Anecdotes

Tashman left some $31,000 in cash, along with $121,000 in furs and jewels, but had not thought to leave a will. This resulted in years of legal squabbling between her husband Edmund Lowe and her two surviving sisters, Hattie and Jennie. A third sister, also an actress, had died in 1931.

Lilyan first entered a New York hospital for surgery in 1932, for what was described in the press as an appendectomy. "She was worried about her health," Tashman's friend Virginia Maxwell said after her death. "If the physicians knew she had a tumor, I don't believe they ever told her so." She continued to appear on screen despite her weakening physical health and finished her final role in Frankie and Johnny (1936) just two weeks before her death of abdominal cancer.

Renowned for her personal style, Tashman was one of Hollywood's leading "clothes horses" during the early 1930s.

Tashman is alleged to have been romantically involved with Joan Crawford, Greta Garbo and Kay Francis, and to have gotten into physical altercations with Lupe Velez, Constance Bennett and Alona Marlowe, during her time as an actress in Hollywood.

Charged with assault in 1931, when she beat actress Alona Marlowe after catching her in husband Edmund Lowe's dressing room. The charges were later dropped. In retellings of this story, Alona is often confused with her better-known sister, June Marlowe.

Started her career in the legendary Ziegfeld Follies revue, starring alongside several future stars including Marion Davies and Ina Claire.

Interred at the Washington Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York. About 10,000 people crowded the streets surrounding the cemetery for her funeral.

Tashman's funeral in 1934 nearly caused a riot. It attracted about 10,000 fans, mourners, and curious onlookers to a rather small cemetery. There were several reported injuries, and a gravestone was toppled by the crowd.

Tashman easily transitioned from silent films to sound films. She had previously used her voice in theatrical performances, and her "husky contralto singing voice" was considered an asset for her film career.

One of several Hollywood stars mentioned in the 1934 song "You Oughta Be in Pictures": "You ought to dress like Tashman / And ride in motor cars...".

From 1919 to 1921, Tashman served as the understudy of actress Ina Claire (1893-1985) in stage productions of the comedy play "The Gold Diggers".

Tashman performed with the Ziegfeld Follies from 1916 to 1918.