Billie Burke American actress Date of Birth: 07.08.1884 Country: USA

Biography of Billy Burke

Billy Burke, born Mary William Ethelbert Appleton Burke on August 7, 1884, in Washington, D.C., was an American actress and nominee for the Academy Award in 1938. She grew up in a circus family, traveling extensively throughout the United States and Europe before settling in London. After visiting London's West End, Burke developed a desire to become an actress. She began her career on the theatrical stages of London in 1903 and soon after returned to the United States.

In a short period of time, Burke achieved success as a Broadway actress, earning praise for her charm and vibrant performances. It was on Broadway that she met her future husband, renowned emcee Florence Ziegfeld, whom she married in 1914. In 1916, Burke gave birth to their daughter Patricia Ziegfeld Stephenson and made her film debut the same year. While she preferred the theater stage over the screen, the stock market crash of 1929 forced her to reconsider her roles in order to earn a living.

In 1932, Burke returned to Hollywood and appeared in the film "Bill of Divorcement," directed by George Cukor. She portrayed the character Meg Fairfield, the mother of Katherine Hepburn's character, marking Hepburn's debut film. During the filming, Burke's husband Florence Ziegfeld passed away, but she continued working immediately after his funeral. A year later, she starred in another Cukor film, "Dinner at Eight," alongside John Barrymore, Jean Harlow, and Marie Dressler. The film was highly successful and brought Burke significant popularity.

In 1938, Burke portrayed Emily Kilbourne in the film "Merrily We Live," a role for which she was nominated for an Academy Award. That same year, MGM released the biographical film "The Great Ziegfeld," which won two Oscars. Burke was portrayed in the film by the outstanding actress Myrna Loy. In 1938, at the age of 53, Burke played one of her most iconic roles, Glinda the Good Witch of the North, in the legendary film "The Wizard of Oz," directed by Victor Fleming.

Other notable roles for Burke include Doris Dunstan in the films "Father of the Bride" (1950) and "Father's Little Dividend" (1951). From 1943 to 1946, Burke hosted her own radio show on CBS called "The Billy Burke Show," which aired every Saturday morning. In the 1950s, she appeared in several television series, but she gradually stopped acting towards the end of the decade due to age and memory difficulties.

Burke authored two autobiographies: "With a Feather on My Nose" (1949) and "With Powder on My Nose" (1959). She passed away on May 14, 1970, in Los Angeles at the age of 86, having suffered from Alzheimer's disease. She was laid to rest at Kensico Cemetery in Westchester County, New York.