Marion Davies

Marion Davies (January 3, 1897 - September 23, 1961) was a United States actress.


Marion Davies in the 1920s

Of Greek and Irish heritage, she was born Marion Douras in Brooklyn, New York, the youngest of five children born to Herbert Douras, a lawyer who moved in New York City political circles, and Rose Reilly, formerly of Jersey City, New Jersey. Her elder siblings included Rose, Reine, and Ethel. A brother, Charles, died at the age of fifteen from drowning in 1906.

The Douras family lived near Prospect Park in Brooklyn, but already the bright lights of Manhattan beckoned to the sisters. They all became showgirls on the Great White Way, where Florenz Ziegfeld was beginning his spectacular annual "Ziegfeld Follies" shows. These shows were considered the high end of Vaudeville.

The girls changed their surname to Davies, which one of them spotted from a realtor's sign in the neighborhood. Even as New York was the melting pot for new immigrants, having a WASP surname greatly helped one's prospects.

Marion outshone her siblings with a 20-year movie career, playing light comedic roles well into the 1930s and giving generous financial assistance to her family and friends. These facts are still overshadowed by her relationship with William Randolph Hearst, who was married to former showgirl turned society grande dame Millicent Veronica Willson, and Davies' fabulous life as hostess at San Simeon and Ocean House in Santa Monica. Her career, however, was hampered by Hearst's insistence that she play distinguished, dramatic parts, as opposed to the comic roles that were her forte, as well as her increasing dependence on alcohol (she used to hide bottles of liquor in San Simeon's toilet tanks).

In all she played in fifty movies. She was producer of ten of them. Her last was in 1937.

She is sometimes confused with the shrill, talentless Susan Alexander character portrayed in Citizen Kane, which was based loosely on Hearst's life. But there's little similarity between the fictional character and real woman.

At one point Hearst's empire crumbled and he was about to lose everything. Over Hearst's objections, Davies sold millions of dollars of the gifts Hearst had given her over the years to raise money to bail him out. Davies commented that the gold digger had fallen in love.

Ten weeks after the death of William Randolph Hearst, Marion Davies married for the first time, at the age of fifty-four, on October 31, 1951. Her husband was a former sea captain and policeman and sometime actor, Horace G. Brown. It was not a happy marriage: Marion filed divorce papers twice but no divorce was ever finalized.

In 1952, Davies donated $1.9 million to establish a children's clinic at UCLA, which still bears her name. She also fought childhood diseases through the Marion Davies Foundation.

Marion Davies died in Hollywood, California. Her funeral was attended by old-time Hollywood legends and President Herbert Hoover. She is buried in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood.

During the lifetime of Davies' niece Patricia Lake (née Van Cleeve), the latter was said to be the daughter of Marion Davies's sister Rose Davies and her first husband, George Van Cleeve. (Patricia married Arthur Lake, who played Dagwood in numerous films.) After Patricia's death, her family announced that she was in fact the daughter of Marion Davies and William Randolph Hearst, though this claim does not appear to have been verified independently. However, Patricia and her husband are buried with Marion Davies.


This page about Marion Davies includes information from a Wikipedia article.
Additional articles about Marion Davies
News stories about Marion Davies
External links for Marion Davies
Videos for Marion Davies
Wikis about Marion Davies
Discussion Groups about Marion Davies
Blogs about Marion Davies
Images of Marion Davies

However, Patricia and her husband are buried with Marion Davies. She has been linked romantically with several of her film's costars, including Matt Damon, John Cusack, and Josh Brolin. (Patricia married Arthur Lake, who played Dagwood in numerous films.) After Patricia's death, her family announced that she was in fact the daughter of Marion Davies and William Randolph Hearst, though this claim does not appear to have been verified independently. She had voice roles in three films released in 1999:. During the lifetime of Davies' niece Patricia Lake (née Van Cleeve), the latter was said to be the daughter of Marion Davies's sister Rose Davies and her first husband, George Van Cleeve. Driver wrote ten of the eleven songs on the album and also covered "Hungry Heart" from Bruce Springsteen's The River. She is buried in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood. The contract led to the release of Everything I've Got in My Pocket, an album backed by a group that includes members of the Wallflowers and Pete Yorn’s band.

