Best known for playing Andy Hardy’s mother in 14 of MGM’s Hardy family movies, Fay Holden was discovered in England by Mrs. Patrick Campbell. She originally worked as Gaby Fay.
Movie Star Biographies
Biographies of movie stars from the Silent period through Hollywood's Golden Age. These include a great amount of research and are often annotated throughout. Since mid-2008 these are all written by Cliff Aliperti. Older entries point to freelance articles by other contributing authors that were originally posted at an older version of this website.
Grant Mitchell – WHAT A CHARACTER! – Broadway to Hollywood, 1902-1948
Biography of prolific Hollywood character actor Grant Mitchell. His great-uncle was a US President and his father a famed Civil War General. Mitchell tried careers in law and the military, but eventually took to the stage where he began a slow rise to stardom in 1902.
Helen Twelvetrees – Biography of a Tragic Pre-Code Beauty & Talent
A biography of movie star Helen Twelvetrees, 1907-1958. Star of films such as Her Man (1930), Millie (1931), Young Bride, State’s Attorney (both 1932), and Unmarried (1939). Settle in for a 5,000-word biography before clicking over to the separate “Films of Helen Twelvetrees” post.
Gladys George Is Madame X (1937), Plus Brief Biography
A history of Madame X concentrates on the 1937 film version starring Gladys George. Includes a biography of Gladys George with comparison to Ruth Chatterton’s 1929 performance.
Herbert Marshall, Biography of the Trouble in Paradise Star
Biography of actor Herbert Marshall with an appreciation of his biggest films including Trouble in Paradise (1932) and The Razor’s Edge (1946). Article includes details about his having lost his right leg during World War I and of his affair with Gloria Swanson in the 1930s.
Walter Pidgeon’s Long Road from Singer to Stardom
Biography of Walter Pidgeon, best remembered as Greer Garson’s co-star in eight films including Mrs. Miniver and Madame Curie. It was a long road to stardom for Pidgeon, who began as a singer in the early 1920s before breaking out once and for all in 1941. A beloved Hollywood star since that time.
Paul Cavanagh – Case No. 9840 Fills in Actor’s Early Biography
Paul Cavanagh was an actor from 1926 until 1960 including time as a Hollywood featured player from 1930 onward. But who was he before 1926? U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Case No. 9840 fills in those details.
Chester Morris – Biography of the Boston Blackie Star
A biography of Chester Morris, Academy Award nominated actor for Alibi (1929), who starred in several pre-Code classics before going on to greatest fame in the Boston Blackie series of movies.
Richard Dix – His Life and Film Legacy
Five thousand words about the life of Richard Dix including a look at his most important movies: The Vanishing American (1925), Cimarron (1931) and The Ghost Ship (1943) plus, author’s choice, Ace of Aces (1933).
Joe Donahue, “World’s Greatest Dancer” and Sunny Co-Star
Digging into Joe Donahue, talented vaudevillian dancer who replaced his late brother, Jack, opposite Marilyn Miller in the film version of Sunny. He also appeared in Expensive Women and two Dorothy Mackaill titles during his stay with First National, 1930-31. Piecing together some of the mysterious Donahue’s life and discovering, once and for all, the date he died.
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