Biography
Irene Dalton was born on September 10, 1899, in Chicago, Illinois. After finishing high school, she began working as a stenographer. Her first acting role came after responding to an advertisement in a local newspaper. In August 1920, she was signed by Christie Studios. She co-starred with Earl Rodney in Three Jokers and with Laura La Plante in His Four Fathers. Standing just five feet tall with jet black hair, the petite actress was Lloyd Hamilton's leading lady in several comedies, including The Vagrant, Rolling Stones, and Poor Boy. In 1923, she had supporting roles in Children of Jazz and Bluebeard's 8th Wife.
Irene had a brief romance with actor Lew Cody and a long affair with John Raymond Owens, a married millionaire sportsman. When Owens’s wife filed for divorce, she named Irene as the other woman. In October 1924, both John and Irene were arrested and charged under the Mann Act for allegedly crossing state lines for illicit fornication. Irene maintained their innocence, and the charges were eventually dropped.
She left the film industry and began living with Charles Meehan, a real estate broker and bootlegger. In March 1927, Charles, Irene, and Lloyd Hamilton were involved in a drunken nightclub altercation that resulted in the death of stuntman Eddie Diggins. Charles was arrested on suspicion of murder, and Irene was questioned by the police. The incident made headlines nationwide. After a brief investigation, Charles was released, and no charges were filed in connection with Diggins's death.
Irene married her former co-star Lloyd Hamilton on June 19, 1927. Unfortunately, Hamilton struggled with alcoholism and became abusive, leading to their separation after just eight months. She moved back to Chicago to live with her parents. Tragically, Irene died suddenly on August 15, 1934, at the age of thirty-four. She was buried at Calvary Cemetery in Evanston, Illinois. Despite some claims, Irene was not related to actress Dorothy Dalton.
