Gloria Swanson

American actress (1899–1983)

Gloria Swanson[1] (Gloria Josephine Mae, March 27, 1899 – April 4, 1983) was an American movie, television, stage, voice, radio, silent movie actress, singer and movie producer. She played Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard. She won a Golden Globe Award in 1951 and a Saturn Award in 1975. She was known for having an affair with Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr.. Swanson was born in Chicago, Illinois.[2] She studied at Hawthorne Scholastic Academy. She was married six times, having a relationship with Wallace Beery (1916-1919), Herbert K. Somborn (1919-1922), Henri de la Falaise (1925-1930), Michael Farmer (1931-1934), William Davey (1945-1946) and William Dufty (1976-1983). Swanson had three children. She died of heart failure. She was buried at the Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest in New York City.

Gloria Swanson
Black and white photo of a woman
Swanson in 1941
Born
Gloria May Josephine Swanson

(1899-03-27)March 27, 1899
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedApril 4, 1983(1983-04-04) (aged 84)
New York City, U.S.
Resting placeChurch of the Heavenly Rest, New York City
Other namesGloria Mae
Occupations
  • Actress
  • producer
Years active1914–1983
Political partyRepublican
Spouses
(m. 1916; div. 1918)
(m. 1919; div. 1922)
(m. 1925; div. 1931)
Michael Farmer
(m. 1931; div. 1934)
William Davey
(m. 1945; div. 1946)
(m. 1976)
Children3
Signature

Early life

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Swanson was born in a small house in Chicago in 1899.[3] She was raised in the Lutheran faith. Her father was Joseph Theodore Swanson (né Svensson). He was a Swedish American soldier. Her mother was Adelaide (née Klanowski). She had German, French, and Polish ancestry.[3][4][5] Her family moved often because her father was in the US Army. For some of her childhood, she lived in Key West, Florida. There, she went to a Catholic convent school.[6] She also lived in Puerto Rico. Here, she saw her first movies.[7]

Career

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Bobby Vernon with Gloria Swanson and Teddy the Dog in Teddy at the Throttle (1917)

Her family moved to Chicago again when Swanson became adolescent. Gloria was soon hired by Essanay Studios as an extra.[8]

Movies were still new. Extras were usually very important. Her first role was a walk-on with Gerda Holmes. For this, she was paid $3.25.[9] The studio soon gave her a job for $13.25 (equivalent to $358 in 2021) per week.[10][11] Swanson left school to work at the studio.[10] In 1915, she co-starred in Sweedie Goes to College. Her future first husband, Wallace Beery also acted in this movie.[12]

 
Portrait (1917)

In 1916, Swanson and her mother wet to California for her parts in Mack Sennett's Keystone Studios comedy shorts. At the studio, Swanson became popular with audiences.[13] She was in many movies with Bobby Vernon. They were both in the The Danger Girl (1916), The Sultan's Wife (1917), and Teddy at the Throttle (1917).[14][15] The director, Clarence G. Badger was by Swanson. He recommended her to the director Jack Conway. With Conway, Swanson played in Her Decision and You Can't Believe Everything in 1918.[14][16] Her pay was soon increased to $15 a week.[17][15]

 
Swanson in Male and Female (1919)

Movies

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Key
Is a lost movie.

