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Polly BergenAmerican actress and singer
Date of Birth: 14.07.1930
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Polly Bergen: Hollywood Icon and Enterprising Trailblazer
- Breakthrough Roles and MGM Success
- Emmy Award Win and Musical Success
- Broadway Triumphs and Entrepreneurial Ventures
- Television Stardom and "Desperate Housewives"
- Personal Life and Legacy
Polly Bergen: Hollywood Icon and Enterprising Trailblazer
Early Life and Career BeginningsAmerican actress, singer, and entrepreneur Polly Bergen was born Nellie Pauline Burgin in Knoxville, Tennessee on July 14, 1930. At the age of 14, she moved with her family to Los Angeles, where she pursued her passion for singing and began performing on the radio. Her talent caught the attention of a Hollywood agent, leading to her film debut in "The Reformer and the Redhead" in 1949.
Breakthrough Roles and MGM Success
Bergen's early film roles included "Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye" (1950), "That's My Boy" (1951), and "The Stooge" (1952), starring the popular comedy duo Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. After signing with MGM under the stage name Polly Bergen, she began to receive more substantial roles, appearing in "The Arena" (1953) and "Escape from Fort Bravo" (1953).
Emmy Award Win and Musical Success
In 1957, Bergen won an Emmy Award for her portrayal of singer Helen Morgan in an episode of the television series "The Playwrights '56." Her musical abilities on screen led to a successful singing career on Columbia Records, where she recorded several hit albums.
Broadway Triumphs and Entrepreneurial Ventures
The mid-1950s marked Bergen's Broadway debut, where she appeared in seven productions throughout her career. In the 1960s, she starred in notable films such as "Cape Fear" (1962) and "The Guide for the Married Man" (1967). In 1965, she launched her own cosmetics line, Polly Bergen Co., and later created a shoe brand, jewelry line, and authored three beauty books.
Television Stardom and "Desperate Housewives"
In the early 1970s, Polly Bergen transitioned primarily to television, appearing in films such as "Mr. Wrong" (1987) and "Cry-Baby" (1990). From 2007 to 2009, she played the role of Stella Wingfield, Lynette Scavo's mother, in the popular television series "Desperate Housewives," which earned her an Emmy nomination.
Personal Life and Legacy
Polly Bergen was married three times, all of which ended in divorce. With her second husband, theatrical agent Freddie Fields, she had one biological child and adopted two others. Bergen passed away peacefully at the age of 84 on September 20, 2014. She left behind a legacy as a multi-talented entertainer and a successful entrepreneur who made her mark in both Hollywood and the business world.
