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:

Norma Desmond: Jonesy! Hey, Jonesy!


Norma Desmond: Don't be silly.
[hands Joe a present]
Norma Desmond: Here, I was going to give it to you at midnight.
Joe Gillis: Norma, I can't take it, you've bought me enough.
Norma Desmond: Shut up, I'm rich! I'm richer than all this new Hollywood trash! I've got a million dollars.
Joe Gillis: Keep it.
Norma Desmond: Own three blocks downtown, I've got oil in Bakersfield, pumping, *pumping*, pumping! What's it for but to buy us anything we want!
Joe Gillis: Cut out that "us" business!
Norma Desmond: What's the matter with you?
Joe Gillis: What right do you have to take me for granted?
Norma Desmond: What right? Do you want me to tell you?
Joe Gillis: Has it ever occurred to you that I may have a life of my own? That there may be some girl I'm crazy about?
Norma Desmond: Who? Some car hop, or dress extra?
Joe Gillis: What I'm trying to say is that I'm all wrong for you. You want a Valentino, somebody with polo ponies, a big shot!
Norma Desmond: What you're trying to say is that you don't want me to love you. Say it. Say it!
[slaps him hard across the face]


Theodora Fitzgerald: [to Lord Bracondale, after he has saved her life twice] Fate seems to send you to me when I most need you, Lord Bracondale.


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Best Actress Oscar 1927/28






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Gloria Swanson Facts
Mother of a biological daughter, Gloria, by her second husband, and also of an adopted son, Joseph Patrick, whom everyone thought (erroneously) was named for her lover at the time, Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. (father/founder of the Kennedy political clan).

Godmother of director/writer Dirk Wayne Summers, and had signed to appear in The Great Sex War (1969), a film he was producing in Mexico. However, Swanson and her soon to be husband, William Dufty, took it upon themselves (without being asked) to rewrite the screenplay. The "changes" in the script that Swanson desired were not ones that Summers wanted to include, so they mutually released each other from their contracts. This did not impact their close relationship, apparently. Swanson accompanied Summers to Mexico for a location scouting trip.

Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives." Volume One, 1981-1985, pages 776-778. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1998.

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