She was born in Manhattan, where she began acting in stage productions.

Unlike many silent film stars, she made a smooth transition to sound films, starting with her 1930 appearance in Wide Open, starring Patsy Ruth Miller and Edward Everett Horton.

She retired after 1947 and resided at the Motion Picture Country House in Woodland Hills, California at the time of her death on February 8, 1956.

Vera and Ralph Lewis had a daughter, Monica.

Thus in addition to her four grandchildren, Vera and Ralph had 10 great-grandchildren.