Post by phantomparticle on Jul 16, 2021 2:42:04 GMT
The opening line in Marie Dressler's IMDB bio reads: Once you saw her, you would not forget her.
Dressler was born Leila Marie Koeber in Cobourg, Ontario, Canada. Her birth year is variously listed as 1868 and 1869; the date on her gravestone is 1871.
She adopted the name of an aunt as her stage name, joined a theatre troop at the age of 14, worked primarily in light opera, and became a top vaudeville star until her breakthrough role on Broadway in Tillie's Nightmare (1910). The play was filmed four years later under the title Tillie's Punctured Romance, for which she received top billing over Charlie Chaplin.
Tillie’s Nightmare, Broadway (1910)
Dressler married George Hoppert in 1894. They had a child who died in infancy, about which nothing is known, and were divorced in 1896. She lived with James Dalton from 1914 to his death in 1921. Her career faltered over the next several years and she was blacklisted in theatres for her part in the Chorus Girls' strike of 1917. It was screenwriter Francis Marion who got her back on film with a small part in The Joy Girl (1927) and a co-starring lead with Polly Moran in The Callahans and the Murphys (1927)
The Callahans and the Murphys (1927)
There are various stories about her "attempted suicide," although some sources maintained that she was actually considering becoming a domestic at a Long Island estate. The success of The Callahans and the Murphys, however, resulted in a personal and professional resurgence in talking pictures where she remained a top star until her death and was one of three Canadian performers (along with Mary Pickford and Norma Shearer) to win an Academy Award as best actress.
Anna Christie (1930)
Dressler died of cancer in Santa Barbara, CA, on July 28, 1934. Reduced to near poverty when her career stalled in the late 1920’s, she left an estate valued at $310,000. On winning her best actress award for Min and Bill (1930) Dressler, who suffered from stage fright throughout her career was quoted as saying: Like an old Model T-Ford, I had to be cranked up. I was scared stiff.
Min and Bill (1930)
Dressler closes Dinner at 8 with a Classic reaction and last line to Jean Harlow.
Thanx, Marie Dressler, wherever you are.
Dressler was born Leila Marie Koeber in Cobourg, Ontario, Canada. Her birth year is variously listed as 1868 and 1869; the date on her gravestone is 1871.
She adopted the name of an aunt as her stage name, joined a theatre troop at the age of 14, worked primarily in light opera, and became a top vaudeville star until her breakthrough role on Broadway in Tillie's Nightmare (1910). The play was filmed four years later under the title Tillie's Punctured Romance, for which she received top billing over Charlie Chaplin.
Tillie’s Nightmare, Broadway (1910)
Dressler married George Hoppert in 1894. They had a child who died in infancy, about which nothing is known, and were divorced in 1896. She lived with James Dalton from 1914 to his death in 1921. Her career faltered over the next several years and she was blacklisted in theatres for her part in the Chorus Girls' strike of 1917. It was screenwriter Francis Marion who got her back on film with a small part in The Joy Girl (1927) and a co-starring lead with Polly Moran in The Callahans and the Murphys (1927)
The Callahans and the Murphys (1927)
There are various stories about her "attempted suicide," although some sources maintained that she was actually considering becoming a domestic at a Long Island estate. The success of The Callahans and the Murphys, however, resulted in a personal and professional resurgence in talking pictures where she remained a top star until her death and was one of three Canadian performers (along with Mary Pickford and Norma Shearer) to win an Academy Award as best actress.
Anna Christie (1930)
Dressler died of cancer in Santa Barbara, CA, on July 28, 1934. Reduced to near poverty when her career stalled in the late 1920’s, she left an estate valued at $310,000. On winning her best actress award for Min and Bill (1930) Dressler, who suffered from stage fright throughout her career was quoted as saying: Like an old Model T-Ford, I had to be cranked up. I was scared stiff.
Min and Bill (1930)
Dressler closes Dinner at 8 with a Classic reaction and last line to Jean Harlow.
Thanx, Marie Dressler, wherever you are.