Gloria Swanson Overview:

Legendary actress, Gloria Swanson, was born Gloria May Josephine Svensson on Mar 27, 1899 in Chicago, IL. Swanson died at the age of 84 on Apr 4, 1983 in New York City, NY and was laid to rest in Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest Cemetery in Manhattan, NY.

MINI BIO:

Dark-haired, highly mannered American star and (very) dramatic actress. Progressed from being a Mack Sennett bathing beauty at 16 to the silent screen's adventuress par excellence, moving chicly through a new-found sexual freedom. Her career foundered with the coming of sound, although she made one remarkable comeback appearance in Sunset Boulevard. Married to Wallace Beery 1916-1918, first of six. Oscar nominee for Sadie Thompson, The Trespasser, and Sunset Boulevard. Died following heart surgery.

(Source: available at Amazon Quinlan's Film Stars).

HONORS and AWARDS:

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Although Swanson was nominated for three Oscars, she never won a competitive Academy Award.

Academy Awards

YearAwardFilm nameRoleResult
1927/28Best ActressSadie Thompson (1928)Sadie ThompsonNominated
1929/30Best ActressThe Trespasser (1929)Marion DonnellNominated
1950Best ActressSunset Blvd. (1950)Norma DesmondNominated
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She was honored with two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the categories of Television and Motion Pictures. Gloria Swanson's handprints and footprints were 'set in stone' at Grauman's Chinese Theater during imprint ceremony #8 on 1927.

Gloria Swanson BlogHub Articles:

William Holden and Gloria Swanson are prisoners of Sunset Boulevard

By Stephen Reginald on Nov 7, 2023 From Classic Movie Man

William Holden and Gloria Swanson are prisoners of Sunset Boulevard Sunset Boulevard (1950) is an American film noir directed by Billy Wilder and starring William Holden, Gloria Swanson, and Eric von Stroheim. The screenplay was written by Charles Brackett, Wilder, and D. M. Marshman Jr. The su... Read full article


Silents are Golden: Silent Superstars ? The Eternally Glamorous Gloria Swanson

By Lea Stans on Jul 15, 2021 From Classic Movie Hub Blog

Silents are Golden: Silent Superstars ? The Eternally Glamorous Gloria Swanson If you hear the words ?glamour? and ?movie star,? which famous name comes to mind? Chances are someone like Marilyn Monroe or Sophia Loren. Or perhaps ? hopefully! ? you thought of Gloria Swanson. Heck, her name even s... Read full article


A gloriosa Gloria Swanson / The Glorious Gloria Swanson

By L? on Mar 16, 2019 From Critica Retro

A gloriosa Gloria Swanson / The Glorious Gloria Swanson Assim como muitas pessoas, minha introdu??o ? Gloria Swanson foi atrav?s de “Crep?sculo dos Deuses” (1950). Muitos espectadores, num primeiro momento, podem pensar que Norma Desmond ? uma personagem autobiogr?fica – em... Read full article


Gloria Swanson

By Michele on Sep 14, 2015 From Timeless Hollywood

During the silent era Gloria Swanson was the Queen of Hollywood. She was a modern woman, an early sex symbol and personified glamour. Swanson was one of the most photographed women in the world. She had to fight to prove her talent as an actress and was nominated for an Academy Award three times for... Read full article


The Debt Actresses Owe William Somerset Maugham: from Gloria Swanson to Annette Bening

By Judy on Feb 19, 2015 From Cary Grant Won't Eat You

I?ve read many glowing tributes to the stars of The Letter, Being Julia, Of Human Bondage, and Sadie Thompson over the years. While I?ve never questioned the talents of these actresses, I have always credited much of their brilliance in these parts to William Somerset Maugham. Their strengths are on... Read full article


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Gloria Swanson Quotes:

Anatol Spencer: Let me take you away from all this rotten, hypocritical crowd! Let's go to some clean, sweet place in the Country where people are honest and decent - and find ourselves again!
Vivian Spencer: I'll go with you to the country, Tony, if I can be sure there'll be milk - but no *milk-maids*!


Norma Desmond: [Norma thinks Joe is a funeral director] I'd like the coffin to be white, and I want it specially lined with satin. White... or pink. Maybe red! Bright flaming red! Let's make it gay!


Theodora Fitzgerald: I could never live under the shadow of my broken world!


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Best Actress Oscar 1927/28






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Grauman's Imprints

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Gloria Swanson on the
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Gloria Swanson Facts
She cited Madame Sans-Gêne (1924) (now lost) as her personal favorite of all her films.

Her performance as Norma Desmond in Sunset Blvd. (1950) is ranked #69 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Performances of All Time (2006).

One of the most popular sketches on The Carol Burnett Show was called "Nora Desmond" -- which was Burnett's send-up of Gloria Swanson's character Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard.

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