Shorts

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Short subject
Title Year Role Notes
Studio/Distributor
Ref(s)
The Song of the Soul 1914 Unconfirmed [18]
The Misjudged Mr. Hartley 1915 Maid [19]
At the End of a Perfect Day 1915 Hands Bouquet to Holmes Uncredited, actual release date of January 26, 2015 [18]
The Ambition of the Baron 1915 Bit part Essanay Film
starring Francis X. Bushman
[20]
His New Job 1915 Stenographer Essanay Film
Written and directed by Charlie Chaplin
[19]
The Fable of Elvira and Farina and the Meal Ticket 1915 Farina, Elvira's Daughter Credited as Gloria Mae
Essanay Film
[19]
Sweedie Goes to College 1915 College Girl Wallace Beery played Sweedie in a series of shorts
Essanay Film
[21]
The Romance of an American Duchess 1915 Minor Role Uncredited
Essanay Film
[22]
The Broken Pledge 1915 Gloria Essanay Film [23]
A Dash of Courage 1916 Keystone/Triangle
with Bobby Vernon
directed by Clarence G. Badger
[24]
Hearts and Sparks 1916 Keystone/Triangle
with Bobby Vernon
directed by Clarence G. Badger
[25]
A Social Cub 1916 Keystone/Triangle
with Bobby Vernon
directed by Clarence G. Badger
[26]
The Danger Girl 1916 Reggie's madcap sister Keystone/Triangle
with Bobby Vernon
directed by Clarence G. Badger
[27]
Haystacks and Steeples 1916 Keystone/Triangle
with Bobby Vernon
directed by Clarence G. Badger
[28]
The Nick of Time Baby 1916 Keystone/Triangle
with Bobby Vernon
directed by Clarence G. Badger
[29]
Teddy at the Throttle 1917 Gloria Dawn, His Sweetheart Uncredited
with Bobby Vernon
Keystone/Triangle
directed by Clarence G. Badger
[30]
Baseball Madness 1917 Victor Film/Universal [31]
Dangers of a Bride 1917 Keystone/Triangle
directed by Clarence G. Badger
[15]
Whose Baby? 1917 Keystone/Triangle
with Bobby Vernon
directed by Clarence G. Badger
[15]
The Sultan's Wife 1917 Gloria Keystone/Triangle
with Bobby Vernon
directed by Clarence G. Badger
[15]
The Pullman Bride 1917 The Girl Paramount-Mack Sennett
directed by Clarence G. Badger
[32]
A Trip to Paramountown 1922 Herself Paramount [33]

