One of the pioneers of the Hollywood film industry was Hiram Abrams (1878 - 1926) of Portland, Maine. A self-made man, he began marketing films in 1909, became a distributor and, in 1916, became president of Paramount Pictures. In 1919 he left to join Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., Charlie Chaplin and D.W. Griffith in forming United Artists. Abrams served as president of United Artists until his sudden death in1926. Other Mainers in Hollywood have included William and Dustin Farnum, Rudy Vallee, Phyllis Thaxter, Jean Arthur, Kay Aldridge, Andrea Martin, Judd Nelson and Liv Tyler.