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:

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


The Debt Actresses Owe William Somerset Maugham: from to Annette Bening

By Judy on Feb 19, 2015 From Cary Grant Won't Eat You

I?ve read many glowing tributes to the stars of The Letter, Being Julia, Of Human Bondage, and Sadie Thompson over the years. While I?ve never questioned the talents of these actresses, I have always credited much of their brilliance in these parts to William Somerset Maugham. Their strengths are on... Read full article


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Gloria Swanson Quotes:

Norma Desmond: They took the idols and smashed them, the Fairbankses, the Gilberts, the Valentinos! And who've we got now? Some nobodies!


Beth Gordon: Do you expect *me* to share your Oriental ideas? Do you want your *wife* to lure you like a - a - Oh why didn't you marry a Turk?


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!


read more quotes from Gloria Swanson...



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Gloria Swanson Facts
Was very close friends with actor Dirk Benedict. She introduced him to macrobiotics. Dirk has said that she was like a mother to him. They met working on the play "Butterflies Are Free," where Swanson played Benedict's mother.

Claimed to have detested writing her autobiography.

She cited Madame Sans-Gêne (1924) (now lost) as her personal favorite of all her films.

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