Gloria Swanson Overview:

Legendary actress, Gloria Swanson, was born Gloria May Josephine Svensson on Mar 27, 1899 in Chicago, IL. Swanson died at the age of 84 on Apr 4, 1983 in New York City, NY and was laid to rest in Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest Cemetery in Manhattan, NY.

MINI BIO:

Dark-haired, highly mannered American star and (very) dramatic actress. Progressed from being a Mack Sennett bathing beauty at 16 to the silent screen's adventuress par excellence, moving chicly through a new-found sexual freedom. Her career foundered with the coming of sound, although she made one remarkable comeback appearance in Sunset Boulevard. Married to Wallace Beery 1916-1918, first of six. Oscar nominee for Sadie Thompson, The Trespasser, and Sunset Boulevard. Died following heart surgery.

(Source: available at Amazon Quinlan's Film Stars).

HONORS and AWARDS:

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Although Swanson was nominated for three Oscars, she never won a competitive Academy Award.

Academy Awards

YearAwardFilm nameRoleResult
1927/28Best ActressSadie Thompson (1928)Sadie ThompsonNominated
1929/30Best ActressThe Trespasser (1929)Marion DonnellNominated
1950Best ActressSunset Blvd. (1950)Norma DesmondNominated
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She was honored with two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the categories of Television and Motion Pictures. Gloria Swanson's handprints and footprints were 'set in stone' at Grauman's Chinese Theater during imprint ceremony #8 on 1927.

BlogHub Articles:

Star Words: Part 1 – and Mike Wallace

By shadowsandsatin on Jan 25, 2026 From Shadows and Satin

If you know me or my blog, you?ll know that I love coming up with new ideas for series ? I have several here at Shadows and Satin already: Will They Stay Together, Western Noir, Obscure Femmes, and Flawed Gents. (Okay, so I only have one entry in that last series, and that was from 2017 ? but still ... Read full article


William Holden and are prisoners of Sunset Boulevard

By Stephen Reginald on Nov 7, 2023 From Classic Movie Man

William Holden and are prisoners of Sunset Boulevard Sunset Boulevard (1950) is an American film noir directed by Billy Wilder and starring William Holden, , and Eric von Stroheim. The screenplay was written by Charles Brackett, Wilder, and D. M. Marshman Jr. The su... Read full article


Silents are Golden: Silent Superstars ? The Eternally Glamorous

By Lea Stans on Jul 15, 2021 From Classic Movie Hub Blog

Silents are Golden: Silent Superstars ? The Eternally Glamorous If you hear the words ?glamour? and ?movie star,? which famous name comes to mind? Chances are someone like Marilyn Monroe or Sophia Loren. Or perhaps ? hopefully! ? you thought of . Heck, her name even s... Read full article


A gloriosa / The Glorious

By L? on Mar 16, 2019 From Critica Retro

A gloriosa / The Glorious Assim como muitas pessoas, minha introdu??o ? foi atrav?s de “Crep?sculo dos Deuses” (1950). Muitos espectadores, num primeiro momento, podem pensar que Norma Desmond ? uma personagem autobiogr?fica – em... Read full article


By Michele on Sep 14, 2015 From Timeless Hollywood

During the silent era was the Queen of Hollywood. She was a modern woman, an early sex symbol and personified glamour. Swanson was one of the most photographed women in the world. She had to fight to prove her talent as an actress and was nominated for an Academy Award three times for... Read full article


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Gloria Swanson Quotes:

Sadie Thompson: [screaming at Alfred Davidson] Who gave you the right to pass judgement on me? You psalm-singing louse! You'd tear out you own mother's heart, if she didn't agree with you, and call it saving her soul!


Theodora Fitzgerald: I could never live under the shadow of my broken world!


Sarah - Theodora's Older Sister #2: Has is proposed?
Theodora Fitzgerald: No, but I'm afraid he's going to.


read more quotes from Gloria Swanson...



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Best Actress Oscar 1927/28






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Grauman's Imprints

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Gloria Swanson on the
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Gloria Swanson Facts
Mother of Michele Bridget Farmer, her second and final daughter and child, (aka Michele Farmer)(she was born on April 5, 1932) with Michael Farmer.

The first film shown at the original Roxy Theatre at 153 W. 50th Street, New York City, was Swanson's The Love of Sunya (1927) in March 1927, and she attended the premiere. At its demolition in 1961 she posed in its ruins as a final farewell.

Her performance as Norma Desmond in Sunset Blvd. (1950) is ranked #69 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Performances of All Time (2006).

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