Diane Varsi

Varsi suffered from Lyme disease, which contributed to her death from respiratory failure. She toured extensively on the stage throughout Europe and the United States, including opposite Vincent Price in Princess Turandot , a stage version of Giacomo Puccini’s opera. It was the last time she was seen on film. In addition, she co-starred with Marlene Dietrich in Shanghai Express (1932) and with Lana Turner in Portrait in Black. Varsi appears only for a moment in the film and is almost unrecognizable; Deborah, the central character, crumples in misery on the floor of the dayroom, and Varsi breaks away from the wall, kneels by Deborah's side, and whispers a Roman Catholic blessing. She has also made films in German and French. In the book, Sylvia was a patient in the mental hospital who ordinarily stood frozen by the wall and very rarely spoke, although completely aware of everything around her. Anna May travelled throughout Europe, and was one of the leads in the British film, Piccadilly (1929).

Another very brief but memorable Varsi role was Sylvia in I Never Promised You A Rose Garden, based on the Joanne Greenberg novel about a Jewish teen whose allegiance to an alternate universe called the Kingdom Of Yr has led to her being diagnosed as a schizophrenic. Her first starring role was in The Toll of the Sea (1921). Varsi was rendered virtually mute and had to dub in her voice parts later. Despite this discrimination, she had a number of significant film roles. The director, John Korty, would not let Varsi off for her dad's funeral. Even though Muni was to be wear heavy make up to look Asian, industry regulations prevented her from playing romantic roles opposite actors of different ethnicity. Her portrayal of the would-be Oldest One with a dead-flat affect but compassionate expression and soft, recollected speaking voice was partly caused by the death of her father just before filming began. When MGM was casting for the The Good Earth (1937), she was passed up for the lead female role of O-lan because Paul Muni, an actor of European descent, was to play Wang Lung, O-lan's husband.

Science fiction and fantasy film fans probably remember Varsi best as Valancy Carmody in The People, a 1972 ABC-TV Movie of the Week based on a story by Zenna Henderson about peaceful alien refugees living on earth. Her ethnicity prevented her from getting choice parts, especially romantic ones due to the Hays code anti-miscegenation rules. She appeared in the films Ten North Frederick (1958) and Compulsion (1959) and worked steadily throughout the 1960s. Her film career faded by the end of the decade and during the 1970s she played several television roles. Her first role was in the silent film, The Red Lantern (1919) with Alla Nazimova, as an uncredited extra. The same year, she shared a Golden Globe as "Most Promising Newcomer" with Sandra Dee and Carolyn Jones. Born Wong Liu Tsong (黃柳霜, pinyin: Huáng Liǔshuāng) in Los Angeles, California, she began playing bit parts as a teenager. Born in San Mateo, California, Varsi made her screen debut in Peyton Place (1958), and received a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Anna May Wong (January 3, 1905-February 3, 1961) was the first truly notable Chinese American Hollywood actress.

Diane Marie Varsi (February 23, 1938 - November 19, 1992) was an American film and television actress. Portrait In Black (1960). Daughter of Shanghai (1937). Dangerous to Know (1937). A Study in Scarlet (1933).

Shanghai Express (1932) as Hui Fei. Piccadilly (1929)as Shosho. Peter Pan (1924) as Tiger Lily. The Thief of Baghdad (1924).

The Toll of the Sea (1921) as Lotus Flower. The Red Lantern (1919) uncredited.