Paulette Goddard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paulette Goddard
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Goddard in 1947
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| Born |
Marion Levy
June 3, 1910 New York City, New York, U.S.
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| Died | April 23, 1990 (aged 79) Ronco sopra Ascona, Switzerland
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| Resting place | Ronco Village Cemetery, Ticino, Switzerland |
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| Years active | 1926–1972 |
| Spouse(s) |
Edgar James
(m. 1927; div. 1932) |
Paulette Goddard (born Marion Levy; June 3, 1910 – April 23, 1990) was a famous American actress. She was a big star during the "Golden Age of Hollywood," a time when movies were becoming very popular.
Paulette started her career young. She was a child fashion model and performed on Broadway. Later, she moved to Hollywood. She became well-known for her relationship with the famous actor Charlie Chaplin. She even starred in two of his movies. After signing with Paramount Pictures, Paulette became one of their top actresses. She appeared in many successful films.
Paulette Goddard was known for being a very strong and independent woman. Her marriages to famous people like Charlie Chaplin and writer Erich Maria Remarque were often in the news. After marrying Remarque, she moved to Switzerland. She mostly stopped acting then. In her later years, she was a well-known socialite. She passed away in Switzerland in 1990.
Contents
Early Life and First Steps in Show Business
Paulette Goddard was born Marion Levy in New York City. Her parents were Joseph Russell Levy and Alta Mae Goddard. When she was young, her family moved to Kansas City, Missouri. Her parents separated and later divorced. Paulette often moved around with her mother.
Paulette began modeling after her parents separated. She worked for big stores like Saks Fifth Avenue. Her uncle, Charles Goddard, helped her career. He introduced her to Florenz Ziegfeld, a famous Broadway producer. In 1926, she started performing on stage. She used the name Paulette Goddard. She was a dancer in Ziegfeld's show No Foolin'.
At 17, Paulette married Edgar James. He was a wealthy businessman. Their marriage was short. They separated in 1929 and divorced in 1932. Paulette received a large settlement from the divorce.
Becoming a Film Star
Paulette first came to Hollywood in 1929. She had small, uncredited roles in a few films. After her divorce, she returned to Hollywood. She signed her first movie contract with producer Samuel Goldwyn. She appeared in Whoopee! (1930). For the next few years, she had many small roles.
Working with Charlie Chaplin
In 1932, Paulette started dating Charlie Chaplin. This relationship brought her a lot of attention. Chaplin then cast her in his next big movie, Modern Times (1936). She played "The Gamin," a young orphan girl. This was her first credited role. Critics liked her performance.
After Modern Times was a hit, Chaplin wanted to make more movies with Paulette. But Chaplin worked very slowly. Paulette worried people might forget her. So, she signed a contract with David O. Selznick. She appeared in the comedy The Young in Heart (1938).
Selznick was very impressed with Paulette. He thought about her for the main role of Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With the Wind. This was a huge role! Paulette was one of the final choices. But in the end, Vivien Leigh got the part. Some people worried about Paulette's strong personality.
Paulette also made two films for MGM. One was The Women (1939). This movie was very successful. A film critic later said Paulette was "a stand-out" in it.
Success at Paramount Pictures
In 1939, Paulette joined Paramount Pictures. She quickly became a big star there. She often worked with comedian Bob Hope. They made popular horror-comedy films like The Cat and the Canary (1939). They also starred together in The Ghost Breakers (1940).
In September 1939, Chaplin began filming The Great Dictator (1940). Paulette starred with him again as Hannah. The movie was a big success. However, this was her last film with Chaplin. Their marriage ended soon after.
Paulette also starred in the Western film North West Mounted Police (1940). She acted alongside Gary Cooper. This movie was one of the highest-earning films that year.
In 1942, Paulette appeared in the musical Star Spangled Rhythm. She sang a popular song in it. She also worked with actor Ray Milland in several films. Their movie Reap the Wild Wind was very successful. It was the studio's top-grossing film that year.
In 1943, Paulette starred in So Proudly We Hail!. She played a nurse during World War II. Her performance earned her a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. This is a very important award in Hollywood.
In 1945, she made Kitty. This was her most successful film for Paramount. She also produced a film with her husband, Burgess Meredith, called The Diary of a Chambermaid.
In 1947, she starred in Unconquered with Gary Cooper. This was a big historical movie. She also made An Ideal Husband in Britain. Later, her husband Burgess Meredith faced career difficulties. Paulette left Paramount in 1949.
Later Career and Television
After leaving Paramount, Paulette continued to act. She starred in the film The Torch (1950). She also worked as a producer on this movie.
In 1951, she started acting on television. She appeared in shows like Four Star Revue and Sherlock Holmes. Her later film roles, like in Vice Squad, did not get as much attention as her earlier work. Her last main film role was in A Stranger Came Home (1954). She continued to appear in plays and on TV shows.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1958, Paulette married writer Erich Maria Remarque. He was known for his book All Quiet on the Western Front. Paulette was very good at investing her money. She became quite wealthy. After marrying Remarque, she mostly stopped acting. She moved with him to Ronco sopra Ascona, Switzerland. She acted only a few times after that. Remarque passed away in 1970.
Paulette inherited a lot of money and art from Remarque. She was known for her large collection of art. She also became a well-known socialite in New York City. She was often seen at cultural events with famous people like Andy Warhol.
Personal Life
Paulette Goddard married four times.
- Her first marriage was to Edgar James in 1927. She was 17. They divorced in 1932.
- In 1932, she started a relationship with Charlie Chaplin. They lived together. They were married in 1936, though they kept it private. They divorced in 1942. They remained good friends after their divorce.
- In 1944, Paulette married actor Burgess Meredith. They divorced in 1949.
- Her last marriage was to writer Erich Maria Remarque in 1958. They were married until his death in 1970. Paulette did not have any children.
Death and Legacy
Paulette Goddard passed away on April 23, 1990, in Switzerland. She was 79 years old. She is buried next to her husband Remarque and her mother.
Paulette Goddard is remembered for her two films with Charlie Chaplin: Modern Times and The Great Dictator. She also left a very important legacy. She donated $20 million to New York University (NYU). This money helped create a center for European studies, named after Erich Maria Remarque. A student residence hall at NYU, Goddard Hall, is also named in her honor.
Fictional Portrayals
Paulette Goddard has been played by other actresses in movies and plays.
- Gwen Humble played her in the TV movie Moviola: The Scarlett O'Hara War (1980).
- Diane Lane played her in the film Chaplin (1992).
- Natalie Wilder played her in the 2011 play Puma.
Images for kids
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Paulette Goddard in a publicity photo for A Stranger Came Home (1954)
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See also
In Spanish: Paulette Goddard para niños
