Ann DvorakAnn Dvorak (August 2, 1912 in film–December 10, 1979) was an American film actress. Born Anna McKim in New York, New York, Dvorak was the daughter of silent actress Anna Lehr and director and actor Samuel McKim, and as a child appeared in several films. She began working for MGM in the late 1920s as a dance instructor and gradually began to appear on film in small musical roles. Howard Hughes groomed her as a dramatic actress and she was a success in such films as Scarface (1932), as the object of Paul Muni's affection, and opposite Spencer Tracy in Sky Devils (1932). Known for her style and elegance, she was a popular leading leading for Warner Brothers during the 1930s, and appeared in numerous contemporary romances and melodramas. A dispute over her pay led to her terminating her contract and working as a freelance artist, but although she worked regularly, the quality of her scripts declined sharply. With her British husband, the actor Leslie Fenton, Dvorak travelled to England where she supported the war effort by working as an ambulance driver, and worked in several British films. She retired in 1951, and lived her remaining years in anonymity, until her death in Honolulu, Hawaii. Ann Dvorak has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contribution to Motion Pictures, at 6321 Hollywood Boulevard. This page about Ann Dvorak includes information from a Wikipedia article. Additional articles about Ann Dvorak News stories about Ann Dvorak External links for Ann Dvorak Videos for Ann Dvorak Wikis about Ann Dvorak Discussion Groups about Ann Dvorak Blogs about Ann Dvorak Images of Ann Dvorak |
|
Ann Dvorak has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contribution to Motion Pictures, at 6321 Hollywood Boulevard. Illeana Douglas is her grand-daughter. With her British husband, the actor Leslie Fenton, Dvorak travelled to England where she supported the war effort by working as an ambulance driver, and worked in several British films. She retired in 1951, and lived her remaining years in anonymity, until her death in Honolulu, Hawaii. In 1950 she ran for the United States Senate, but was defeated by Richard Nixon in a race considered by her supporters to be a prototypical smear campaign. A dispute over her pay led to her terminating her contract and working as a freelance artist, but although she worked regularly, the quality of her scripts declined sharply. In the 1940s she enterered politics, and was elected to the United States House of Representatives from California for two terms. Known for her style and elegance, she was a popular leading leading for Warner Brothers during the 1930s, and appeared in numerous contemporary romances and melodramas. Gahagan starred in one Hollywood movie, She, in 1935, playing The Ice Goddess ("She who must be obeyed"). Howard Hughes groomed her as a dramatic actress and she was a success in such films as Scarface (1932), as
the object of Paul Muni's affection, and opposite Spencer Tracy in Sky Devils (1932). She became a
well known star on Broadway in the 1920s.
In 1931 she married actor Melvyn
Douglas. She began working for MGM in the late
1920s as a dance instructor and gradually began to appear on film in small musical roles. Gahagan was born in Boonton, New Jersey. Born Anna McKim in New York, New York, Dvorak was
the daughter of silent actress Anna Lehr
and director and actor Samuel
McKim, and as a child appeared in several films. Helen Gahagan (25 November 1900 - 28 June 1980) was a United States actress and (under the name Helen Gahagan Douglas) a politician. |