Margo (actress) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Margo
Margo in 1936
Born	María Marguerita Guadalupe Teresa Estela Bolado Castilla y O'Donnell (1917-05-10)May 10, 1917 Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Died	July 17, 1985(1985-07-17) (aged 68) Pacific Palisades, California, U.S.
Resting place	Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery, U.S.
Other names	Margo Albert Margarita Alonso y Castilla Margo Bolado
Occupation	Actress, dancer
Years active	1934–1965
Spouse(s)	Francis Lederer ​ ​ (m. 1937; div. 1940)​ Eddie Albert ​ (m. 1945)​
Children	Edward Albert

Margo (born María Marguerita Guadalupe Teresa Estela Bolado Castilla y O'Donnell) was a talented Mexican-American actress and dancer. She was born on May 10, 1917, and passed away on July 17, 1985. Margo starred in many American movies, plays, and TV shows. Some of her famous films include Lost Horizon (1937), The Leopard Man (1943), and Viva Zapata! (1952). In 1945, she married actor Eddie Albert and became known as Margo Albert.

Margo's Early Life and Acting Career

Margo grew up in a musical family in Mexico City, Mexico. She was born in 1917. As a young girl, she trained to be a dancer with Eduardo Cansino. He was the father of the famous actress Rita Hayworth. When Margo was just nine years old, she started dancing professionally. She performed with her uncle, Xavier Cugat, and his band in nightclubs in Mexico.

Margo later moved to the United States and lived in New York City. Her aunt, Carmen Castillo, who was a singer, lived there too. One day, while performing with her uncle's band at the Waldorf Astoria hotel, Margo was discovered. Producer Ben Hecht and writer Charles MacArthur saw her. They cast the 17-year-old Margo as the main character in their film Crime Without Passion.

Margo also played the role of Miriamne Esdras in the play Winterset. She then starred in the 1936 movie version of Winterset. A critic called this film a "must-see." In the 1930s, she also appeared in the 1937 film Lost Horizon. She performed in Broadway plays like Masque of Kings (1937) and The World We Make (1939).

Facing Challenges: The Blacklist Era

Margo continued acting in movies until the 1960s. However, her career faced a big challenge. This was due to something called the "television blacklist" which started around 1950. During this time, some people in the entertainment industry were unfairly accused of having communist ideas. Their names were put on a list, and it became very hard for them to find work.

Margo was known for her progressive political views. This meant she believed in social change and fairness. Even though she was not a member of the Communist Party, her name appeared in a pamphlet called Red Channels in 1950. This pamphlet tried to expose people it claimed had communist ties. Red Channels labeled Margo as a communist. This was because she supported a group called the Hollywood Ten. She also spoke out for peace and helped refugees.

Because of the blacklist, major Hollywood studios stopped hiring Margo. Her husband, Eddie Albert, also faced challenges. But his service in World War II helped him continue his acting career. Margo's son later said that his parents' careers were affected by this difficult time.

In 1964, Margo played the character Selena in an episode of the TV series Rawhide.

Margo's Work in Arts and Education

After the blacklist, Margo dedicated her time to supporting arts and education. In 1970, she co-founded Plaza de la Raza (which means "Place of the People"). She started this cultural center in East Los Angeles with Frank Lopez, a union activist.

Plaza de la Raza is still open today. It offers art education programs all year round. Margo was the artistic director and chairwoman of the board for this center. Her dedication to the arts went even further. She was also part of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities. She served on the board of the National Council of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Margo's Family Life and Passing

Margo was married two times. In 1937, she married actor Francis Lederer. They divorced in 1940. In December 1945, she married actor Eddie Albert. This was three years after she became a U.S. citizen.

Margo and Eddie Albert had two children. Their son, Edward Albert, also became an actor. They also adopted a daughter named Maria Carmen Zucht. Margo and Eddie stayed married for 40 years. Margo passed away on July 17, 1985, at the age of 68. She died from brain cancer at her home in Pacific Palisades, California. Her burial place is at Westwood Memorial Park in Los Angeles.

Margo's Film Appearances

Here is a list of movies Margo appeared in:

See also

In Spanish: Margo para niños

• List of women identified as communists in Red Channels