Features

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Feature film credits of Gloria Swanson
Title Year Role Notes
Studio/Distributor
Ref(s)
Society for Sale 1918 Phylis Clyne Triangle Film Corporation [34]
Her Decision 1918 Phyllis Dunbar Triangle Film Corporation
directed by Jack Conway
[35]
You Can't Believe Everything 1918 Patricia Reynolds Triangle Film Corporation
directed by Jack Conway
[36]
Station Content 1918 Kitty Manning Triangle Film Corporation
directed by Arthur Hoyt
One reel survives
[36]
Everywoman's Husband 1918 Edith Emerson Triangle Film Corporation
directed by Gilbert P. Hamilton
[36]
Shifting Sands 1918 Marcia Grey Triangle Film Corporation
directed by Albert Parker
[37]
The Secret Code 1918 Sally Carter Rand Triangle Film Corporation
directed by Albert Parker
[36]
Wife or Country 1918 Sylvia Hamilton Triangle Film Corporation
directed by E. Mason Hopper
[36]
Don't Change Your Husband 1919 Leila Porter Famous Players–Lasky/Paramount
directed by Cecil B. DeMille
[37]
For Better, for Worse 1919 Sylvia Norcross Famous Players–Lasky/Paramount
directed by Cecil B. DeMille
[36]
Male and Female 1919 Lady Mary Lasenby Famous Players–Lasky/Paramount
directed by Cecil B. DeMille
[38]
Why Change Your Wife? 1920 Beth Gordon Famous Players–Lasky/Paramount
directed by Cecil B. DeMille
[38]
Something to Think About 1920 Ruth Anderson Famous Players–Lasky/Paramount
directed by Cecil B. DeMille
[38]
The Affairs of Anatol 1921 Vivian Spencer – Anatol's Wife Famous Players–Lasky/Paramount
directed by Cecil B. DeMille
[38][39]
The Great Moment 1921 Nada Pelham/Nadine Pelham Famous Players–Lasky/Paramount
directed by Sam Wood
[38]
Under the Lash 1921 Deborah Krillet Famous Players–Lasky/Paramount
directed by Sam Wood
[40]
Don't Tell Everything 1921 Marian Westover Famous Players–Lasky/Paramount
directed by Sam Wood
[41]
Her Husband's Trademark 1922 Lois Miller Famous Players–Lasky/Paramount
directed by Sam Wood
[41]
Her Gilded Cage 1922 Suzanne Ornoff Famous Players–Lasky/Paramount
directed by Sam Wood
[41]
Beyond the Rocks 1922 Theodora Fitzgerald Famous Players–Lasky/Paramount
directed by Sam Wood
[41]
The Impossible Mrs. Bellew 1922 Betty Bellew Famous Players–Lasky/Paramount
directed by Sam Wood
[41]
My American Wife 1922 Natalie Chester Famous Players–Lasky/Paramount
directed by Sam Wood
[42]
Prodigal Daughters 1923 Swifty Forbes Famous Players–Lasky/Paramount
directed by Sam Wood
[43]
Bluebeard's 8th Wife 1923 Mona deBriac Famous Players–Lasky/Paramount
directed by Sam Wood
[43]
Hollywood 1923 Cameo role Famous Players–Lasky/Paramount [44]
Zaza 1923 Zaza Famous Players–Lasky/Paramount
directed by Allan Dwan
[43]
The Humming Bird 1924 Toinette Famous Players–Lasky/Paramount
directed by Sidney Olcott
[43]
A Society Scandal 1924 Marjorie Colbert Famous Players–Lasky/Paramount
directed by Allan Dwan
[43]
Manhandled 1924 Tessie McGuire Famous Players–Lasky/Paramount
directed by Allan Dwan
[43]
Her Love Story 1924 Princess Marie Famous Players–Lasky/Paramount
directed by Allan Dwan
[45]
Wages of Virtue 1924 Carmelita Famous Players–Lasky/Paramount
directed by Allan Dwan
[45]
Madame Sans-Gêne 1925 Madame Sans-Gêne Famous Players–Lasky/Paramount
directed by Léonce Perret
[45]
The Coast of Folly 1925 Joyce Gathway/Nadine Gathway Famous Players–Lasky/Paramount
directed by Allan Dwan
[45]
Stage Struck 1925 Jennie Hagen Famous Players–Lasky/Paramount
directed by Allan Dwan
[45]
The Untamed Lady 1926 St. Clair Van Tassel Famous Players–Lasky/Paramount
directed by Frank Tuttle
[46]
Fine Manners 1926 Orchid Murphy Famous Players–Lasky/Paramount
directed by Richard Rosson
[46]
The Love of Sunya 1927 Sunya Ashling Swanson Producing Corporation/United Artists
directed by Albert Parker
[46]
Sadie Thompson 1928 Sadie Thompson Gloria Swanson Productions/United Artists
directed by Raoul Walsh
[46]
Queen Kelly 1928 Kitty Kelly/Queen Kelly Joseph P. Kennedy/United Artists
directed by Erich von Stroheim
[46]
The Trespasser 1929 Marion Donnell Gloria Productions/United Artists
directed by Edmund Goulding
Released in two versions, one silent, and the other with sound
[47]
What a Widow! 1930 Tamarind Brook Gloria Productions/United Artists
directed by Allan Dwan
[48]
Indiscreet 1931 Geraldine "Gerry" Trent Feature Productions, Inc.
A DeSylva, Brown & Henderson Production
directed by Leo McCarey
[48]
Tonight or Never 1931 Nella Vago Feature Productions, Inc./United Artists
directed by Mervyn LeRoy
[48]
Perfect Understanding 1933 Judy Rogers Gloria Swanson British Productions, Ltd./United Artists
directed by Cyril Gardner
[49]
Music in the Air 1934 Frieda Hotzfelt Erich Pommer Productions/Fox Film
directed by Joe May
[50]
Father Takes a Wife 1941 Leslie Collier Osborne Marcus Lee/RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
directed by William Dorfman
[50]
Sunset Boulevard 1950 Norma Desmond Charles Brackett/Paramount
directed by Billy Wilder
[50]
3 for Bedroom "C" 1952 Ann Haven/costume designer Brenco Pictures Corporation/Warner Bros.
directed by Milton H. Bren
[51]
Nero's Weekend (aka Nero's Mistress) 1956 Agrippina Les Films Marceau and Titanus/Manhattan Films International
directed by Steno
[52]
Airport 1975 1974 Herself Universal Pictures
directed by Jack Smight
[52]

