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Ann Dvorak

Known For
Acting

Known Credits
87

Gender
Female

Birthday
August 2, 1911 (114 years old)

Place of Birth
New York City, New York, USA

Ann Dvorak

Biography

Ann Dvorak (born Anna McKim; August 2, 1911 – December 10, 1979) was an American stage and film actress. Asked how to pronounce her adopted surname, she told The Literary Digest: "My fake name is properly pronounced vor'shack. The D remains silent."

Dvorak was the daughter and only child of silent film actress Anna Lehr and director Edwin McKim. While in New York, she attended St. Catherine's Convent. After moving to California, she attended Page School for Girls in Hollywood.

She made her film debut when she was five years old in the silent film version of Ramona (1916), credited as "Baby Anna Lehr". She continued in children's roles in The Man Hater (1917) and Five Dollar Plate (1920), but then stopped acting in films. Her parents separated in 1916 and divorced in 1920; she did not see her father again until 13 years later, when she made a public plea to the press to help her find him.

In the late 1920s, Dvorak worked as a dance instructor and gradually began to appear on film as a chorus girl. Her friend, actress Karen Morley, introduced her to billionaire movie producer Howard Hughes, who groomed her as a dramatic actress. She was a success in such pre-Code films as Scarface (1932) as Paul Muni's sister; in Three on a Match (1932) with Bette Davis and Joan Blondell as the doomed, unstable Vivian; in The Crowd Roars (1932) with James Cagney; and in Sky Devils (1932) opposite Spencer Tracy. Known for her style and elegance, she was a popular leading lady for Warner Bros. during the 1930s, and appeared in numerous contemporary romances and melodramas. At age 19, Dvorak eloped with Leslie Fenton, her English co-star from The Strange Love of Molly Louvain (1932), and they married on March 17, 1932. They left for a year-long honeymoon in spite of her contractual obligations to the studio, which led to a period of litigation and pay disputes during which she discovered she was making the same amount of money as the boy who played her son in Three on a Match. She completed her contract on permanent suspension, then worked as a freelancer. Although she worked regularly, the quality of her scripts declined sharply. She appeared as secretary Della Street to Donald Woods' Perry Mason in The Case of the Stuttering Bishop (1937). With her then-husband, Leslie Fenton, Dvorak traveled to England where she supported the war effort by working as an ambulance driver and acted in several British films. She appeared as a saloon singer in Abilene Town with Randolph Scott and Edgar Buchanan, released in 1946. The following year she adeptly handled comedy by giving an assured performance in Out of the Blue (1947). In 1948, Dvorak gave her only performance on Broadway in The Respectful Prostitute.

Dvorak's marriage to Fenton ended in divorce in 1946. In 1947, she married Igor Dega, a Russian dancer who danced with her briefly in The Bachelor's Daughters. The marriage ended two years later.

Dvorak retired from the screen in 1951, when she married her third and last husband, Nicholas Wade, to whom she remained married until his death in 1975. She had no children.

Known For

Acting

2008Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywoodas Vivian Revere Kirkwood (archive footage)
1997Bogart: The Untold Storyas Self (archive footage)
1951The Secret of Convict Lakeas Rachel Schaeffer
1951I Was an American Spyas Mrs. Claire 'High Pockets' Phillips
1950Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Maloneas Connie Kepplar
1950A Life of Her Ownas Mary Ashlon
1950The Return of Jesse Jamesas Sue Ellen Younger
1950Our Very Ownas Gert Lynch
1948The Walls of Jerichoas Belle Connors
1947The Long Nightas Charlene
1947The Private Affairs of Bel Amias Madeleine Forestier
1947Out of the Blueas Olive Jensen
1946The Bachelor's Daughtersas Terry Wilson
1946Abilene Townas Rita
1945Masquerade in Mexicoas Helen Grant
1945Flame of Barbary Coastas Ann 'Flaxen' Tarry
1943Escape to Dangeras Joan Grahame
1943Squadron Leader Xas Barbara Lucas
1942This Was Parisas Ann Morgan
1940Girls of the Roadas Kay Warren
1940Cafe Hostessas Jo
1939Stronger Than Desireas Eva McLain
1939Blind Alleyas Mary
1938Gangs of New Yorkas Connie Benson
1938Merrily We Liveas Minerva Harlan
1937Manhattan Merry-Go-Roundas Ann Rogers
1937She's No Ladyas Jerry
1937The Case of the Stuttering Bishopas Della Street
1937Midnight Courtas Carol O'Neill
1937Racing Ladyas Ruth Martin
1937We Who Are About to Dieas Connie Stewart
1936Breakdowns of 1936as Self
1935Thanks a Millionas Sally Mason
1935Dr. Socratesas Josephine
1935Bright Lightsas Fay Wilson
1935'G' Menas Jean Morgan
1935Sweet Musicas Bonnie Haydon
1935A Trip Thru a Hollywood Studioas Herself (uncredited)
1934Murder in the Cloudsas Judy
1934Gentlemen Are Bornas Susan Merrill
1934I Sell Anythingas Barbara
1934Side Streetsas Marguerite Gilbert
1934Housewifeas Nan Reynolds
1934Friends of Mr. Sweeneyas Miss Beulah Boyd
1934Midnight Alibias Joan
1934Heat Lightningas Myra
1934Roast-Beef and Moviesas Chorine (archive footage) (uncredited)
1934Massacreas Lydia
1933College Coachas Claire Gore
1933The Way to Loveas Madeleine
1933Hello Popas Dancer
1932Three on a Matchas Vivian Revere
1932Crooneras Judith 'Judy' Mason
1932Love is a Racketas Sally Condon
1932The Strange Love of Molly Louvainas Madeleine Maude 'Molly' Louvain
1932The Crowd Roarsas Lee Merrick
1932Scarfaceas Francesca 'Cesca' Camonte
1932Sky Devilsas Mary Way
1931The Guardsmanas Fan Saying "There He Is" (uncredited)
1931This Modern Ageas Party Guest (Uncredited)
1931Stranger in Townas Marian Crickle
1931Son of Indiaas Dancer (uncredited)
1931A Tailor-Made Manas Bit (uncredited)
1931Politicsas Rally Audience Extra (uncredited)
1931Dance, Fools, Danceas Chorus Girl (uncredited)
1930The Devil's Cabaretas Chorine in Black (uncredited)
1930Madam Satanas Zeppelin Reveler (uncredited)
1930The March of Timeas Chorus Girl (uncredited)
1930Good Newsas Student
1930Way Out Westas Carnival Show Girl (uncredited)
1930Our Blushing Bridesas One of the 'Quartet' of Models with Tony (uncredited)
1930Estrelladosas Chorine (uncredited)
1930Children of Pleasureas Chorus Girl (uncredited)
1930Free and Easyas Chorine (uncredited)
1930A Lady to Loveas
1930Lord Byron of Broadwayas Chorus Girl
1930The Woman Racketas Chorus Girl
1930Chasing Rainbowsas Chorus Girl (uncredited)
1929Devil-May-Careas Chorine (uncredited)
1929Manhattan Serenadeas Chorus Girl (uncredited)
1929It's a Great Lifeas Chorus Girl
1929The Song Writers' Revueas Member of the Chorus (uncredited)
1929The Hollywood Revue of 1929as Chorus Girl from Omaha (uncredited)
1929So This Is Collegeas Student (uncredited)
1929The Doll Shopas Doll
1917The Man Hateras Phemie's Sister
1916Ramonaas Ramona Phail (age 4)

Production

1931Dance, Fools, Dance...Choreographer