American movie stars died in 1956
Here are 17 famous actresses from United States of America died in 1956:
Ruth Draper
Ruth Draper (December 2, 1884 New York City-December 30, 1956 New York City) was an American actor and playwright.
She is best known for her solo performances in which she portrayed multiple characters, often from different social classes and nationalities. Draper's performances were highly acclaimed and she toured extensively in the United States and Europe. She also wrote and directed her own plays, which were often inspired by her travels and observations of people. In addition to her stage work, Draper also appeared in a few films and on radio broadcasts. She was considered a pioneer in the field of solo performance and her legacy has influenced many actors and performers who followed in her footsteps.
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Valda Valkyrien
Valda Valkyrien (September 30, 1895 Reykjavik-October 22, 1956 Los Angeles) was an American actor and ballet dancer.
Valda Valkyrien was born in Reykjavik, Iceland and at the age of 7 she moved with her family to the United States. She began her career as a ballet dancer and performed in several productions in New York and Paris. She then transitioned to acting and appeared in several silent films, including the 1922 film "The Light in the Dark".
In 1924, Valkyrien signed a contract with Warner Bros. and appeared in several films, including "The White Sister" (1923) and "The Lost Patrol" (1934). She was known for her striking beauty and graceful movements, which were showcased in her performances.
In addition to her film career, Valkyrien also worked as a dance instructor and choreographer. She taught ballet and modern dance to students of all ages, and developed a reputation as a respected teacher in the industry.
Unfortunately, Valkyrien's career was cut short due to health issues. She suffered from tuberculosis and had to take a break from acting to focus on her health. She passed away in 1956 at the age of 61 in Los Angeles, California. Despite her shortened career, she left a lasting impact on the film and dance industry.
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Marion Leonard
Marion Leonard (June 9, 1881 Cincinnati-January 9, 1956 Woodland Hills) also known as Lillian Bedford was an American actor and screenwriter.
She began her acting career on stage at the age of 16 and eventually transitioned to film in the early 1900s. Leonard went on to become one of the leading actresses in silent films, working with directors such as D.W. Griffith and playing significant roles in groundbreaking films like "The Birth of a Nation" and "Intolerance". She even wrote and produced several of her own films. Leonard continued acting throughout the 1920s and 1930s, but in smaller supporting roles. She retired from acting in the 1940s and passed away in 1956.
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Katherine MacDonald
Katherine MacDonald (December 14, 1881 Pittsburgh-June 4, 1956 Santa Barbara) also known as Katherine Agnew MacDonald or American Beauty was an American actor and film producer.
Katherine MacDonald began her acting career in 1913 in the silent film industry, and her breakthrough role came in the 1914 drama film "The Spoilers". Throughout the 1910s and 1920s, she starred in over 60 films, becoming one of the most popular and highest-paid actresses of her time.
In 1920, Katherine MacDonald founded her own production company, Katherine MacDonald Productions, which produced several successful films. She also began working as a producer on other films, including the popular 1922 film "Blood and Sand" starring Rudolph Valentino.
However, after a string of unsuccessful films and financial troubles, Katherine MacDonald retired from acting in 1928 and from film production in 1932. She then focused on philanthropy, donating funds to hospitals and charities. She passed away in Santa Barbara, California in 1956 at the age of 74.
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Louise Carver
Louise Carver (June 9, 1869 Davenport-June 18, 1956 Los Angeles) also known as Louise Spilger Murray or Mrs. Louise Spigler Murray was an American actor and comedian.
Born in Davenport, Iowa in 1869, Louise Carver started her career in theater as a singer and dancer before she transitioned into comedy. She appeared in numerous stage productions before transitioning to vaudeville in the early 1900s. She quickly became known for her comedic timing and witty one-liners, and her popularity grew as she began to perform in larger venues across the United States.
In addition to her work on stage, Carver also had a successful film career. She appeared in dozens of films throughout the 1920s and 1930s, often playing supporting roles in comedies and dramas. Some of her most well-known roles include appearances in "The Freshman" (1925) and "The Awful Truth" (1937).
Throughout her career, Carver was known for her sharp wit and her ability to make audiences laugh. She worked alongside many of the greatest comedians of her time, including Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. Despite her success on stage and screen, she never forgot her roots and was known for her generosity and kindness towards fellow performers. Louise Carver passed away in Los Angeles in 1956 at the age of 87.