Her funeral was attended by old-time Hollywood legends and President Herbert Hoover. She began a low-profile return to music in 2000; in 2004 she signed recording contracts with EMI and Rounder Records and performed at SXSW. Marion Davies died in Hollywood, California. Prior to her success as an actress, Driver was a member of a band called "Puff, Rocks and Brown"; the band was signed to a development deal with Island Records, which ended without a release. She also fought childhood diseases through the Marion Davies Foundation. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the 1997 film Good Will Hunting. In 1952, Davies donated $1.9 million to establish a children's clinic at UCLA, which still bears her name. She first came to broad public attention when she played the lead role in Circle of Friends.

Brown. It was not a happy marriage: Marion filed divorce papers twice but no divorce was ever finalized. Minnie Driver (born Amelia Driver on January 31, 1970) is a British actress, born in London. Her husband was a former sea captain and policeman and sometime actor, Horace G. Tarzan. Ten weeks after the death of William Randolph Hearst, Marion Davies married for the first time, at the age of fifty-four, on October 31, 1951. South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut. Davies commented that the gold digger had fallen in love. Princess Mononoke (English language release).

Over Hearst's objections, Davies sold millions of dollars of the gifts Hearst had given her over the years to raise money to bail him out. Circle of Friends (1995). At one point Hearst's empire crumbled and he was about to lose everything. GoldenEye (1995). But there's little similarity between the fictional character and real woman. Big Night (1996). She is sometimes confused with the shrill, talentless Susan Alexander character portrayed in Citizen Kane, which was based loosely on Hearst's life. Sleepers (1996).

Her last was in 1937. Grosse Pointe Blank (1997). She was producer of ten of them. Good Will Hunting (1997). In all she played in fifty movies. Baggage (1997). Her career, however, was hampered by Hearst's insistence that she play distinguished, dramatic parts, as opposed to the comic roles that were her forte, as well as her increasing dependence on alcohol (she used to hide bottles of liquor in San Simeon's toilet tanks). Hard Rain (1998).

These facts are still overshadowed by her relationship with William Randolph Hearst, who was married to former showgirl turned society grande dame Millicent Veronica Willson, and Davies' fabulous life as hostess at San Simeon and Ocean House in Santa Monica. The Governess (1998). Marion outshone her siblings with a 20-year movie career, playing light comedic roles well into the 1930s and giving generous financial assistance to her family and friends. An Ideal Husband (1999). Even as New York was the melting pot for new immigrants, having a WASP surname greatly helped one's prospects. Return to Me (2000). The girls changed their surname to Davies, which one of them spotted from a realtor's sign in the neighborhood. Beautiful (2000).

These shows were considered the high end of Vaudeville. Slow Burn (2000). They all became showgirls on the Great White Way, where Florenz Ziegfeld was beginning his spectacular annual "Ziegfeld Follies" shows. The Upgrade (2000). The Douras family lived near Prospect Park in Brooklyn, but already the bright lights of Manhattan beckoned to the sisters. High Heels and Low Lifes (2001). A brother, Charles, died at the age of fifteen from drowning in 1906. Smalls (2001).

Her elder siblings included Rose, Reine, and Ethel. D.C. Of Greek and Irish heritage, she was born Marion Douras in Brooklyn, New York, the youngest of five children born to Herbert Douras, a lawyer who moved in New York City political circles, and Rose Reilly, formerly of Jersey City, New Jersey. Owning Mahowny (2003). Marion Davies (January 3, 1897 - September 23, 1961) was a United States actress. Hope Springs (2003). Ella Enchanted (2004).

The Phantom of the Opera (2004).