Polly Moran

Polly Moran
Born (1883-06-28)June 28, 1883
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died January 25, 1952(1952-01-25) (aged 68)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation Actress
Years active 1913–1950
Spouse(s) Martin T. Malone (1933–1952; her death); 2nd marriage
Children 1 son (adopted)

Pauline Theresa "Polly" Moran (June 28, 1883 – January 25, 1952) was an American actress and comedian.

Career

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Moran started out in vaudeville, and widely toured North America, as well as various other locations that included Europe and South Africa. An attractive Irish beauty, she left vaudeville in 1914 after signing for Mack Sennett at Keystone Studios as one of his Sennett Bathing Beauties.[1] There she honed the style of the brash, loud-mouthed, knock-about comedian which she later became known. She proved effective at slapstick[1] and remained with Sennett for several years until she was signed by MGM.

She partnered with the famous Broadway star Marie Dressler in The Callahans and the Murphys (1927), and the two went on to appear in several films together such as Chasing Rainbows (1930) and Caught Short (1930).[1] After Dressler's death in 1934 Moran's career declined, and she only starred in low-budget comedies or B-movies. In 1940, Moran retired to her home in Laguna Beach, California but maintained an active Hollywood social life and was known for practical jokes. She once ran a failed campaign for a Laguna Beach City Council seat on a "Pro Dogs" platform.[2]

She made a brief comeback appearance in the Tracy-Hepburn classic comedy Adam's Rib in 1949. After playing the role, she said, "I worked in the picture two days before I got a look at myself. I never went back."[3]

Honors

Moran has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6300 Hollywood Boulevard.[4]

Personal life

After a marriage that ended in divorce in 1917, Moran married attorney Martin T. Malone in 1933. She had one child, a son, who was adopted between her two marriages. She lived at 530 Mountain Road in Laguna Beach, California.[5] Moran died of cardiovascular disease in 1952. Although a number of biographies give Moran's date of death as being January 25, 1952, her grave marker reads January 24, 1952.

Selected filmography

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Polly Moran, Movie Comedienne, Dead". The Washington Star. Hollywood. January 26, 1952. p. 1. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  2. ↑ Kennedy, Matthew (December 1998). Marie Dressler : A Biography, With a Listing of Major Stage Performances, a Filmography and a Discography. McFarland & Company. p. 223. ISBN 9780786405206.
  3. ↑ "Heart Ailment Fatal for Actress Polly Moran, 68". Lawrence Journal-World. Los Angeles. January 25, 1952. p. 11. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  4. ↑ "Hollywood Star Walk; Polly Moran". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  5. ↑ Epstein, Benjamin (February 19, 1998). "Course of History". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
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