Myrna Loy
from the trailer for Libeled Lady (1936)
Born	Myrna Adele Williams August 2, 1905(1905-08-02) Radersburg, Montana, United States
Died	December 14, 1993 (aged 88) New York City, New York, United States
Other name(s)	Queen of Hollywood The Perfect Wife Queen of the Movies Minnie
Spouse(s)	Arthur Hornblow, Jr. (1936-1942) (divorced) John Hertz, Jr. Libeled Lady is a Screwball comedy film starring Jean Harlow, William Powell (who were romantically involved at the time Myrna Loy Events 338 BC - A Macedonian army led by Philip II defeated the combined forces of Athens and Thebes in the Year 1905 ( MCMV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Radersburg is a Census-designated place (CDP in Broadwater County, Montana, United States. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Events 1287 - St Lucia's flood: The Zuider Zee sea wall in the Netherlands collapses killing over 50000 people Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) The City of New York The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Arthur Hornblow Jr ( March 15, 1893 &ndash July 17, 1976) was an American Film producer. (1942-1944) (divorced) Gene Markey (1946-1950) (divorced) Howland H. Eugene "Gene" Lawrence Markey Jr (December 11 1895&ndashMay 1 1980 was an American author producer screenwriter and highly decorated naval officer Sargeant (1951-1960) (divorced)

Myrna Loy (August 2, 1905 – December 14, 1993) was an American motion picture actress. Events 338 BC - A Macedonian army led by Philip II defeated the combined forces of Athens and Thebes in the Year 1905 ( MCMV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Events 1287 - St Lucia's flood: The Zuider Zee sea wall in the Netherlands collapses killing over 50000 people Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) The United States of America —commonly referred to as the An actor, actress, player or thespian (see terminology) is a person who Acts in a Dramatic production and who works Her most famous role was as Nora Charles, wife of detective Nick Charles (William Powell), in The Thin Man series. Nick and Nora Charles, or Mr and Mrs Nicholas Charles (which was changed from his father's original Greek name "Charalambides" are the characters created by William Horatio Powell ( July 29, 1892 – March 5, 1984) was a three-time Academy Award -nominated American actor noted The Thin Man was the first of six comic detective Films starring William Powell and Myrna Loy as Nick and Nora Charles, a hard-drinking In 1938 she was voted the "Queen of Hollywood" in a contest which also voted Clark Gable the "King". Clark Gable (February 1 &ndashNovember 16) was an iconic American Actor nicknamed "The King of Hollywood" in his heyday

Early life

She was born Myrna Adele Williams in Radersburg, Montana (near Helena), the daughter of Welsh rancher David Franklin Williams and his wife, Adelle Mae Johnson. Radersburg is a Census-designated place (CDP in Broadwater County, Montana, United States. Helena (ˈhɛlɨnə is the Capital city of the US state of Montana and the County seat of Lewis and Clark County The Welsh people ( Welsh: Cymro ("Welshman" Cymraes ("Welsh woman" Cymry ("Welshmen/women" Cymry ^[1] Loy's first name came from a train station whose name her father liked. Her father was also a banker and real estate developer and the youngest man ever elected to the Montana state legislature. The Montana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U Her mother studied music at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago. The American Conservatory of Music (ACM is a musical conservatory university once located in Chicago Illinois and now located in Hammond Indiana.

Myrna Williams made her stage debut at age 12 in Helena's Marlow Theater in a dance she choreographed based on "The Blue Bird" from the Rose Dream Operetta. She moved to the Palms district of Los Angeles, California when she was 13, after her father's death. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West She attended the Westlake School for Girls in Los Angeles's Holmby Hills neighborhood. At 15, she began appearing in local stage productions. She went to Venice High School in Venice, California. Venice High School is a public school located in western Los Angeles California within the Los Angeles Unified School District. Venice is a district in western Los Angeles California. It is known for its Canals Beaches and Circus -like Ocean Front Walk,

In 1921, she posed for Harry Winebrenner's statue titled "Spiritual," which remained in front of Venice High School throughout the 20th century and can be seen in the opening scenes of the film Grease (1978). Grease is a film directed by Randal Kleiser and based on Jim Jacobs ' and Warren Casey 's musical, Grease The statue was removed from where it stood after vandalism and neglect turned it into a decaying eyesore, too badly rotted to restore. A group of alumni are raising money to recreate the statue, and their goal is to have it ready to unveil in spring 2009^[2].

