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Mary BrianAmerican actress and film star
Date of Birth: 17.02.1906
Country:  USA |
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Biography of Mary Brian
Mary Brian, born as Louise Byrdie Dantzler, was an American actress and film star. She was born on February 17, 1906, in Corsicana, Texas, USA. Her father passed away when she was only one month old. Later, Louise and her family moved to Dallas and then to Long Beach, California in the early 1920s.
Discovering a Talent
Louise initially had plans to become an illustrator, but at the age of 16, her aspirations changed when she was noticed at a local beauty contest where young women showcased themselves in swimsuits. One of the judges happened to be the famous film star, Esther Ralston, who would later play Mary's mother in the film 'Peter Pan' and become her lifelong friend. Although Louise did not win the $25 prize, Ralston said, "We must give the girl something," and her reward was an audition for the role of Wendy Darling in director Herbert Brenon's family film 'Peter Pan.' She was chosen for the role, with the decision made to portray Wendy as 16 instead of 18 years old, as the filmmakers believed the audience would consider her "too old" to be Peter's companion. The 'Paramount Pictures' studio signed a long-term contract with Louise, and from then on, she became known as Mary Brian.
Rising to Stardom
Mary Brian began her career by playing Percy Marmont's daughter in the crime drama 'The Street of Forgotten Men' in 1925. A year later, she portrayed Mary Abbott, the college vamp, in Jack Conway's melodrama 'Brown of Harvard' alongside William Haines and Jack Pickford. She was named one of the 'WAMPAS Baby Stars,' a promotional campaign that also featured Mary Astor, Dolores Costello, Joan Crawford, Dolores Del Rio, Janet Gaynor, and Fay Wray. As an actress for 'Paramount Pictures,' Mary appeared in over 40 films, often playing the role of a romantic heroine, ingenue, or simply one of the stars. In 1926, she collaborated with Brenon once again, this time playing Isabelle in the war drama 'Beau Geste' alongside Ronald Colman. That same year, Mary appeared in the comedies 'Behind the Front' and 'Harold Teen.' In 1928, she portrayed Alice Dean in Victor Schertzinger's drama 'Forgotten Faces' with Clive Brook and Olga Baclanova. Unfortunately, many of Mary's films with 'Paramount' have not survived to the present day and are believed to be lost forever. However, she was fortunate enough to experience the era of silent films, and in 1928, she starred in her first talkie, the comedy-drama 'Varsity,' alongside Charles 'Buddy' Rogers.
Continuing Success and Later Years
Throughout the 1930s, Mary Brian appeared in several popular films, including playing Gwen Cavendish in the comedy 'The Royal Family of Broadway' with Ina Claire and Frederic March, and Peggy Grant in Lewis Milestone's 'The Front Page' with Adolphe Menjou and Pat O'Brien. In 1932, her contract with 'Paramount' expired, but she continued her craft and appeared in films such as 'Shadows of Sing Sing,' 'College Rhythm,' 'Charlie Chan in Paris,' 'Man on the Flying Trapeze,' 'Spendthrift,' 'Navy Blues,' and others. In 1936, Mary traveled to England where she starred in three more films, including the comedy 'Amazing Adventure' with Cary Grant. From 1937 to 1943, she took a break from the screen but made a few comebacks in the following years. Her final role in the film industry was as a character named Anne Hogan in the B-movie action film 'Dragnet' in 1947, alongside Henry Wilcoxon. Mary Brian appeared in over 79 films during her 22-year acting career. After retiring, she dedicated much of her time to portrait painting and supporting her husband's career as a film editor, George Tomasini, known for his work on Hitchcock's films such as 'Rear Window' in 1954 and 'Psycho' in 1960. Mary Brian passed away at the age of 96, on December 30, 2002, in Del Mar, California. In recognition of her contributions to cinema, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
