Marie Dressler
Marie Dressler was born Leila Marie Koerber November
9, 1868, in Cobourg, Canada. Her family moved about frequently
during her childhood, and she lived at one time or another in
Michigan and Ohio. She left home at the age of 14 and began her
acting career with the Nevada Stock Company. She worked with several
theatrical companies throughout the late 19th century in various
parts of the country and increasing in popularity. She made her
Broadway debut in 1892 in "Waldemar, the Robber of the Rhine."
Reportedly, she desired to be an operatic diva or tragedienne,
but she was persuaded by the writer of "Waldemar," Maurice
Barrymore, the father of John, Lionel and Ethel Barrymore, that
her future lay in comedy. In 1896, she got her first starring
role in "The Lady Slaver" which proved to be a success
and ran for two years on Broadway. She continued to be a success
and eventually went to England to perform in 1907. In 1909, she
appeared on Broadway in "Tillie's Nightmare" which proved
to be her greatest success. Dressler owned the rights to "Tillie's
Nightmare" and was receptive when Mack Sennett, whom she
had helped get a job in a theater years earlier, approached her
about a movie based on the play. "Tillie's Punctured Romance,"
which co-starred Charlie Chaplin, was a great success. She appeared
in two "Tillie" sequels. In the twenties, Dressler's
movie career was relegated to a few shorts until 1927 when Allan
Dwan cast her in "The Joy Girl." Screenwriter Frances
Marion was a friend and convinced MGM to use her in "The
Callahans and the Murphys" (1927), an Irish comedy co-starring
comedienne Polly Moran. She also appeared with Moran in "Bringing
Up Father," but her appearance as Marion Davies' mother in
"The Patsy" (1928) brought her the greatest critical
praise. Her acting career was solidified at MGM when Marion convinced
Irving Thalberg to cast Dressler as Marthy in Greta Garbo's "Anna
Christie" (1930). During the silent era, she rose to her
greatest stardom in a number of comedies, the most popular of
which co-starred Wallace Beery. She won the Best Actress Academy
Award for 1930-31 for her role in "Min and Bill" which
co-starred Beery. She died of cancer in 1934 at the age of 65.
Selected films of this star available for viewing:
Tillie's Punctured Romance (1914)
Tillie Wakes Up (1917)
The Joy Girl (1927)
The
Patsy (1928)
The Divine Lady (1929)
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