Gloria Holden facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gloria Holden
Holden in Dracula's Daughter (1936)
Born	Gloria Anna Holden (1903-09-05)September 5, 1903 London, UK
Died	March 22, 1991(1991-03-22) (aged 87) Redlands, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1934–1958
Spouse(s)	Harry Dawson Reynolds (m. 1921-19??; divorced); 1 son Harold A. Winston (1932-1937; divorced) William Hoyt (1944–1991; her death); 1 son
Children	2

Gloria Anna Holden (born September 5, 1903 – died March 22, 1991) was an actress. She was born in England but became an American film star. Gloria Holden is most famous for playing the main character in the movie Dracula's Daughter. She often played characters who were strong and sometimes a bit distant.

Gloria Holden: An Actress's Story

Early Life and Training

Gloria Holden was born in London, England. When she was a child, she moved to the United States with her parents. Her mother was from Germany. Gloria went to school in Wayne, Pennsylvania. Later, she studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York.

Before becoming a famous actress, Gloria had many different jobs. She worked as a model for artists. She was also a shopper for a store. And she even worked in a beauty salon. When she was a teenager, living near Philadelphia, she took singing lessons. She also sang in church choirs.

From Stage to Screen

Gloria Holden started her acting career on the stage. She had small roles in many plays. One of her first parts was playing a nurse in a play called The Royal Family. She also filled in for other actresses in plays like Children of Darkness.

She performed in different theater groups. These groups put on plays in cities like Cincinnati, Ohio, and Princeton, New Jersey. Her stage experience helped her become a strong performer.

Gloria Holden is best remembered for her movie roles. She played the main character in Dracula's Daughter (1936). Her performance in this horror film was very unique. It even inspired famous horror writer Anne Rice. Anne Rice mentioned Dracula's Daughter in her book The Queen of the Damned.

Gloria also played Mme. Zola in The Life of Emile Zola (1937). This movie was very popular. Another film she was in was The Man Without a Country (1937). This short film was nominated for an Academy Award. Her last movie role was in This Happy Feeling (1958).

Radio Work

Besides movies and plays, Gloria Holden also acted on the radio. She was a regular guest on Eddie Cantor's radio show for many weeks. She also played a character named Julie La Verne in a radio version of the musical Show Boat. This radio play was based on the 1936 movie.

Family Life

Gloria Holden was married three times. Her first husband was Harry Dawson Reynolds. They married in 1921. They had a son named Lawrence Reynolds. He later became an actor known as Glen Corbett. Glen Corbett's children, Laurie Holden and Christopher Holden, also became actors. They used their grandmother's last name, Holden, professionally. Gloria and Harry later divorced.

Her second marriage was to Harold A. Winston in 1932. This marriage also ended in divorce in 1937.

In 1944, she married her third husband, William Hoyt. They stayed married until her death. They had one son together, William Christopher Hoyt, born in 1948.

Gloria Holden passed away in 1991 at the age of 87. She died from a heart attack.

Her Lasting Impact

Gloria Holden's second husband, Harold A. Winston, is known for helping discover another famous actor, William Holden. A story says that William Holden got his stage name because of Gloria. Harold Winston was helping find new talent. He suggested the name "William Holden" in honor of his former wife, Gloria Holden.

Film Roles

Here is a list of some of the movies Gloria Holden appeared in: