Gloria Swanson

Date of Birth: March 27, 1899

Zodiac Sign: Aries

Date of Death: April 4, 1983

Biography

Gloria May Josephine Swanson was an American actress and producer, who became one of the most prominent and influential figures in the silent film era. Born on March 27, 1899, in Chicago, Illinois, she began her career as an extra in films in 1914, eventually rising to stardom. Swanson was known for her glamorous lifestyle and her roles in dramatic silent films. She worked with renowned directors like Cecil B. DeMille and starred in films such as “Male and Female” (1919), “Don’t Change Your Husband” (1919), and “Why Change Your Wife?” (1920). Her career faced challenges with the advent of sound in films, but she made a remarkable comeback with her role as Norma Desmond in Billy Wilder’s “Sunset Boulevard” (1950), which earned her an Academy Award nomination. Swanson continued to work in television and theatre, maintaining her iconic status until her death on April 4, 1983.

5 Interesting Facts about Gloria Swanson

1. Gloria Swanson was one of the first women to produce her own films, showcasing her business acumen and independence in a male-dominated industry.

2. She was married six times, with each marriage ending in divorce.

3. Swanson was one of the first stars to make the transition from silent films to talkies, albeit with some difficulty initially.

4. She was a vegetarian and an advocate for health foods long before it became fashionable.

5. Gloria Swanson was awarded two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contributions to the motion picture industry.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Gloria Swanson

1. “I am big! It’s the pictures that got small.”

2. “I’ve given my memoirs far more thought than any of my marriages. You can’t divorce a book.”

3. “Life and death. They are somehow sweetly and beautifully mixed, but I don’t know how.”

4. “My mother and father were both much more remarkable than any story of mine can make them. They seem to me just mythically wonderful.”

5. “I always anticipated difficulties in order to avoid scenes.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the height of her career in the 1920s, Gloria Swanson’s net worth was estimated to be around $8 million (equivalent to over $100 million today when adjusted for inflation).

Children

Gloria Swanson had three children: 1. Gloria Swanson Somborn (daughter with first husband, Wallace Beery) 2. Joseph Patrick Swanson (adopted son with second husband, Herbert K. Somborn) 3. Michele Bridget Farmer (daughter with third husband, Michael Farmer)