Vera Gordon

Vera Pogorelsky was born in Ekaterinoslav, Russia, on June 11, 1886, the daughter of Boris Pogorelsky and Teigan Nemirovsky. She emigrated with her family to the United States when she was seven years old.

Pogorelsky was a child actor but she was fired by the directors of the Shevchenko Imperial Company when they learned she was of Jewish heritage. After immigrating in the United States, Pogorelsky, now Gordon, appeared in smaller theater like The Liberty and The Lyric in New York’s Lower East Side.

In 1916 Gordon went on a tour in England, appearing in vaudeville and theatre. Gordon starred in several motion pictures such as Humoresque and The Cohens and Kellys. She represented the archetypical Jewish mother.

She contributed to newspapers and magazines on marriage and children, and supported Jewish children orphanages. She was a member of Actors' Equity Association, Russian-American Art Club of Los Angeles, Grand Street Boys, New York.