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Margaret Joslin
Margaret Joslin (August 6, 1883 Cleveland-October 14, 1956 Glendale) also known as Mrs. Harry Todd, Mrs. Todd, Margaret Lucy Gosling, Margaret Joslin Todd or Margaret Joslyn was an American actor.
She began her career performing in vaudeville and made her Broadway debut in the play "The School for Scandal" in 1908. She went on to appear in several other Broadway productions including "Seven Days," "Sauce for the Goose," and "The Fatal Alibi." Joslin transitioned to the film industry in the 1930s and appeared in supporting roles in films such as "The Devil and Miss Jones" and "The Horn Blows at Midnight." She also appeared in television shows such as "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" and "I Love Lucy." Joslin continued to act until her death in 1956 at the age of 73.
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Vera Lewis
Vera Lewis (June 10, 1873 New York City-February 8, 1956 Woodland Hills) also known as Mama Lou, Vera Mackey or Lou was an American actor.
Vera Lewis is best known for playing maternal roles in silent films. She made her film debut in 1915 and went on to appear in over 200 films in her career, primarily in supporting roles. Some of her most notable works include "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1923), "The Phantom of the Opera" (1925), and "The Bat" (1926).
In addition to her film work, Lewis was an accomplished stage actress, having appeared in numerous Broadway productions throughout the early 20th century. She was also a member of the Actors' Equity Association and served on its board of directors for over a decade.
Lewis retired from acting in the early 1940s and lived the remainder of her life in Woodland Hills, California. She passed away in 1956 at the age of 82.
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Nanette Bordeaux
Nanette Bordeaux (April 3, 1911 Québec-September 20, 1956 Los Angeles) was an American actor.
Born in Quebec, Canada, Nanette Bordeaux began her career as a stage actor and dancer, performing in vaudeville shows across Canada and the United States. She made her film debut in 1937 and went on to appear in over 40 films, including "Unfaithfully Yours" (1948), "The Set-Up" (1949), and "Gun Crazy" (1950).
Bordeaux was known for her versatile acting skills and often played supporting roles in films. In addition to her film work, she also appeared on television shows such as "The Lone Ranger" and "My Favorite Husband".
Sadly, Bordeaux's life was cut short by a tragic car accident in 1956 at the age of 45. Despite her brief career, she left an enduring legacy in the entertainment industry, remembered for her talent, grace, and charm.
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Grace La Rue
Grace La Rue (April 23, 1882 Kansas City-March 13, 1956 San Francisco) also known as Stella Gray or Grace Larue was an American actor, singer and songwriter.
She began her career in vaudeville and eventually made her way to Broadway. La Rue starred in several films in the 1920s and 1930s, including "The Big Pond" and "High Society Blues." She also wrote popular songs, such as "My Bluebird's Singing the Blues" and "I'll Never Have to Dream Again." La Rue was known for her sultry voice and glamorous style, and was a popular performer in the Jazz Age. In addition to her entertainment career, La Rue was also a philanthropist and supported various charitable causes throughout her life.
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Lillian Leighton
Lillian Leighton (May 17, 1874 Auroraville, Wisconsin-March 19, 1956 Woodland Hills) also known as Lyllian Browne Leighton, Julianne Leighton, Lillian Brown Leighton, Lillianne Leighton, Lilliane Leighton, Lyllian Leighton, Lyllian Brown Leighton, Lillyan Brown Leighton or Lilyan Brown Leighton was an American actor.
Lillian Leighton appeared in over 200 films during the silent era, typically playing supporting roles. She was known for her versatility and ability to play a wide range of characters, from kind and supportive mothers to cruel and calculating villains. Leighton was a favorite of director D.W. Griffith and appeared in many of his early films. She continued to act in films throughout the 1930s, often in bit parts, and retired from acting in 1936. Leighton lived out the rest of her life in Woodland Hills, California, where she passed away at the age of 81.
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Maude Allen
Maude Allen (November 30, 1879 Middleborough-November 7, 1956 Los Angeles) a.k.a. Maude Pierce Allen or Maude Allen Giannone was an American actor.
Born in Massachusetts, Maude Allen began her acting career in silent films, appearing in several productions in the 1910s and 1920s. She was known for her versatility and ability to play a wide range of roles. Later in her career, she transitioned to talkies and continued to act in Hollywood films throughout the 1930s.
Aside from her work in film, Maude was also an accomplished stage actress, performing in numerous plays on Broadway and in touring productions. She was particularly well-regarded for her performances in productions of Shakespeare's plays.