Career

Myrna Loy in one of her early film roles, in the 1926 film Across the Pacific

Natacha Rambova, the second wife of Rudolph Valentino, arranged a screen test for Loy, which she failed. Natacha Rambova ( January 19, 1897 &ndash June 5, 1966) was an American Silent film Actress, set designer Rudolph Valentino ( May 6, 1895 &ndash August 23, 1926) was an Italian Actor, Sex symbol, and early She kept auditioning and in 1925 appeared in the Rambova-penned movie What Price Beauty? opposite Rambova and Nita Naldi. Nita Naldi ( April 1, 1897 &ndash February 17, 1961) was an American Silent film Actress. Her silent film roles were mainly those of vampish exotic women. A femme fatale (plural femmes fatales) is an alluring and seductive woman whose charms ensnare her lovers in bonds of irresistible desire often leading them into For a few years she struggled to overcome this stereotype with many producers and directors believing that while she was perfect as femmes fatales she was capable of little more. A femme fatale (plural femmes fatales) is an alluring and seductive woman whose charms ensnare her lovers in bonds of irresistible desire often leading them into

Her breakthrough occurred with the advent of talkies: she appeared in 1927's The Jazz Singer as an uncredited chorus girl. A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image as opposed to a Silent film. The Jazz Singer is a 1927 American Musical film. The first feature-length motion picture with synchronized Dialogue In 1929 she improvised a "foreign" accent, sang and danced in Warner Brothers' first musical The Desert Song (1929). Warner Bros Entertainment Inc (or Warner Bros, Warner Bros Pictures) is one of the world's largest producers of Film and The Desert Song is an Operetta with Music by Sigmund Romberg and Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and Loy later commented on the film's success and noted ". . . it kind of solidified my exotic non-American image". ^[3] She was quickly cast in a number of early lavish Technicolor musicals including The Show of Shows (1929), The Bride of the Regiment (1930) and Under A Texas Moon (1930). Technicolor is the trademark for a series of color film processes pioneered by Technicolor Motion Picture Corporation The Show of Shows was a 1929 lavish Revue film which cost $850000 and featured most of the contemporary Warner Bros The Bride of the Regiment is a 1930 musical operetta film photographed entirely in Technicolor. Under A Texas Moon is a 1930 musical western film photographed entirely in Technicolor. Loy became associated with musicals and when they went out of favor with the public, late in 1930, her career went into a slump.

In 1934 she appeared in Manhattan Melodrama with Clark Gable and William Powell. Manhattan Melodrama is a 1934 Crime Melodrama Film, produced by MGM Pictures. Clark Gable (February 1 &ndashNovember 16) was an iconic American Actor nicknamed "The King of Hollywood" in his heyday William Horatio Powell ( July 29, 1892 – March 5, 1984) was a three-time Academy Award -nominated American actor noted When the gangster John Dillinger was shot to death after leaving a screening of the film it received widespread publicity, with some newspapers reporting that Loy had been Dillinger's favorite actress. John Herbert Dillinger (June 22 1903–July 22 1934 was a notorious Bank robber in mid-western America Loy later expressed distaste for the manner in which the film studio had exploited Dillinger's death.

Rise to stardom

After appearing with Ramón Novarro in The Barbarian (1933), Loy landed the part that established her as a major actress, Nora Charles in The Thin Man (1934). Ramón Novarro ( February 2, 1899 - October 30, 1968) was a Mexican Actor who achieved fame as a " Latin lover The Barbarian is a 1933 film about an American woman tourist in Egypt who has several suitors among them an Arab guide who is more than he seems Nick and Nora Charles, or Mr and Mrs Nicholas Charles (which was changed from his father's original Greek name "Charalambides" are the characters created by The Thin Man (1934 is a Hardboiled detective novel by Dashiell Hammett. Director W. S. Van Dyke chose Loy after he detected a wit and sense of humor that her previous films had not revealed. Woodbridge Strong "Woody" Van Dyke Jr ( March 21, 1889 &ndash February 5, 1943 was an American motion picture director At a Hollywood party, he pushed her into a swimming pool to test her reaction, and felt that her aplomb in handling the situation was exactly what he envisioned for Nora. Louis B. Mayer at first refused to allow Loy to play the part, saying that she was a dramatic actress only, but Van Dyke insisted. Louis Burt Mayer (born Lazar Meir July 4, 1884 &ndash October 29, 1957) was an early Film producer, most Mayer relented on the condition that filming be completed within three weeks, as Loy was committed to start filming Stamboul Quest (1934). The Thin Man became one of the year's biggest hits, and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture. The Academy Award for Best Motion Picture is one of the Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS to artists working Loy received excellent reviews and was acclaimed for her comedic skills. She and her costar William Powell proved to be a popular screen couple and appeared in 14 films together, the most prolific pairing in Hollywood history. William Horatio Powell ( July 29, 1892 – March 5, 1984) was a three-time Academy Award -nominated American actor noted Loy later referred to The Thin Man as the film "that finally made me. . . after more than 80 films". ^[4]

