Mary Carlisle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mary Carlisle
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Carlisle in 1933
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| Born |
Gwendolyn Witter
February 3, 1914 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| Died | August 1, 2018 (aged 104) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Resting place | Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery |
| Occupation | Actress, singer, dancer |
| Years active | 1923–1943 |
| Spouse(s) |
James Blakeley
(m. 1942; died 2007) |
| Children | 1 |
| Relatives | Leotta Whytock (aunt) |
Mary Carlisle (born Gwendolyn Witter; February 3, 1914 – August 1, 2018) was an American actress, singer, and dancer. She was famous for playing sweet and innocent characters in many musical-comedy films during the 1930s.
Mary starred in over 60 Hollywood movies. She became well-known after being chosen as one of the 15 "WAMPAS Baby Stars" in 1932. This was a group of young actresses who were thought to be on their way to becoming big stars. Her first important role was in the 1933 film College Humor with singer and actor Bing Crosby. They worked together in two more films: Double or Nothing (1937) and Doctor Rhythm (1938). After she got married in 1942 and starred in Dead Men Walk (1943), she stopped acting.
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Early Life and Beginnings
Mary Carlisle was born Gwendolyn Witter in Boston, Massachusetts. Her parents were Arthur William and Leona Ella Witter. Her family was religious, and she went to school at a convent in Boston. This was after her family moved to the Back Bay area when she was six months old.
When Mary was four, her father passed away. After this, she and her mother moved to Los Angeles. Mary's uncle, Robert Carlisle, worked as a film editor and producer. He told her about a chance to try out for a movie at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) studios.
Hollywood Career
Mary's uncle helped her get a small, uncredited part in the silent movie Long Live the King in 1923. She was discovered by a studio boss named Carl Laemmle Jr. when she was 14. She was eating lunch with her mother at the Universal Studios canteen. People admired her beautiful looks, and Laemmle offered her a screen test. She passed the test and started working as an extra at Universal. However, a welfare officer noticed she was too young and made her finish school first.
Two years later, after finishing school, she went to MGM. Mary had said she could dance, even though she couldn't very well. She took a quick tap-dancing lesson and won a small part in a film. In 1930, Mary signed a one-year contract with MGM. She often worked as a back-up dancer. Early in her career, Mary had small roles in movies like Madam Satan and Passion Flower (both from 1930). She also appeared in Grand Hotel (1932) as a bride. She became more recognized in 1932 when she was named one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars.
Her big acting chance came when Paramount Pictures "loaned" her to star in the musical comedy College Humor (1933). She acted alongside Bing Crosby. In the old Hollywood "star system," actors were usually tied to one studio. But sometimes, studios would "loan" their stars to other companies. Critics liked her performance, and it helped her become a leading actress. She made two more movies with Crosby: Double or Nothing in 1937 and Doctor Rhythm (1938). She kept working for different studios, mostly as the main actress in "B-movies." These were films made with smaller budgets. One of Mary's few roles in a big "A-movie" was in Dance, Girl, Dance (1940). In this film, she acted with Lucille Ball and Maureen O'Hara.
Mary acted in more than 60 movies over about 12 years. She stopped acting after co-starring in Dead Men Walk (1943).
Personal Life
In 1942, Mary Carlisle married James Edward Blakeley. He was an actor from Britain who later became a producer at 20th Century Fox. Mary stopped making films soon after they married. The couple had one son, James, and two grandchildren. They were married for almost 65 years. Later in her life, Mary managed the Elizabeth Arden Salon in Beverly Hills, California.
After actress Barbara Kent passed away at age 103 in 2011, Mary Carlisle became the last living WAMPAS Baby Star. Mary died on August 1, 2018, at a retirement community for actors in Los Angeles. She was believed to be 104 years old, but she never publicly confirmed her exact age or birth date. Mary is buried in Westwood Memorial Park in Los Angeles, California.
Mary's mother had a twin sister, Leotta Whytock, who was also a film editor.
Awards and Recognition
On February 8, 1960, Mary Carlisle received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Her star is located at 6679 Hollywood Boulevard.
Film Highlights
Mary Carlisle appeared in over 60 films during her career. Some of her notable roles included:
- Long Live the King (1923) - Her first uncredited role.
- Grand Hotel (1932) - As Mrs. Hoffman.
- College Humor (1933) - Her breakthrough role with Bing Crosby.
- Double or Nothing (1937) - Another film with Bing Crosby.
- Doctor Rhythm (1938) - Her third film with Bing Crosby.
- Dance, Girl, Dance (1940) - A more significant role in an "A-movie."
- Dead Men Walk (1943) - Her final film role.
Images for kids
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Mary Carlisle in a motion silhouette
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Carlisle in a 1936 MGM publicity shot
See also
In Spanish: Mary Carlisle para niños
