Mary Brian facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mary Brian
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Brian in 1931
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| Born |
Louise Byrdie Dantzler
February 17, 1906 Corsicana, Texas, U.S.
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| Died | December 30, 2002 (aged 96) Del Mar, California, U.S.
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| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1924–1954 |
| Spouse(s) |
Jon Whitcomb
(m. 1941; div. 1941)George Tomasini
(m. 1947; died 1964) |
Mary Brian (born Louise Byrdie Dantzler, February 17, 1906 – December 30, 2002) was an American actress. She successfully moved from acting in silent films (movies without sound) to sound films (movies with sound).
Contents
Early Life and Discovery
How Mary Brian Started Acting
Mary Brian was born in Corsicana, Texas. Her birth name was Louise Byrdie Dantzler. Her father passed away when she was very young. Her family then moved to Dallas, Texas. Later, in the early 1920s, they moved to Long Beach, California.
Mary had planned to become an illustrator. But her path changed at age 16. She was discovered during a local beauty contest. One of the judges was actress Esther Ralston. Esther later played Mary's mother in the movie Peter Pan. They became close friends for life.
Getting the Role in Peter Pan
Mary didn't win the top prize in the contest. But Esther Ralston thought she was special. So, Mary got an interview with director Herbert Brenon. He was looking for someone to play Wendy in his movie Peter Pan.
Brenon had tested many young actresses for the role. He decided to choose someone unknown. He felt it would make the movie feel more like a fairy tale. Mary got the part! The movie studio then gave her the stage name Mary Brian. They also said she was 16, even though she was 18. This was because 16 sounded better for the role.
After Peter Pan, Paramount Pictures signed her to a long contract. In Peter Pan, she starred with Betty Bronson and Esther Ralston. All three remained good friends.
Becoming a Star
Rising to Fame in Silent Films
Mary Brian was called "The Sweetest Girl in Pictures." She appeared in many movies for Paramount. She often played the main character or a young, innocent girl. In 1926, she was named one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars. This was a group of promising young actresses. Other stars that year included Joan Crawford and Janet Gaynor.
Mary Brian made over 40 movies while at Paramount. She worked with director Herbert Brenon again. She played Isabel in Beau Geste (1926). She also starred in Behind the Front and Harold Teen that same year. In 1928, she played Alice Deane in Forgotten Faces. This movie is kept safe in the Library of Congress.
Success in Sound Films
Making the Switch to Talkies
Mary Brian's first movie with sound was Varsity (1928). This movie had some talking parts. Her first movie that was entirely with sound was The Virginian (1929). She starred with Gary Cooper in this film. She played Molly Stark Wood, a strong frontier schoolteacher. She was the love interest of Gary Cooper's character.
Mary Brian starred in several popular movies in the 1930s. These included The Royal Family of Broadway (1930) and The Front Page (1931). She also appeared as herself in Paramount on Parade (1930).
Life After Paramount
After her contract with Paramount ended in 1932, Mary Brian decided to work as a freelance actress. This meant she didn't sign a long contract with just one studio. This was quite unusual back then. She also performed on stage in New York City.
She continued to appear in many films. Some of her roles included Muriel Ross in Shadows of Sing Sing (1933) and Hope Wolfinger in Man on the Flying Trapeze (1935). In 1936, she traveled to England. There, she made three more movies. One of these was The Amazing Quest of Ernest Bliss, where she starred with Cary Grant.
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Later Career and War Efforts
Entertaining Troops During World War II
When World War II began in 1941, Mary Brian started traveling. She joined the U.S.O. to entertain soldiers. She spent most of the war traveling the world. She visited places like the South Pacific, Europe, Italy, and North Africa.
In 1996, she shared a memory from the war. She was on the island of Tinian when the atomic bomb was dropped. She even got to see the Enola Gay, the plane that dropped the bomb. She also spent Christmas of 1944 with soldiers fighting in the Battle of the Bulge.
Final Acting Roles
After the war, Mary Brian appeared in only a few more films. Her last movie role was in Dragnet (1947). Over 22 years, she acted in more than 79 movies!
In 1951, she performed in a stage play in Australia. In the 1950s, she also started working in television. Her most famous TV role was playing the mother in Meet Corliss Archer in 1954.
After her acting career, Mary Brian spent a lot of time painting portraits.
Personal Life and Legacy
Family and Relationships
Mary Brian was engaged many times. She was also linked to several famous Hollywood men, including Cary Grant. However, she only married twice. Her first marriage was to Jon Whitcomb in 1941, but it lasted only six weeks. Her second marriage was to film editor George Tomasini. They were married from 1947 until his death in 1964. After she stopped acting, she focused on supporting her husband's career. George Tomasini was a film editor for famous director Alfred Hitchcock. He worked on movies like Rear Window (1954) and Psycho (1960).
Mary Brian passed away on December 30, 2002. She was 96 years old. She died of natural causes in Del Mar, California.
Honors and Recognition
In 1960, Mary Brian received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This special star honors her contributions to motion pictures. You can find it at 1559 Vine Street.
Images for kids
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Mary Brian in 1925
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