Nora and Nick Charles: William Powell and Loy in the 1936 film After the Thin Man

Her successes in Manhattan Melodrama and The Thin Man marked a turning point in her career and she was cast in more important pictures. William Horatio Powell ( July 29, 1892 – March 5, 1984) was a three-time Academy Award -nominated American actor noted After the Thin Man, starring William Powell, Myrna Loy, and James Stewart, is the 1936 sequel to the film The Thin Such films as Wife vs. Secretary (1936) with Clark Gable and Jean Harlow and Petticoat Fever (1936) with Robert Montgomery gave her opportunity to develop comedic skills. Wife vs Secretary ( 1936) is a comedy film directed by Clarence Brown and starring Clark Gable, Jean Harlow, Myrna Loy Clark Gable (February 1 &ndashNovember 16) was an iconic American Actor nicknamed "The King of Hollywood" in his heyday Jean Harlow ( March 3, &ndash June 7,) was an American Film Actress and Sex symbol of the 1930s Robert Montgomery ( May 21, 1904 &ndash September 27, 1981) was an American actor and director She made four films in close succession with William Powell: Libeled Lady (1936), which also starred Spencer Tracy and Jean Harlow, The Great Ziegfeld (1936), in which she played Billie Burke opposite Powell's Florenz Ziegfeld, the second "Thin Man" film, After the Thin Man, and the romantic comedy Double Wedding (1937). Libeled Lady is a Screwball comedy film starring Jean Harlow, William Powell (who were romantically involved at the time Myrna Loy Spencer Tracy ( April 5, 1900 – June 10, 1967) was a two-time Academy Award -winning Actor of stage and The Great Ziegfeld ( 1936) is a Musical film produced by MGM. Mary William Ethelbert Appleton "Billie" Burke ( August 7, 1884 – May 14, 1970) was an Oscar -nominated American Florenz Ziegfeld Jr ( March 21, 1869 &ndash July 22, 1932) called Flo Ziegfeld, was an American Broadway After the Thin Man, starring William Powell, Myrna Loy, and James Stewart, is the 1936 sequel to the film The Thin Double Wedding is a 1937 Comedy film A bohemian free spirit ( William Powell) helps meek Waldo ( John Beal) win back his fiancée ( She also made three more films with Clark Gable. Clark Gable (February 1 &ndashNovember 16) was an iconic American Actor nicknamed "The King of Hollywood" in his heyday Parnell was an historical drama and one of the most poorly received films of either Loy's or Gable's career, but their other pairings in Test Pilot and Too Hot to Handle (both 1938) were successes. Test Pilot Is a 1938 film directed by Victor Fleming. Featuring Clark Gable, Myrna Loy, Spencer Tracy, and Lionel Barrymore

During this period, Loy was one of Hollywood's busiest and highest paid actresses, and in 1937 and 1938 she was listed in the annual "Quigley Poll of the Top Ten Money Making Stars", which was compiled from the votes of movie exhibitors throughout the U. S. for the stars that had generated the most revenue in their theaters over the previous year. ^[5]

