly uncredited roles in talkies.

If Jean Acker had never married a very young and very green Rudolph Valentinowe probably wouldn’t be talking about her.  At the time she was more famous than him, but her fame waned during the silent era and became nothing but extra parts by the time talkies arrived.

This classic doomed romance perhaps started the trend of fast-paced divorce. Valentino, a famous Italian actor — nicknamed "the Latin Lover" — impulsively married the American actress in 1919. She quickly regretted the decision and locked him out of their honeymoon suite. After knocking for 20 minutes (the door, not boots), he headed home. In divorce proceedings, she claimed they never consummated their union.

Jean Acker and the trouble she stirred up caused major story arcs to appear in Rudy’s biography.  Their short lived marriage is so infamous it’s still included in many ‘shortest celebrity marriage lists’.  By marrying and then spurning a young Valentino, Acker set off a slur of gay rumors with many assuming because she appeared to be a lesbian. Natacha Rambova must have as well.