Deanna Durbin, the former child actress who was born Edna Mae Durbin in Winnipeg, Canada on December 4, 1921, has passed away at age 91, according to her son, Peter H. David, who said she died "a few days ago." (Getty Images), /celebs/international/reclusive-hollywood-actress-deanna-durbin-dies-at-91/eventshow/19820944.cms, Capitalising on her fame, Universal cast Durbin in a series of musical movies including "That Certain Age" and "Mad About Music" which made the actress with the sweet soprano voice into one of Hollywood's most popular stars. It was taken at the Federation of Music Clubs event held at the Hollywood Bowl where these gals won medals for their movie singing. I appreciate your bluntness and think there must have been some real reasons for Deanna to not only give up her career but to leave the US and live the rest of her life in seclusion. But the supporting cast was different; Boris Karloff was to play the Phantom and Allan Jones would have taken third billing in Nelsons role. Los Angeles, June 25, 2023. She was 91. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, American Idol singer C.J. First, she told me that her mothers boyfriend, the cop, had also discussed with them the time he caught a couple carrying on in a parked car one night on Mulholland Drive. Now they will be my treasures. Former child star Deanna Durbin has died at the age of 91, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Managed by: Eva Diem: Last Updated: maceddy The Train movie would have been finished pretty near to the time she became pregnant. Nevertheless, she seemed happy and carefree during the filming of Cant Help Singing. More information Deanna Durbin with her son Peter David More like this Vintage Hollywood Stars Hollywood Glam Golden Age Of Hollywood Classic Hollywood In fact, Brownie received an Oscar nomination for Best Sound Recording for Phantom (but only won for a 1939 film, When Tomorrow Comes). She agreed to make three more films for them so Universal dropped the lawsuit but ultimately allowed her contract to lapse without making those films. October 5, 2013 @ Hmm. Deanna Durbin, a star whose songs and smile made her one of the biggest box-office draws of Hollywood's Golden Age with fans that included Winston Churchill, has died. 1946) and son Peter David (born on June 20, 1951). In 1945, Durbin made "Lady on a Train" -- directed by Charles David, whom she married five years later. Ive gained weight. How could anybody really think that I was going to spend the rest of my life with a man I found I didnt love, just for the sake of an image?. Durbin's husband of almost 50 years, Charles David, died in Paris on March 1, 1999. They sort of adopted me as their perfect daughter., In the letter, which was excerpted in some newspapers, she also wrote: I was never happy making pictures. Third husband of singer and actress Deanna Durbin. Her son Peter H. David told the Deanna Durbin Society newsletter that his Deanna Durbin, whose wholesome movie roles entertained Depression era audiences, has died at the age of 91. 1:18 pm. Ms. Durbin was an extremely talented singer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3Pl-qvA1X8, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDHgg1GUNlo, Save the date! Shortly afterward she moved to Universal, shepherded there by Rufus Le Maire, a former MGM executive who had switched his allegiance to the rival studio. magda reardon. No other details were given. Deanna Durbin was first signed by MGM and co-starred with Judy Garland in the short film Every Sunday (1936). Deanna always would say that she isnt the person she played on the screen, that she was another person apart from who she really was. In fact, he told me that he built an entire new recording booth and setup for Nelsons first (and ultimately last) Universal movie. For reprint rights |, Bookmark or read stories offline - Download the TOI app. In looking at the older photo of her from the 1980s, one can see that kindness in her. Would you like me to deny it, dear? she asked. Nelson was a bigger box office draw than Allan Jones so the whole film would now be built around Nelson Eddynot a problem in normal circumstances but in Phantom it was off-kilter to the actual story. She was considered a snob by some people, but I think she just chose her friends carefully.We lived our own lives and were together whenever possible. This article was written by fellow blogger and writer Ed Sum. The marriage lasted two years. Additionally, she wasnt happy with the direction her career was taking. The character I was forced into had little or nothing in common with myself or with other youth of my generation, for that matter. We know that Jeanette, for example, confided in her later years to Miliza Korjus and others how she now agonized over choices she had made in her thirties. Despite her obvious popularity, Durbin would go on to retire just two years later at the age of 29, making "For The Love Of Mary" her final film. I liked the people with whom I worked and after the nervousness of the first day, I felt completely at ease in front of the camera. I loved my wife. joanne tew Was there a blow up and there could have been regarding the published affair with Cotton. Durbin rarely gave interviews but did send reporters a letter in 1958, in which she said she was "never happy making pictures. We were on a first name basis. No other. She was 91. Edna Mae Durbin was born Dec. 4, 1921, (some sources say 1922) in Winnipeg, Canada, but the family soon moved to Southern California because of her fathers health. Below, Deanna receiving her Oscar from Edgar Bergen. Deanna had a long life so again, I hope she was happy in France. I was initially surprised to read that about a year after their marriage 6 months or so after the birth of baby Jessica, Felix felt the marriage was over. [Cotten further explained that he got his revenge at a dinner at the Beverly Hills Hotel for the US Vice President.] She Movie . Her last film was 1948s Up in Central Park, and she left film-making in 1949, turning down roles in Bing Crosbys Topo' the Morning and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court at Paramount studios. No other details were given. Remembering sisters Jeanette MacDonald and Blossom Rock today. (Getty Images) She has remained in the public eye over the years, not a recluse, so was very poised while accepting her award (though that girlish enthusiasm breaks through every so often). That would have saved him unhappiness and saved me from a marriage that should never have happened.. So his appearance at the Oscars was emotional on many levels both for the audience and for him. Charles David directed only two films in Hollywood, both in 1945 - Lady On A Train and Fairy Tale Murder (with Gloria Jean). 