Mae Clarke American actress Date of Birth: 16.08.1910 Country: USA

1. Mae Clark: Biography
2. Early Life and Career:
3. Rise to Fame:
4. Later Career:
5. Personal Life and Legacy:

Mae Clark: Biography

Mae Clark, born Violet Mary Klotz, was an American actress who was married three times, with all three marriages ending in divorce. Her husbands were Lewis Brice, Stevens Bancroft, and Herbert Langdon. She did not have any children.

Early Life and Career:

Mae Clark was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her father was an organist at a theater. In her childhood, Mae studied dance and eventually began her career on stage, performing in vaudeville and nightclubs. She started her professional career as a dancer with a joint number with Barbara Stanwyck. Mae Clark then appeared in several films for Universal Studios, including the original film version of "The Front Page" in 1931 and the first sound version of "Frankenstein" in the same year, alongside Boris Karloff. In the latter, Mae played the role of Elizabeth, the bride of Henry Frankenstein, who is attacked by the monster on their wedding day.

Rise to Fame:

In 1931, Mae Clark also played the role of Kitty in the crime drama "The Public Enemy," directed by William A. Wellman. Although her role was uncredited, the film featured one of the most famous and parodied scenes in cinema, where James Cagney throws half a grapefruit in Mae Clark's face with a crazed look. The film was so popular that it played 24 hours a day in a theater on Times Square, and Mae's ex-husband frequently bought a ticket just to enjoy the grapefruit scene and then left the theater.

Later Career:

Mae Clark portrayed Myra Deauville in the war drama "Waterloo Bridge," released in 1931. Her role as a young American woman forced into prostitution during World War I in London is considered one of her best performances. Both "The Public Enemy" and "Waterloo Bridge" received positive reviews from critics. Mae also appeared in the drama "Night World" in 1932, alongside Lew Ayres, Boris Karloff, and Hedda Hopper.

In the mid-1930s, Mae Clark stopped receiving starring roles but remained active in the film industry, often playing supporting characters until the 1960s.

Personal Life and Legacy:

Mae Clark was married three times, with all three marriages ending in divorce. Her husbands were Lewis Brice, Stevens Bancroft, and Herbert Langdon. She did not have any children. Mae Clark passed away from cancer at the age of 81 on April 29, 1992, in Woodland Hills, California. She was laid to rest at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery.