Born and raised in Norfolk, Nebraska, Pawn spent her vacations on the ranch of an uncle.

She was offered work as a fill in in the film Trey of Hearts (1914), while the company was on location in San Diego.

[citation needed] Director Sydney Ayres coveted Pawn as a leading lady early in her screen career.

In 1916, she appeared in her first Fox Film feature, Blue Blood and Red, directed by Raoul Walsh.

[citation needed] In addition to Fox, Pawn made movies with Universal, Goldwyn, and Paramount Pictures.