Always credited her good friend, screenwriter Frances Marion, with literally saving her life. After much time spent trying to find her, Marion contacted Dressler about a major role in The Callahans and the Murphys (1927). Dressler had planned to commit suicide by jumping out of her apartment window that very night. Instead, the role marked a personal and professional comeback for her. It brought her to MGM, where she would remain a major star until her death, and establish friendships, not just with Marion but with Marion's husband at the time, director George W. Hill. She would work with both on several subsequent pictures.
Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith. Pg. 141-143. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387
Daughter died in infancy.
Father was Alexander Rudolph Koerber, mother was Annie Henderson. The family lived at 212 King Street West, Cobourg, Ontario, Canada. The house is an historical site and museum.
Lived with James Dalton from 1914 until his death
Profiled in book "Funny Ladies" by Stephen Silverman. [1999]
She appears as a character in the musical play "In Hell with Harlow" by Paul L. Williams.
She is commemorated on a 2008 Canadian postage stamp, one of four stamps honoring the achievements of Canadians in Hollywood. The other stamps depict Norma Shearer, Chief Dan George, and Raymond Burr.
She won her Academy Award for Best Actress the day after her 63rd birthday.
Suffered from stage fright throughout her career.
There is some dispute to her actual birth year. According to most sources and the document as to the history of the house, she was born in 1868. Other sources say 1869. At least one scientist says that her baptismal records give 1863, and to further confuse the issue, 1871 is given on her grave.
Was named the top box-office star of 1933 by the Motion Picture Herald, based on an annual poll of exhibitors as to the drawing power of movie stars at the box-office conducted by Quigley Publications.
Was seriously contemplating working as a housekeeper at a Long Island estate before screenwriter Frances Marion, knowing that Dressler was down on her luck, insisted that MGM cast her in The Callahans and the Murphys (1927), which turned out to be a hit and revived her career.