Ida Lupino facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ida Lupino
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Lupino before performance on the radio series Cavalcade of America
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| Born | 4 February 1918 Herne Hill, London, England
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| Died | 3 August 1995 (aged 77) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Royal Academy of Dramatic Art |
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| Years active | 1931–1978 |
| Political party | Democrat |
| Spouse(s) |
Collier Young
(m. 1948; div. 1951) |
| Children | 1 |
| Parents |
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| Family | Lupino |
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Ida Lupino (born February 4, 1918 – died August 3, 1995) was a talented British actress, director, writer, and producer. She worked in Hollywood for 48 years. During this time, she acted in 59 movies and directed eight. She became an American citizen in 1948.
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Early Life and Family
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Ida Lupino was born in Herne Hill, London, England. Her mother, Connie O'Shea, was an actress. Her father, Stanley Lupino, was a famous comedian in music hall shows. Music hall was a popular type of entertainment with singing, dancing, and comedy.
Ida came from a big family of performers called the Lupino family. Her father encouraged her to perform from a young age. He even built a small theater in their backyard for Ida and her sister, Rita, to practice. Ida wrote her first play when she was only seven years old. By age ten, she knew all the main female roles in William Shakespeare's plays by heart.
Even though she loved writing, Ida went to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art to please her father. She got many film roles, but she didn't always enjoy acting. She felt like she was pushed into it because of her family's history in entertainment.
Career Highlights
Ida Lupino is known as one of the most important female filmmakers in the 1950s. This was a time when big studios controlled Hollywood. She started her own production company. With her company, she helped write and produce several films that shared important social messages.
She also made history by becoming the first woman to direct a film noir. This was a type of dark and moody crime film. Her famous film noir was The Hitch-Hiker in 1953. Some of her other well-known directed films include Not Wanted (1949) and The Bigamist (1953).
As an actress, Ida Lupino starred in many popular movies. These include They Drive by Night (1940) and High Sierra (1941), both with Humphrey Bogart. She also appeared in The Sea Wolf (1941) and Road House (1948).
Her acting in The Hard Way (1943) earned her an award for Best Actress. Even though she was very popular in the 1940s, she never became a huge superstar. However, critics often praised her realistic acting style.
Ida Lupino also directed over 100 episodes of television shows. These included westerns, comedies, and mystery stories. She was the only woman to direct an episode of the original The Twilight Zone series. She was also the only director to star in an episode of that show.
Personal Life
In 1934, Ida Lupino was diagnosed with polio. This disease made it hard for her to work. She recovered and later directed a film called Never Fear (1949). This movie was partly based on her own experiences with polio. Ida also helped raise money for polio research.
Outside of her film career, Ida enjoyed writing short stories and children's books. She also composed music. Her musical piece, "Aladdin's Suite," was performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra in 1937. She wrote it while recovering from polio.
Politics and Religion
Ida Lupino became an American citizen in June 1948. She supported the Democratic Party and was a fan of President John F. Kennedy. She was also a Catholic.
Marriages and Family
Ida Lupino was married and divorced three times. Her first husband was actor Louis Hayward, whom she married in 1938. They divorced in 1945.
Her second marriage was to producer Collier Young in 1948. They divorced in 1951.
Ida's third and final marriage was to actor Howard Duff in 1951. They had a daughter named Bridget in 1952. They separated in 1966 and divorced in 1983.
Death
Ida Lupino passed away on August 3, 1995, in Los Angeles. She was 77 years old. She died from a stroke while being treated for colon cancer. Her life story, Ida Lupino: Beyond the Camera, was published after her death.
Influences and Legacy
Ida Lupino learned a lot about filmmaking by watching everyone on set. She was known for her deep understanding of how cameras work. Cinematographer Archie Stout once said that Ida knew more about camera angles and lenses than almost any other director he had worked with. She also worked closely with film editors, making sure her movies were well-made from the start.
Awards and Recognition
- Ida Lupino has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. These honor her work in television and film.
- She won the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress in 1943 for her role in The Hard Way.
- She received the first ever Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1975 for The Devil's Rain.
- A special plaque was placed on the house where she was born in London. It honors both Ida and her father, Stanley Lupino.
- Composer Carla Bley wrote a jazz song called "Ida Lupino" in 1964 as a tribute to her.
- Two of her directed films, The Hitch-Hiker and Outrage, were chosen for the National Film Registry. This means they are important films that should be preserved.
Images for kids
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Lupino (left) directing The Hitch-Hiker, 1953
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Cinematographer Ted McCord, Lupino and Dane Clark in Deep Valley (1947)
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Lupino in It Takes a Thief in 1968
See also
In Spanish: Ida Lupino para niños
