Priscilla Dean made her film debut at the age of fourteen in one-reelers for Biograph and several other studios. She was finally signed on to Universal in 1911. She soon gained popularity as the female lead in the comedy series of Eddie Lyons and Lee Moran.
She was propelled to stardom after she appeared in The Gray Ghost in 1917. Following this film, she became very successful in her work. However, when the age of sound dawned, Priscilla's career was severely damaged. She continued to do several low-budget films for minor independent studios during the '30s, but never regained the popularity she had earned in silent films.