Enid Markey made film history as the first Jane in Tarzan movies. She played Jane Porter in 1918, and she kept acting for more than 50 years. This post gives her net worth, age, height, husband, and life story.
TL;DR
Enid Markey was the first actress to play Jane in a Tarzan film. She took the role in Tarzan of the Apes during 1918 and played Jane again in The Romance of Tarzan. Markey was born on February 22, 1894, though a few sources give other birth years.
She died on November 15, 1981, at age 87. Her height is listed at 5 feet 4.5 inches from one weak source. No trusted source gives her net worth, and one $1.7 million figure online is unproven. Markey married George W. Cobb in 1942, and Cobb died in 1948. She didn’t marry again.
Enid Markey at a Glance
This table sums up the key facts, and it doesn’t hide the gaps.
Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
Full name | Enid Virginia Markey |
Born | February 22, 1894 (disputed, see below) |
Birthplace | Dillon, Colorado, USA |
Died | November 15, 1981 |
Place of death | Bay Shore, New York, USA |
Age at death | 87 |
Height | 5 ft 4.5 in (1.64 m), unconfirmed |
Spouse | George W. Cobb (m. 1942, died 1948) |
Career span | 1911-1968 |
Best known for | First Jane in Tarzan films (1918) |
Net worth | No reliable figure; $1.7 million claimed by one weak source only |
Who Is Enid Markey?
Enid Markey was an American actress who worked on stage, in film, on radio, and on TV. Her career ran from 1911 to 1968. Markey is best known as the first Jane Porter on film, in 1918.
Markey was born in Dillon, Colorado, and began acting as a child in Denver. She moved west at 15. She signed with Thomas Ince in 1913, and she didn’t look back.
Her big break came in Tarzan of the Apes in 1918. Markey played Jane Porter opposite Elmo Lincoln as Tarzan, then played Jane again in The Romance of Tarzan. She was the first actress to ride bareback and use a six-shooter on screen in The Darkening Trail.
She acted on Broadway, worked in radio, and took TV guest roles. That long run recalls the career of Eric Roberts, who also moved between stage, film, and TV.
How Old Is Enid Markey?
Enid Markey was born on February 22, 1894, if we follow Wikipedia. She died on November 15, 1981, at age 87. Most sources agree on the dates, but her birth year is a mess, and this post won’t hide that fact.
Wikipedia gives 1894. Encyclopedia.com gives 1891. The New York Public Library header gives 1890, while the same guide says 1894. ERBzine and a Glance news page give 1896. No source settles the fight. The day and month never change: February 22.
Under the 1894 date, Markey was 17 in 1911 and 24 in 1918. If 1891 is right, she was 20 and 27. A birth year of 1896 puts her at 15 and 22. This post uses 1894.
Markey died two days after a heart attack. She was visiting friends in Long Island on November 13, 1981, when the attack struck, and she died at South Side Hospital in Bay Shore two days later.

How Tall Is Enid Markey?
Enid Markey stood 5 feet 4.5 inches tall, if we trust Astrotheme. That site lists her height as 5 feet 4.5 inches (1.64 m), and it is the only source that gives that exact figure. No studio record gives her height, so the number rests on one weak leg.
WhosDatedWho gives a slightly shorter figure: 5 feet 4 inches (163 cm). That small gap shows her height is not pinned down by strong sources. No source gives her weight, and this post won’t guess at it.
Her height did not hold her back. She won the Jane role and kept working for five decades after that.
What Movies and TV Shows Has Enid Markey Appeared In?
Enid Markey acted in films for more than 50 years. Her first film role came in The Fortunes of War in 1911. She signed with Thomas Ince in 1913. Markey played Jane Porter in two Tarzan films during 1918.
She rode bareback and fired a six-shooter in The Darkening Trail and worked with William S. Hart in several films. Later roles include Snafu, The Naked City, and Take One False Step. Her last film was The Boston Strangler in 1968.
Markey started young, like other child actors. Gary Riley also found fame young, with his breakout role in Stand by Me. Ben Tibber also began as a child actor.
