Gloria Swanson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gloria Swanson
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Swanson in 1941
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| Born |
Gloria May Josephine Swanson
March 27, 1899 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
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| Died | April 4, 1983 (aged 84) New York City, U.S.
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| Resting place | Church of the Heavenly Rest, New York City |
| Other names | Gloria Mae |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1914–1983 |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) |
Herbert K. Somborn
(m. 1919; div. 1922)Henry de La Falaise
(m. 1925; div. 1931)Michael Farmer
(m. 1931; div. 1934)William Davey
(m. 1945; div. 1946)William Dufty
(m. 1976) |
| Children | 3 |
| Signature | |
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Gloria May Josephine Swanson (March 27, 1899 – April 4, 1983) was a famous American actress and film producer. She became a huge star in the 1920s during the silent film era. She was nominated three times for the Academy Award for Best Actress. Her most famous role was in the 1950 movie Sunset Boulevard, which also won her a Golden Globe Award.
Gloria was born in Chicago and grew up in a military family, so they moved around a lot. When she was 15, she visited a film studio and was offered a small part in a movie. This was the start of her amazing career in front of the camera. She soon began working in California for Mack Sennett's Keystone Studios, making funny short films.
Later, she signed a contract with Famous Players-Lasky/Paramount Pictures. She became a global superstar, appearing in many popular films directed by Cecil B. DeMille, like Male and Female (1919). She continued to be a successful movie star in films such as The Affairs of Anatol (1921) and Beyond the Rocks (1922).
In 1925, Gloria Swanson joined United Artists. She was one of the first women in the film industry to produce her own movies. She produced and starred in Sadie Thompson (1928), which earned her an Academy Award nomination. Her first movie with sound, The Trespasser (1929), earned her a second Academy Award nomination. After many years of success, her film career slowed down in the 1930s. However, she made a big comeback in Sunset Boulevard (1950). After that, she made only a few more films but appeared on many television shows and acted in plays.
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Gloria Swanson's Early Life
Gloria Swanson was born in Chicago in 1899. She was the only child of Adelaide and Joseph Theodore Swanson, who was a soldier. Her father was Swedish American, and her mother had German, French, and Polish roots. Because her father was in the U.S. Army, her family moved often. She spent parts of her childhood in Key West, Florida, and Puerto Rico. In Puerto Rico, she saw her very first movies.
Becoming a Film Star
First Steps in Movies (1914–1918)
When Gloria's family moved back to Chicago, she became interested in actor Francis X. Bushman. He worked at Essanay Studios. Gloria visited his studio, and at age 15, she was hired as an extra. This meant she would appear in the background of scenes.
The movie industry was very new back then. Gloria's first small role paid $3.25, which was a lot of money at the time! Soon, the studio offered her steady work for $13.25 a week. Gloria left school to work full-time. In 1915, she starred in Sweedie Goes to College with Wallace Beery, who would become her first husband.
In 1916, Gloria and her mother moved to California. There, she worked for Mack Sennett's Keystone Studios in funny short films with Bobby Vernon. They were a popular duo on screen. Gloria was even recommended to director Jack Conway for more films.
Rise to Stardom (1919–1926)
In 1918, Gloria signed a contract with Famous Players-Lasky for $150 a week, which soon increased. Her first film with them was For Better, for Worse. She made six films with director Cecil B. DeMille. One famous scene was in Male and Female (1919), where she posed with a lion!
She continued to star in many successful films, including Why Change Your Wife? (1920) and The Affairs of Anatol (1921). She also appeared in 10 films directed by Sam Wood, including Beyond the Rocks (1922) with her friend Rudolph Valentino. Valentino became a huge star, but Gloria knew him when he was just starting out.
In 1925, Gloria starred in the French-American comedy Madame Sans-Gêne. This film was special because it was allowed to be filmed at historic sites related to Napoleon. She also made several other films for Paramount, like The Coast of Folly (1925) and Stage Struck (1925).
Producing Her Own Films (1925–1933)
Gloria Swanson turned down a huge contract offer from Paramount to join United Artists in 1925. At that time, she was one of the most popular and successful stars. United Artists allowed her to produce her own films.
She set up her own company, Swanson Producing Corporation. Her first film as a producer was The Love of Sunya (1927). It was a challenging production, but it didn't lose money.
New Beginnings with Gloria Productions
By the end of 1927, Gloria faced financial difficulties. She sought help from Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., a financial advisor. He helped her start a new company called Gloria Productions. He also advised her to make a silent film called Queen Kelly, even though movies with sound were becoming popular. The filming of Queen Kelly was difficult, and the director was eventually replaced.
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However, her next film, The Trespasser (1929), was a sound film and earned her a second Oscar nomination. It was a melodrama with songs sung by Gloria herself. The movie was a big hit, especially in London. What a Widow! (1930) was the last film made by Gloria Productions.
Radio Appearances and British Films
Famous stars like Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks hosted a radio show in 1928. It was a way to promote sound films and let audiences hear their favorite actors' voices. Gloria Swanson, Charlie Chaplin, and other big stars appeared on the show.
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Before making films in Britain, Gloria completed two more movies for Art Cinema: Indiscreet and Tonight or Never (1931). In 1933, she produced and starred in Perfect Understanding in England. This comedy co-starred Laurence Olivier. The film was not well-received by critics and did not do well at the box office. This marked the end of her producing career with United Artists.