By this time Loy was highly regarded for her performances in romantic comedies and she was anxious to demonstrate her dramatic ability, and was cast in the lead female role in The Rains Came (1939) opposite Tyrone Power. The Rains Came is the title of novel by Louis Bromfield, published in 1937, as well as the 1939 20th Century Fox Film version Tyrone Edmund Power Jr (May 5 1914 – November 15 1958 usually credited simply as Tyrone Power and known sometimes as " Ty Power " was an She filmed Third Finger, Left Hand (1940) with Melvyn Douglas and appeared in I Love You Again (1940), Love Crazy (1941) and Shadow of the Thin Man (1941), all with William Powell. Melvyn Edouard Hesselberg ( April 5, 1901 – August 4, 1981) better known as Melvyn Douglas, was an American actor I Love You Again is a comedy film released in 1940. It was directed by W Love Crazy is a 1941 Screwball comedy film pairing William Powell and Myrna Loy as a couple whose marriage is on the verge of being Shadow of the Thin Man is the fourth of the six Thin Man films

With the outbreak of World War II, she all but abandoned her acting career to focus on the war effort and worked closely with the Red Cross. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is an International humanitarian movement with approximately 97 million volunteers worldwide who stated She was so fiercely outspoken against Adolf Hitler that her name appeared on his blacklist. Hi and welcome to Wikipedia! Please understand that this article is frequently vandalized and vandalism is reverted immediately She helped run a Naval Auxiliary Canteen and toured frequently to raise funds. Etymology The word bases is first recorded in English language from c

Loy in The Best Years of Our Lives

Later career

She returned to films with The Best Years of Our Lives in 1946, playing the wife of returning serviceman Fredric March. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Year 1946 ( MCMXLVI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Fredric March ( August 31, 1897 – April 14, 1975) was an American two-time Academy Award and Tony Award -winning In later years, Loy considered this film her proudest acting achievement. Throughout her career, she had championed the rights of black actors and characters to be depicted with dignity on film.

Loy was paired with Cary Grant in David O. Selznick's comedy film The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer (1947). David O Selznick, born David Selznick ( May 10, 1902 &ndash June 22, 1965) was one of the iconic Hollywood producers The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer is a 1947 Screwball comedy film starring Cary Grant, Myrna Loy, and Shirley Temple. The film co-starred a teenage Shirley Temple. Shirley Jane Temple (born April 23, 1928) is an Academy Award -winning Actress and Tap dancer, most famous for being an iconic Following its success she appeared again with Grant in Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948), and with Clifton Webb in Cheaper by the Dozen (1950). Mr Blandings Builds His Dream House is a 1948 American Comedy film directed by H for the New Zealand politician see Thomas Clifton Webb Clifton Webb ( November 19, 1889 – October 13, For the films see Cheaper by the Dozen (1950 film, and Cheaper by the Dozen (2003 film.

Her film career continued sporadically afterwards. In 1960, she appeared in Midnight Lace and From the Terrace, but was not in another until 1969 in The April Fools. Midnight Lace ( 1960) is a mystery thriller directed by David Miller, and starring Doris Day, Rex Harrison, John Gavin, From the Terrace is a 1960 motion picture directed by Mark Robson and starring Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Myrna Loy, Barbara The April Fools is a 1969 romantic Comedy film starring Jack Lemmon and Catherine Deneuve. She also returned to the stage, making her Broadway debut in a short-lived 1973 revival of Clare Boothe Luce's The Women. Clare Boothe Luce ( 10 April 1903, New York City &ndash 9 October 1987, Washington DC) was an American For the 1939 George Cukor film based on the play see The Women (1939 film. Loy had two mastectomies in 1975 and 1979, but survived breast cancer. In Medicine, mastectomy is the medical term for the surgical removal of one or both Breasts partially or completely ^[6]

Personal life

Loy was married four times:

• 1936-1942 Arthur Hornblow, Jr., producer
• 1942-1944 John Hertz Jr. Arthur Hornblow Jr ( March 15, 1893 &ndash July 17, 1976) was an American Film producer. of the Hertz Rent A Car family
• 1946-1950 Gene Markey, producer
• 1951-1960 Howland H. The Hertz Corporation (also known as Hertz Rent A Car or simply Hertz) is the largest general-use Car rental company in the world with 1900 locations Eugene "Gene" Lawrence Markey Jr (December 11 1895&ndashMay 1 1980 was an American author producer screenwriter and highly decorated naval officer Sergeant, UNESCO delegate

Loy had no children of her own, though it is documented that she was very close to the children of her first husband, Arthur Hornblow. United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established on November 16 "Some perfect wife I am," she said, referring to her typecasting. "I've been married four times, divorced four times, have no children, and can't boil an egg. "

In later life, she assumed a more influential role as Co-Chairman of the Advisory Council of the National Committee Against Discrimination in Housing. In 1948 she became a member of the U. S. National Commission for UNESCO, the first Hollywood celebrity to do so. [2]. She was also an active Democrat [3].

