Howe was born in New York City, and attended Chappaqua Mountain Institute, a Quaker school. With "no stage experience," Howe joined Vitagraph Studios as a stock player in 1916. In 1918, she and Canadian actor Edward Earle formed the Earle-Howe production company within Vitagraph. She appeared in silent films, including Mr. Jack, a Hallroom Hero (1916, short), Mr. Jack Trifles (1916, short), Mr. Jack Hires a Stenographer (1916, short), Fathers of Men (1916), The Alibi (1916), Beatrice Fairfax (19 ...