Mary Carlisle
Mary Carlisle | |
---|---|
Born | Gwendolyn Witter February 3, 1914 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
Died | August 1, 2018 Los Angeles, California, U.S. | (aged 104)
Resting place | Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery |
Occupation(s) | Actress, singer, dancer |
Years active | 1923–1943 |
Spouse |
James Blakeley
(m. 1942; died 2007) |
Children | 1 |
Relatives | Leotta Whytock (aunt) |
Mary Carlisle (born Gwendolyn Witter; February 3, 1914 – August 1, 2018) was an American actress, singer, and dancer, best known for her roles as a wholesome ingénue in numerous 1930s musical-comedy films.
She starred in more than 60
Early life
Carlisle was born Gwendolyn Witter in Boston, Massachusetts, to Arthur William and Leona Ella (Wotton) Witter.[1][2] Born into a religious family, she was educated in a convent in Back Bay, Boston,[3] after her family moved to that neighborhood when she was six months old.[4]
Some time after her father's death, when she was 4, Carlisle and her mother relocated to Los Angeles. Through her uncle Robert Carlisle, who was a film editor and producer, she learned of a casting call at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.[5]
Hollywood career
Carlisle's uncle, who lived in California, gave Carlisle the opportunity to appear in the
After completing her education two years later, she headed to MGM.[6] Carlisle, who had lied about her dancing ability, took a one-day basic tap-dancing lesson, won a part along with future star Ann Dvorak, and appeared briefly in one film.[4] Carlisle signed a one-year contract with MGM in 1930, and was used as a back-up dancer.[3][5] At the start of her movie career, Carlisle had small parts in movies such as Madam Satan and Passion Flower (both 1930).[1][9] She also had a role in Grand Hotel (1932), as a bride named Mrs. Hoffman.[3] She gained recognition when, in 1932, she was selected as one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars (young actresses believed to be on their way to stardom).[10]
Her major acting break came when
She acted in more than 60 movies in a career that spanned about a dozen years,[6] and retired after co-starring as the doctor's wife in Dead Men Walk (1943).[1][12]
Personal life
In 1942, Carlisle married British-born actor James Edward Blakeley, who later became an executive producer at
A Democrat, she supported Adlai Stevenson during the 1952 presidential election.[16]
After the death of
Her mother's twin sister, Leotta Whytock, was a film editor.[citation needed]
Accolades
On February 8, 1960, Carlisle received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, at 6679 Hollywood Boulevard.[18]
Filmography
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Mary Carlisle Dead: Bing Crosby's Co-Star Delight in Musicals Was 104". The Hollywood Reporter. August 1, 2018. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
- ^ a b c "Mary didn't need an agent". The Register-Guard, June 11, 1939. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
- ^ a b c "Minute biographies: Mary Carlisle". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 20, 1933. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
- ^ a b Soanes, Wood (February 18, 1937). "Sad-Eyed Comedienne". Oakland Tribune. California, Oakland. p. 75. Archived from the original on August 16, 2016. Retrieved June 28, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e f "Mary Carlisle sets record! Opposite Bing Crosby second time". Ottawa Citizen, May 29, 1937. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
- ^ a b c d "Mary Carlisle, a perpetual ingenue in dozens of 1930s films, dies at 104". Washington Post. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e Bergan, Ronald (August 7, 2018). "Mary Carlisle obituary". the Guardian. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
- ^ "Mary Calisle at 101". Nitrate Diva. February 3, 2015. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
- ^ a b "Passion Flower". Letter Boxd. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
- ^ Wollstein, Hans J. (2000–2001). "The WAMPAS Baby Stars". B-Westerns.com. Archived from the original on November 27, 2016. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
- ^ "Eddie Cantor picks Mary Carlisle as lead". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 3, 1933. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
- ^ "Hollywood Star Walk: Mary Carlisle". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 10, 2016. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
- ^ Benoit, Sharon (January 2007). "Passagess". Editors Guild Magazine. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
- ^ a b c "Mary Carlisle, a perpetual ingenue in dozens of 1930s films, dies at 104". Los Angeles Times. August 1, 2018. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
- ISBN 978-1434901422.
- ^ Motion Picture and Television Magazine, November 1952, page 33, Ideal Publishers
- ^ "Mary Carlisle, last of the WAMPAS baby stars dies at 104". Archived from the original on August 3, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
- ^ "Mary Carlisle - Inducted to the Walk of Fame on February 8, 1960". Walk of Fame. Archived from the original on October 13, 2016. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f "A Look at the Very Few Remaining Silent Film Actors". Classic Film Haven. June 15, 2014. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
- ^ "Children of Pleasure". Letter Boxd. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
- ^ "This Reckless Age". TMC. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
- ^ "Hotel Continental". TMC. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Mary Carlisle, a perpetual ingenue in dozens of 1930s films, dies at 104". SFGate. August 1, 2018. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
- ^ "Night Court". TMC. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
- ^ "Saturday's Millions". TMC. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
- ^ "Should Ladies Behave". TMC. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
- ^ "Once to Every Woman". TMC. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
- ^ "Murder in the Private Car". TMC. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
- ^ "Girl o' My Dreams". TMC. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
- ^ "The Great Hotel Murder". TMC. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
- ^ "Champagne for Breakfast". TMC. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
- ^ "The Old Homestead". TMC. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
- ^ "Love in Exile". TMC. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
- ^ "Lady Be Careful". TMC. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
- ^ "Hotel Haywire". TMC. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
- ^ "Hunted Men". TMC. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
- ^ "Illegal Traffic". TMC. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
- ^ "Say It in French". TMC. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Mary Carlisle: Overview". TMC. Retrieved August 1, 2018.