Television

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Television
Title Year Role Notes Ref(s)
The Gloria Swanson Hour 1948 Hostess Variety show [53]
The Peter Lind Hayes Show 1950 Herself Episode #1.1
sitcom show
[54]
Hollywood Opening Night 1953 Episode: "The Pattern" [55]
Crown Theatre with Gloria Swanson 1954–1955 Hostess 25 episodes [56]
The Steve Allen Show 1957 Norma Desmond Episode #3.8 [57]
Straightaway 1961 Lorraine Carrington Episode: "A Toast to Yesterday" [58]
Dr. Kildare 1963 Julia Colton Episode: "The Good Luck Charm" [59]
Burke's Law 1963–1964 Various roles 2 episodes [59]
Kraft Suspense Theatre 1964 Mrs. Charlotte Heaton Segment: "Who Is Jennifer?" [59]
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour 1964 Mrs. Daniels Episode: "Behind the Locked Door" [59]
My Three Sons 1965 Margaret McSterling Episode: "The Fountain of Youth" [59]
Ben Casey 1965 Victoria Hoffman Episode: "Minus That Rusty Old Hacksaw" [59]
The Beverly Hillbillies 1966 Herself Episode: "The Gloria Swanson Story" [59]
The Eternal Tramp Special 1972 Narrator aka Chaplinesque, My Life and Hard Times [60]
The Carol Burnett Show 1973 Herself Episode #7.3 [61]
Killer Bees 1974 Madame Maria von Bohlen Television movie [62]
The Great Debate 1974 Herself Canadian interview show with James Bawden [63]
Hollywood 1980 Herself Television documentary [64]

Awards and nominations

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Awards and nominations of Gloria Swanson
Year Award Result Category Film or series Ref(s)
1929 Academy Award Nominated Best Actress Sadie Thompson [65]
1931 The Trespasser [66]
1951 Sunset Boulevard [67]
1951 Golden Globe Award Won Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama [68]
1964 Nominated Best TV Star – Female Burke's Law [59]
1951 Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists Won Best Actress – Foreign Film (Migliore Attrice Straniera) Sunset Boulevard [69]
1951 Jussi Award Won Best Foreign Actress [70]
1950 National Board of Review of Motion Pictures Won Best Actress [71]
1980 Career Achievement Award
-
[72]
1975 Saturn Award Won Special Award
-
[73]