New Paths and Later Career (1938–1977)
After her film career slowed down, Gloria moved to New York City in 1938. She starred in the film Father Takes a Wife in 1941. She also started appearing in stage plays and hosted her own television show, The Gloria Swanson Hour, in 1948. Gloria was also interested in painting and sculpting. She even published a newsletter called Gloria Swanson’s Diary. She toured in plays, got involved in politics, and designed clothes.
Sunset Boulevard Comeback
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The film Sunset Boulevard was created by director Billy Wilder and writer Charles Brackett. They considered other actresses for the main role of Norma Desmond, but director George Cukor suggested Gloria Swanson.
Gloria was happy to make the film, as it paid much more than her television and stage work. She loved making the movie. She was nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award for her role, but she did not win.
Final Films and TV Appearances
After Sunset Boulevard, Gloria received many acting offers, but she turned most of them down. She felt they were too similar to her role in Sunset Boulevard. Her last major Hollywood film was 3 for Bedroom C (1952), which was also her first color film. In 1956, she made an Italian film called Nero's Mistress. Her very last appearance on screen was as herself in Airport 1975.
Gloria hosted The Gloria Swanson Hour, one of the first live TV shows in 1948. She also hosted Crown Theatre with Gloria Swanson, where she sometimes acted.
In the 1960s, 70s, and early 80s, Gloria appeared on many talk and variety shows. She would talk about her old movies and even make fun of them. She was a "mystery guest" on What's My Line. She also acted in an episode of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour in 1964. In the same year, she was nominated for a Golden Globe award for her role in Burke's Law. She made a memorable guest appearance on The Beverly Hillbillies in 1966, playing herself.
After mostly retiring from movies, Gloria appeared in many plays. She starred on Broadway in Twentieth Century and Nina. Her last big stage role was in Butterflies Are Free in 1971.
Gloria Swanson's Personal Life
Gloria Swanson was a vegetarian and believed in healthy eating. She was known for bringing her own meals to public events in a special tin box. In 1975, she helped promote the book Sugar Blues, written by her husband, William Dufty. He also helped her write her autobiography, Swanson on Swanson, which was very popular.
She was a student of yoga and appeared in a book about staying young and healthy.
Gloria was a Republican. She supported presidential campaigns for Wendell Willkie in 1940 and 1944, and Barry Goldwater in 1964. In 1980, she led a group called "Seniors for Reagan-Bush" in New York. In 1964, she spoke at a rally supporting school prayer.
Marriages
Gloria Swanson was married six times.
Wallace Beery
She married actor Wallace Beery on her 17th birthday in 1916. They divorced in 1918.
Herbert K. Somborn
She married Herbert K. Somborn in 1919. He was a film executive and later owned the famous Brown Derby restaurant. Their daughter, Gloria Swanson Somborn, was born in 1920. In 1923, she adopted a son and named him Joseph Patrick Swanson. They divorced in 1923.
Henri de la Falaise
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During the filming of Madame Sans-Gêne, Gloria met Henry de la Falaise, who was helping as a translator. He was a Marquis and related to the Hennessy cognac family. They married in 1925. When they returned to the U.S., Gloria became known as a Marquise. This marriage ended in divorce in 1930.
Even after their divorce, they remained friends. Henri helped Gloria with her company, Multiprises, which helped scientists escape from Nazi-controlled areas during World War II.
Michael Farmer
Gloria met Michael Farmer in Paris. They married in 1931. Because there was a question about her previous divorce being final, they had to remarry later that year. Their daughter, Michelle Bridget Farmer, was born in 1932. They separated two years later.
William M. Davey
Gloria met William Davey, a wealthy investment broker, in 1944. They married in 1945. Gloria hoped to retire from acting, but the marriage was difficult and ended with Davey's death.
William Dufty
Gloria's last marriage was in 1976 to William Dufty, a writer. He was known for writing the health book Sugar Blues. They met in the mid-1960s and shared a love for healthy eating. They traveled a lot to talk about nutrition. Gloria and William Dufty became friends with John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Gloria even spoke up for John Lennon at his immigration hearing. They had homes in New York, California, and Portugal. William Dufty passed away in 2002.
Death
Gloria Swanson died from a heart problem in New York City on April 4, 1983. She was 84 years old. She was cremated, and her ashes were placed at the Church of the Heavenly Rest in New York City.
After her death, many of her belongings, including furniture, jewelry, clothes, and items from her career, were sold at auctions.
Honors and Legacy
In 1960, Gloria Swanson received two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. One was for her movies and the other for her television work. She also received the George Eastman Award for her contributions to film. In 1974, she was honored at the first Telluride Film Festival. A parking lot in New Port Richey, Florida, is named after her.
In 1982, Gloria sold her huge collection of archives, including photos, artwork, films, and private papers, to the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin.
In 1989, the Library of Congress chose Sunset Boulevard to be preserved in the National Film Registry. This means it is considered a very important film culturally, historically, and artistically.
Portrayals of Gloria Swanson
Other actresses have played Gloria Swanson in TV shows and movies:
- 1971: Carol Burnett on The Carol Burnett Show
- 1984: Diane Venora in The Cotton Club
- 1990: Madolyn Smith in The Kennedys of Massachusetts
- 1991: Ann Turkel in White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd
- 2008: Kristen Wiig in Saturday Night Live
- 2013: Debi Mazar in Return to Babylon
Images for kids
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Gloria Swanson's signature