9:04 pm. There are dieticians who make a business of compiling menus.. To my surprise, there was much speculation to be found on whether Durbin and Cotten had had even a brief affair during the filming. This made me immediately think that there definitely was something between them. One of Hollywood's Deanna Durbin has died, aged 91. Durbin had lived just outside the village of Neauphle-le-Chateau, near Paris, since moving there in 1950 with her third husband, director Charles David. Pat was a Deanna Durbin fan as well as a Mac/Eddy fan and she told me two pieces of information about Deanna Durbin that I thought little about in the ensuing decades. She had custody of Jessica, he was ordered to repay some monies hed borrowed from her and their pre-nup had them both keeping their own individual incomes. Boy, this sure sounds very familiar, doesnt it? I hope that she had happiness with her husband and children. Durbin's son, Peter H. David, was quoted in the "Deanna Durbin Society" newsletter saying his mother had passed away several days ago, but he did not provide any other details about her death. But Deanna Durbin -- a world-famous young movie actress during the 1930s and 1940s -- managed to do it right. Whether you are a singer, actor, writer, painter or any other kind of artist, there is a communication that you share with your audience. Deannas story is an amazing one. The actress was born Edna Mae Durbin in Winnipeg, Canada, but moved to California with her British-born parents when she was young. She broke into the movies in 1936, aged 14, when she appeared in "Every Sunday" with Judy Garland, according to her biography on the IMDb film website. Thank you for this post. As far as I could see, or would let myself see, she was a completely happy wife and a very busy hostess. The French born David married Deanna in 1950 and Deanna chose to leave America and settle in France. The photo below from 1941 shows Jeanette with (from left to right), Susanna Foster, Kathryn Grayson, Judy Garland and Deanna Durbin. ETimes is an Entertainment, TV & Lifestyle industry's promotional website and carries advertorials and native advertising. Which is maybe why in 1946 Jeanette escaped to the UK on a concert tour and even talked about staying and having her baby there. Below is a picture taken on the wedding day of Deanna Durbin and Felix Jackson. See below for a candid of the two girls on the MGM lot and a shot from that film. Universal finally turned on her, suing her for her prepaid wages. No comments were ever recorded after that, but I presume they settled into a contented life together. Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada as Edna Mae Durbin, she was first signed by MGM in 1935. I was away from home a lot. Deanna Durbin was one of those rare few child/teenaged stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood who walked away from the madness and after some early marital missteps, found a satisfying, somewhat normal personal life as a result. A very sad Mayday for ussad but inevitable news. When she slaps John Dalls face and says Im insanely jealous, one gets a glimpse of the very sophisticated comedy actress she could have been. Her popularity peaked by her late teens and by her mid-20s Durbin had left Hollywood forever, made wealthy by her relatively brief career. That Joseph Cotten would not have left his wife for Deanna if he indeed was the father of her child would have been very painful for Deanna, if indeed he was her great love. When my first marriage failed, everyone said that I could never divorce. She broke into the movies in 1936, aged 14, when she appeared in "Every Sunday" with Judy Garland, according to her biography on the IMDb film website. Here, for example, is a recent quote from Doug Bonner, a filmmaker and Emmy-winning sound designer. That Jackson would just leave Deanna six months after baby Jessicas birth and walk away from his without even fighting for joint custody well, that was very telling. She also was one of the highest paid stars of her time, making a reported $250,000 a year. Deanna later publicly blamed their divorce on their mutual utter boredom. About the same time, in 1936, she began singing on Eddie Cantors popular weekly radio program. In 1980, she submitted a recent photo of herself to Life . Welcome to Hollywood, folks! In the early days, I saw the Mac/Eddy films out of sequence, would notice a few things and then ask Blossom and/or others what was going on behind the scenes. No other details were given. She was 91. Much to my surprise she wrote back to me. Perhaps now I have a better understanding of Deanna Durbins courage in chucking it all and walking away while she was still young enough to create a new second act in her life. The character I was forced into had little or nothing in common with myself or with other youth of my generation, for that matter. Durbin received an honorary Oscar in 1938 LOS ANGELES Deanna Durbin, a star whose songs and smile made her one of the biggest box-office draws of Hollywood's Golden Age with fans that.
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