TV gave Markey fresh work late in life. She played Barney Fife’s landlady on The Andy Griffith Show and Grandma Pyle on Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. She didn’t stop there: she also kept a stage career alive on Broadway.
Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
1911 | The Fortunes of War | Unknown |
1915 | The Darkening Trail | Unknown |
1917 | The Yankee Way | Unknown |
1917 | Civilization | Unknown |
1918 | Tarzan of the Apes | Jane Porter |
1918 | The Romance of Tarzan | Jane Porter |
1920 | Sink or Swim | Unknown |
1945 | Snafu | Unknown |
1948 | The Naked City | Unknown |
1949 | Take One False Step | Unknown |
1960s | The Andy Griffith Show (TV) | Barney Fife’s landlady |
1960s | Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (TV) | Grandma Pyle |
1968 | The Boston Strangler | Unknown |
Is Enid Markey Married?
Yes, Enid Markey was married once. She married George W. Cobb in 1942. Cobb worked as an executive with the American Can Company. The marriage lasted until Cobb died in 1948. Markey didn’t marry again, and she lived as a widow for 33 years.
No reliable source records children for Markey. Wikipedia and the NYPL guide say nothing about children. One low-quality site, Woxikon, claims she had two children, but it gives no names, no dates, and no source. This post treats that claim as unverified.
What Is Enid Markey Net Worth?
No trusted source gives a net worth for Enid Markey, and this post won’t dress that gap up with a fake number.
One weak source, BlinkD, puts her net worth at $1.7 million in a page dated June 7, 2024. It shows no work behind the number. It cites no salary, contract, estate record, or tax file. A 2024 net worth for an actress who died in 1981 makes little sense.
Markey earned pay from stage, film, radio, and TV. No source gives her salary for any role. Without pay records, any net worth figure is a guess. This post lists the $1.7 million claim so readers know it exists, but it marks the claim as unconfirmed.
What Is Enid Markey Doing Now?
Enid Markey is not doing anything now. She died on November 15, 1981. She spent her last years visiting friends in Long Island and died in Bay Shore at age 87. Her last film role came in 1968.
Her legacy rests on one clear fact: she was the first Jane. Every later Jane follows the path Markey cut. That role still brings her name up in film histories.
The New York Public Library holds her papers from 1895 to 1971.
Markey proves that child actors can last. Deon Richmond also grew up in front of cameras, and his long run on TV shows that an early start doesn’t have to end early.
Frequently Asked Questions About Enid Markey
Who is Enid Markey?
Enid Markey was an American actress best known as the first Jane in Tarzan films. She played Jane Porter in 1918.
How old is Enid Markey?
Enid Markey was 87 when she died on November 15, 1981. She was born on February 22, 1894, though some sources give 1891, 1890, or 1896.
How tall is Enid Markey?
Enid Markey is listed at 5 feet 4.5 inches tall, based on Astrotheme. That figure isn’t confirmed. WhosDatedWho lists her at 5 feet 4 inches.
What is Enid Markey net worth?
No reliable source gives a net worth for Enid Markey. One weak source claims $1.7 million, but it shows no proof, so this post treats that figure as unconfirmed.
Who was Enid Markey husband?
Enid Markey’s husband was George W. Cobb, an executive with the American Can Company. They married in 1942, and Cobb died in 1948.
What movies did Enid Markey appear in?
Enid Markey appeared in Tarzan of the Apes and The Romance of Tarzan in 1918, plus Snafu and The Boston Strangler. Her TV work includes The Andy Griffith Show and Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.
When did Enid Markey die?
Enid Markey died on November 15, 1981, in Bay Shore, New York, two days after a heart attack while visiting friends in Long Island.
Conclusion
Markey earned her place in film history in 1918, when she became the first Jane in Tarzan movies. She kept working for 50 more years and died in 1981 at age 87. Her birth year still isn’t settled, her height rests on one weak source, and her net worth has no trusted figure. Those gaps are part of her story. Enid Markey deserves to be known for what the record proves: a long career, a famous first, and a life spent acting.