Signe Hasso facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Signe Hasso
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| Born |
Signe Eleonora Cecilia Larsson
15 August 1915 Stockholm, Sweden
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| Died | 7 June 2002 (aged 86) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1933–1998 |
| Spouse(s) |
Harry Hasso
(m. 1933; div. 1942)William Langford
(died 1955) |
| Children | 1 |
Signe Eleonora Cecilia Hasso (born Signe Larsson; August 15, 1915 – June 7, 2002) was a talented Swedish actress. She was also a writer and a composer. Signe Hasso became famous for her work in both Swedish and American films and plays. She had a long and successful career that lasted over 60 years.
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Early Life and First Steps in Acting
Signe Hasso was born in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1915. When she was only four years old, her father and grandfather passed away. Signe lived in a small home with her mother, grandmother, and two siblings. Her mother had always wanted to be an actress herself. She worked hard as a waffle cook to support the family.
Signe went to school at Matteusskolan and other local schools in Stockholm. Her acting career began by chance. When another young actress became sick, Signe's mother was asked if she knew any little girl who could act. Signe Hasso later remembered, "I was 12 then and didn't want to go." Her sister also did not want to go. So, her mother flipped a coin to decide, and Signe lost.
She auditioned for a play by Molière, a famous writer. Her audition was a success! This meant she started earning money as an actress at a young age. She began performing in plays at the Royal Dramatic Theatre in 1927, when she was just 12. At 16, she became the youngest acting student ever at this famous theater.
From Sweden to Hollywood
Signe performed on stage and in movies in Sweden. In 1933, she made her first film, Tystnadens hus. She worked with a German film director named Harry Hasso, and they got married that same year. They had a son together. Signe and Harry later divorced in 1942.
While in Sweden, Signe was noticed by Howard Hughes, a powerful person in Hollywood. He asked her to move to the United States. She signed a contract with RKO Pictures, a big movie studio. At first, she did not get many movie roles with RKO. So, she started acting on stage in New York City to earn a living. She appeared in five Broadway plays, starting in 1941.
In the mid-1940s, she signed with another major studio, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Her first important role was in the movie Heaven Can Wait in 1943. During the 1940s, she appeared in many films. These included The Seventh Cross (1944), Johnny Angel (1945), and The House on 92nd Street (1945). She also starred in A Scandal in Paris (1946) and A Double Life (1947). Signe said her favorite role was in A Double Life. In that movie, she played the ex-wife of an actor.
Later Career and Other Talents
Signe Hasso often appeared as a guest on popular television shows. She was on Bob Hope's TV series many times. She also acted in many well-known TV shows. Some of these include Route 66, Bonanza, The Outer Limits, and Starsky and Hutch. She also appeared in Magnum, P.I. and Hart to Hart.
Besides acting, Signe Hasso was also a talented musician and writer. She composed music, wrote song lyrics, and was an author. She even translated Swedish folk songs into English. Her first novel, Momo (1977), was about her childhood in Stockholm. Her second music album, Where the Sun Meets the Moon (1979), featured her own versions of Swedish folk tunes. In an interview in 1995, she said she wanted people to remember her for her writing, not just her acting. She continued to act until late in her life. Her last film was One Hell of a Guy in 1998.
Death
Signe Hasso passed away in Los Angeles, California, in 2002. She was 86 years old. She died from pneumonia and cancer.
Awards and Recognition
Signe Hasso received several awards during her career.
- In 1935, she received the Theatre League's De Wahl-stipendium.
- In 1939, she won the first Nordic Gösta Ekmanpriset.
- In 1972, the King of Sweden, Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden, made her a Member 1st Class of the Royal Order of Vasa. This is a special honor.
- In 1989, the Vasa Order of America named her Swedish-American of the Year.
- Signe Hasso has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This star honors her important contributions to movies. You can find it at 7080 Hollywood Boulevard.