References

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Sources

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  1. "Butterflies Are Free". IBDB. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  2. Harzig, Christiane (1996). Peasant Maids, City Women. Cornell University Press. p. 283. ISBN 0-8014-8395-6.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Quirk 1984, pp. 15, 17.
  4. Quirk 1984, p. 17.
  5. Harzig & Matovic 2018, p. 283.
  6. Welsch 2013, pp. 6–8.
  7. Welsch 2013, pp. 9–11.
  8. Welsch 2013, pp. 11–12.
  9. Welsch 2013, p. 12.
  10. 10.0 10.1 Welsch 2013, p. 13.
  11. 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  12. Shearer 2013, pp. 18, 25.
  13. Welsch 2013, pp. 23, 30.
  14. 14.0 14.1 Birchard 2009, p. 135.
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 Shearer 2013, p. 35.
  16. Shearer 2013, pp. 40–42.
  17. Birchard 2009, pp. 135–136.
  18. 18.0 18.1 Shearer 2013, p. 14.
  19. 19.0 19.1 19.2 Shearer 2013, p. 19.
  20. Welsch 2013, p. 14.
  21. Welsch 2013, p. 18.
  22. Welsch 2013, p. 15.
  23. Shearer 2013, p. 21.
  24. Welsch 2013, p. 22.
  25. Shearer 2013, p. 29.
  26. King 2009, p. 172.
  27. Welsch 2013, pp. 24, 36, 355.
  28. Shearer 2013, p. 30.
  29. Shearer 2013, p. 31.
  30. Shearer 2013, p. 34.
  31. Welsch 2013, p. 399n36.
  32. Welsch 2013, pp. 34–35.
  33. "Trip to Paramountown is Stellar Traffic Jam". The Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  34. "Society for Sale". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  35. Welsch 2013, p. 438.
  36. 36.0 36.1 36.2 36.3 36.4 36.5 Welsch 2013, p. 439.
  37. 37.0 37.1 Welsch 2013, p. 39.
  38. 38.0 38.1 38.2 38.3 38.4 Welsch 2013, p. 440.
  39. Birchard 2009, p. 162.
  40. Welsch 2013, pp. 440–441.
  41. 41.0 41.1 41.2 41.3 41.4 Welsch 2013, p. 441.
  42. Welsch 2013, pp. 441–442.
  43. 43.0 43.1 43.2 43.3 43.4 43.5 Welsch 2013, p. 442.
  44. "Hollywood". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  45. 45.0 45.1 45.2 45.3 45.4 Welsch 2013, p. 443.
  46. 46.0 46.1 46.2 46.3 46.4 Welsch 2013, p. 444.
  47. Welsch 2013, pp. 444–445.
  48. 48.0 48.1 48.2 Welsch 2013, p. 445.
  49. Welsch 2013, pp. 445–446.
  50. 50.0 50.1 50.2 Welsch 2013, p. 446.
  51. Welsch 2013, pp. 446–447.
  52. 52.0 52.1 Welsch 2013, p. 447.
  53. Welsch 2013, pp. 315–317.
  54. "Gloria Swanson on Peter and Mary TV show". The Central New Jersey Home News. November 27, 1950.
  55. "Gloria Swanson to Do Live Dramatic TV Show". Los Angeles Times. February 4, 1953.
  56. Welsch 2013, pp. 347–348.
  57. Welsch 2013, p. 359.
  58. "Straightaway – Gloria Swanson portrays an aging movie queen". The Philadelphia Inquirer. December 15, 1961.
  59. 59.0 59.1 59.2 59.3 59.4 59.5 59.6 59.7 Welsch 2013, p. 358.
  60. "The Eternal Tramp Special". The Morning Call. September 24, 1972.
  61. Welsch 2013, pp. 377–378.
  62. Welsch 2013, pp. 375–376.
  63. Bawden & Miller 2016, pp. 14–25.
  64. "Hollywood, Gloria Swanson and Rudolph Valentino". Detroit Free Press. July 10, 1981. p. 23.
  65. "The 1st Academy Awards: 1929". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. October 8, 2014. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  66. "The 3rd Academy Awards: 1931". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. October 9, 2014. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  67. "The 23rd Academy Awards: 1951". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. October 4, 2014.
  68. "Gloria Swanson, Ferrer Awarded Golden Globes". Green Bay Press-Gazette. March 1, 1951. p. 6. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  69. "Film Festival in Punta Del Este, Uruguay". The News and Observer. March 12, 1951. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  70. "Jussi-palkinto – Gloria Swanon's Jussi award". November 4, 2011. Archived from the original on November 4, 2011.
  71. "Gloria Swanson Rated Year's Best Actress". The Gazette. December 21, 1950. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  72. "Gloria Swanson career achievement award 1980". The News-Messenger. December 24, 1980. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  73. "The Saturn Awards History: Past Honorees". www.saturnawards.org. Retrieved May 27, 2020.

Citations

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Further reading

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Other websites

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General

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Interviews

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