Maude Allen's personal life was often the subject of media attention. She was married multiple times and had a reputation for being a glamorous and scandalous figure. Despite this, she remained devoted to her craft and continued to act well into her golden years.
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Virginia Kirtley
Virginia Kirtley (November 11, 1888 Bowling Green-August 19, 1956 Sherman Oaks) a.k.a. Virginia Saffell or Jackie Kirtley was an American actor, screenwriter and writer.
Virginia Kirtley, also known by her stage names Virginia Saffell and Jackie Kirtley, was born on November 11, 1888 in Bowling Green, Kentucky. She was an American actor, screenwriter, and writer who gained recognition for her work in the film industry during the early 20th century. Kirtley began her acting career in silent films, appearing in supporting roles in several popular movies of the time. She eventually transitioned to screenwriting and penned scripts for a number of successful films throughout the 1920s and 1930s. Kirtley was also an accomplished writer, publishing short stories and articles in various publications. She passed away on August 19, 1956 in Sherman Oaks, California.
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Helen Lindroth
Helen Lindroth (December 3, 1874 Sweden-October 5, 1956 Boston) also known as Helen Lindreth was an American actor.
Lindroth immigrated to the United States as a child, and began her acting career in her late teens. One of her most notable roles was starring as Pauline in the play "The Perils of Pauline" in both the stage and film adaptations. She was also a talented singer and dancer, performing in vaudeville shows throughout the United States. In addition to her acting career, Lindroth was active in numerous charitable organizations, including serving as the president of the Hollywood chapter of the American Red Cross during World War II. She continued to act in small roles throughout her career until her death in 1956.
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Rose Tapley
Rose Tapley (June 30, 1881 Salem-February 23, 1956 Woodland Hills) a.k.a. Miss Rose Tapley, Rose E. Tapley, Rose Elizabeth Tapley or Tapley was an American actor. She had one child, Rosemary Holahan.
Rose Tapley began her career in the early 1900s as a stage actress before transitioning into film in the silent era. She appeared in over 200 films throughout her career, often playing supporting roles in both silent and sound films. Some of her notable film credits include "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1923), "The Phantom of the Opera" (1925), and "The Cat and the Canary" (1927).
Tapley continued to work in films throughout the 1930s and 1940s, though her roles became smaller and less frequent. She retired from acting in the mid-1940s and lived out the rest of her life in California. She passed away in Woodland Hills in 1956 at the age of 74.
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Marie Doro
Marie Doro (May 25, 1882 Duncannon-October 9, 1956 New York City) a.k.a. Marie K. Steward was an American actor.
She began her career on stage before transitioning to silent films in the early 1910s. She quickly gained popularity for her performances in films such as "Oliver Twist" (1912) and "The Morals of Marcus" (1915). Doro was known for her ability to convey complex emotions through facial expressions, and was often cast in dramatic roles. She continued acting in films until the mid-1920s, before returning to the stage. In her later years, she became involved in philanthropic work and founded the Marie Doro School of Charm in New York City.
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Jane Seymour
Jane Seymour (March 24, 1893 Hamilton-January 30, 1956 New York City) was an American actor.
She was best known for her roles in classic Hollywood films such as "Somewhere In Time," "The Scarlet Pimpernel," and "The Little Minister." Seymour began her acting career in theatre before transitioning to film in the 1930s. She received critical acclaim for her performances and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in "The War of the Roses." Seymour was also a prominent figure in the New York theatre scene in the 1940s where she acted in several Broadway productions. Additionally, she was known for her work in radio and television, including her role in the popular soap opera "One Man's Family." Seymour was married several times and had two children.
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Peaches Browning
Peaches Browning (June 23, 1910-August 23, 1956) was an American actor.
Born in New York City, Peaches Browning began her career as a stage actress in the 1920s, performing in plays such as "The Music Box Revue" and "Earl Carroll's Vanities." She then made her way to Hollywood where she appeared in several films throughout the 1930s, including "The Case of the Velvet Claws" and "Murder on the Blackboard."
During World War II, Browning entertained troops overseas, and after the war, she returned to the stage, starring in productions such as "Annie Get Your Gun" and "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes." She also made occasional appearances on television programs in the 1950s.
Offstage, Browning was known for her philanthropic work, particularly in support of organizations that aided military veterans. She passed away in Los Angeles in 1956 at the age of 46.
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