Her autobiography, Myrna Loy: Being and Becoming, was published in 1987.

On December 14, 1993, after battling breast cancer and undergoing two mastectomies, she died during surgery, the exact nature of which was never specified in the reports of her death in New York City. Events 1287 - St Lucia's flood: The Zuider Zee sea wall in the Netherlands collapses killing over 50000 people Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) Breast cancer is a Cancer that starts in the cells of the Breast in women and men In Medicine, mastectomy is the medical term for the surgical removal of one or both Breasts partially or completely The City of New York She was cremated and the ashes interred at Forestvale Cemetery, in Helena, Montana. Cremation is the act of reducing a Corpse by burning, generally in a crematorium furnace or crematory fire

Awards

In 1965 she won the Sarah Siddons Award for her work in Chicago theatre. The Sarah Siddons Society is an American Non-profit organization founded in 1952 by prominent Chicago Theatre patrons with the goal Note on spelling While most Americans use "er" (as per American spelling conventions the majority of venues performers and trade groups for live theatre use "re She also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kennedy Center in 1988. An award is something given to a person or a group of people to recognize Excellence in a certain field a certificate of excellence The John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (on the building itself called the John F

Although Loy was never nominated for an Academy Award for any single performance, after an extensive letter writing campaign and years of lobbying by screenwriter and then-Writers Guild of America, west board member Michael Russnow, who enlisted the support of Loy's former screen colleagues and friends such as Roddy McDowall, Sidney Sheldon, Harold Russell and many others, she received an Academy Honorary Award in 1991, "for her career achievement". "The Oscar" redirects here for the film see The Oscar (film. Lobbying includes all attempts to influence Legislators and officials whether by other legislators constituents or organized groups Template talkInfobox Union for usage --> Writers Guild of America West ( WGAW) is a labor union representing Roderick Andrew Anthony Jude McDowall ( September 17, 1928 – October 3, 1998) was an English -born Sidney Sheldon ( February 11 1917 &ndash January 30 2007) was an Academy Award -winning American writer who won awards in Harold John Russell ( January 14, 1914 - January 29, 2002) was a Canadian-American World War II veteran who became one of only two The Academy Honorary Award, instituted in 1948 for the 21st Academy Awards (previously called the Special Award) is given by the discretion of the Year 1991 ( MCMXCI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar. She accepted via camera from her New York home, making only a short acceptance speech of, "You've made me very happy. Thank you very much. " It was her last public appearance in any medium.

Legacy

Myrna Loy has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6685 Hollywood Boulevard. The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a Sidewalk along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street in Hollywood Los Angeles California, USA, that A building at Sony Pictures Studios, formerly MGM Studios, in Culver City is named in her honor. The Sony Pictures Studios are located on 10202 West Washington Boulevard in Culver City California. ^[7]

In 1991, The Myrna Loy Center for the Performing and Media Arts opened in downtown Helena, Montana, Loy's hometown. Helena (ˈhɛlɨnə is the Capital city of the US state of Montana and the County seat of Lewis and Clark County Located in the historic Lewis and Clark County Jail, it sponsors live performances and alternative films for under-served audiences.

On August 2, 2005, the centenary of Loy's birth, Warner Home Video released the six films from The Thin Man series, on DVD as a boxed set. Events 338 BC - A Macedonian army led by Philip II defeated the combined forces of Athens and Thebes in the Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Warner Home Video is the Home video unit of Warner Bros Entertainment Inc DVD (also known as " Digital Versatile Disc " or " Digital Video Disc " - see Etymology)is

Film and television appearances

Main article: Myrna Loy filmography

References

• Kotsilibas-Davis, James and Loy, Myrna, Myrna Loy, Being and Becoming, Primus, Donald I Fine Inc. , New York, 1987. ISBN 1-55611-101-0

External links

• Myrna Loy at the Internet Movie Database
• Myrna Loy at the TCM Movie Database
• TCM: Summer Under The Stars - Spotlight
• Myrna Loy Center for the Performing and Media Arts website
• Statue of Myrna Loy: "Venice Nymph Emerges as a Real Team Player"
• Photographs of Myrna Loy
• Myrna Loy at Find A Grave