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Marion Davies
Marion Davies
Age 64 years (Jan 3, 1897 – Sep 22, 1961)
Birthplace Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Movies 48

Marion Davies

Actress · Producer
Marion Davies was an American actress, producer and philanthropist whose remarkable comic talent was overshadowed by her relationship with press magnate William Randolph Hearst. A nimble, luminous comedienne, she shone in silent films such as 'The Patsy' (1928) and 'Show People' (1928), though Hearst, determined to exalt her, forced her into historical dramas ill-suited to her register. Unjustly associated with the character of the singing wife in 'Citizen Kane' (1941), she was defended by Orson Welles himself, who acknowledged her true interpretive gift. She retired from the screen in 1937 to devote herself to Hearst and to philanthropy. Her physical comedy and her naturalness place her today among the most underrated performers of her time.
Marion Davies was an American actress, producer and philanthropist whose remarkable comic talent was overshadowed by her relationship with press magnate William Randolph Hearst. A nimble, luminous comedienne, she shone in silent films such as 'The Patsy' (1928) and 'Show People' (1928), though Hearst, determined to exalt her, forced her into historical dramas ill-suited to her register. Unjustly associated with the character of the singing wife in 'Citizen Kane' (1941), she was defended by Orson Welles himself, who acknowledged her true interpretive gift. She retired from the screen in 1937 to devote herself to Hearst and to philanthropy. Her physical comedy and her naturalness place her today among the most underrated performers of her time.
Movies
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Cain and Mabel
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Cain and Mabel
Full Filmography 48
Ever Since Eve
Marge Winton
★ 5.8
1937
Cain and Mabel
Mabel O'Dare
★ 6.4
1936
Hearts Divided
Betsy Patterson
★ 5.5
1936
Pirate Party on Catalina Isle
Marion Davies
★ 6.1
1935
Page Miss Glory
Loretta
★ 6.7
1935
Operator 13
Gail Loveless
★ 5.9
1934
Going Hollywood
Sylvia Bruce
★ 5.5
1933
Peg o' My Heart
Margaret 'Peg' O'Connell
★ 5.0
1933
Blondie of the Follies
Blondie McClune
★ 6.3
1932
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Marion Davies still alive?
Marion Davies passed away on September 22, 1961 at age 64.
What are the most famous roles of Marion Davies?
Marion Davies is best known for roles in The Pilgrim, Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, Show People.
How many movies has Marion Davies been in?
Over a 44-year career (since 1917), Marion Davies has appeared in 48 movies and 0 TV shows.
What was Marion Davies's first movie?
The career of Marion Davies began with Runaway Romany (1917).
What is Marion Davies's most recent movie or series?
Marion Davies's most recent release is Hedda Hopper's Hollywood, which premiered on January 10, 1960.
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Marion Davies
Marion Davies
1897-01-03 · Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

From Wikipedia

Marion Davies (January 3, 1897 – September 22, 1961) was an American film actress, producer, screenwriter, and philanthropist.

Davies was already building a solid reputation as a film comedienne when newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst, with whom she had begun a romantic relationship, took over management of her career. Hearst financed Davies' pictures, promoted her heavily through his newspapers and Hearst Newsreels, and pressured studios to cast her in historical dramas for which she was ill-suited. For this reason, Davies is better remembered today as Hearst's mistress and the hostess of many lavish events for the Hollywood elite. In particular, her name is linked with the 1924 scandal aboard Hearst's yacht where one of his guests, film producer Thomas Ince, became ill. Despite the legend surrounding Ince's death, likely from alcohol consumption, he did not die on the Hearst yacht. The producer died a few days later in the arms of his wife.

In the film Citizen Kane (1941), the title character's wife—an untalented singer whom he tries to promote—was widely assumed to be based on Davies. But many commentators, including Citizen Kane writer/director Orson Welles himself, have defended Davies' record as a gifted actress, to whom Hearst's patronage did more harm than good. She retired from the screen in 1937, choosing to devote herself to Hearst and charitable work.

In Hearst's declining years, Davies provided financial as well as emotional support until his death in 1951. She married for the first time eleven weeks after his death, a marriage which lasted until Davies died of stomach cancer in 1961 at the age of 64.

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