Jump To Marie Dressler Links: 1. Box Office 2. Reviews 3. Trivia 4. UMR Table
1. Marie Dressler was born Leila Marie Koerber in Cobourg, Ontario.
2. There is some confusion of Marie Dressler’s birth year. It has been reported as 1868 and 1869. Her tombstone says she was born in 1871.
3. Marie Dressler left home at 14 to begin her acting career with the Nevada Stock Company, telling the company she was actually 18.
4. At this time, Dressler adopted the name of an aunt as her stage name. According to Dressler, her father objected to her using the name of Koerber.
5. In 1892, Marie Dressler made her debut on Broadway at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in Waldemar, the Robber of the Rhine…the show only lasted 5 weeks.
6. In 1896, Marie Dressler landed her first starring role as Flo in George Lederer’s production of The Lady Slavey at the Casino Theatre on Broadway….it was a huge hit.
7. In 1900, Marie Dressler formed her own theatre troupe, which performed Miss Prinnt in cities of the northeastern U.S. The production of Miss Prinnt was a failure, and Dressler was forced to declare bankruptcy.[
8. In 1904, Dressler signed a three-year, $50,000 contract with the Weber and Fields Music Hall management, performing lead roles in Higgeldy Piggeldy and Twiddle Twaddle.
9. In 1907, Marie Dressler met James Henry “Jim” Dalton. The two moved to London, where she performed at the Palace Theatre of Varieties for $1500 per week.
10. In 1914, Marie Dressler starred in her first full length movie picture….Till’s Punctured Romance. This was also Charlie Chaplin’s first full length movie.
11. Marie Dressler would appear in three “Tillie” movies before returning to vaudeville in 1918.
12. Marie Dressler returned to movies in 1927. Her first film back was The Callahans and the Murphys. That movie ended up being a disaster. This was mainly due to protests lodged by Irish-American organizations which resulted in the movie being pulled from distribution.
13. Marie Dressler’s role in 1930’s Anna Christie brought her critical acclaim and started a phenomenal 4 year run of successful movies.
14. Marie Dressler was Quigley’s Top Ten Money Making Star of 1932 and 1933. She was voted as the 9th biggest star in 1934.
15. Check out Marie Dressler’s movie career compared to current and classic actors. Most 100 Million Dollar Movies of All-Time.
16. Marie Dressler won the Best Actress Oscar in 1930. Compare her win to all Best Actress Oscar Winners.
17. Marie Dressler suffered from stage fright throughout her career.
18. Marie Dressler wrote two autobiographies, The Life Story of an Ugly Duckling, was published in 1924; a second book, My Own Story, “as told to Mildred Harrington,”was published in late 1934.
19. Marie Dressler 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.
20. Marie Dressler’s newly regenerated career came to an abrupt end when she was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 1934. MGM head Louis B. Mayer learned of Dressler’s illness from her doctor and reportedly asked that she not be told. To keep her home, he ordered her not to travel on her vacation because he wanted to put her in a new film.
21. When looking at out Top Box Office Stars of the 1930s page….you will see Marie Dressler holding down the 46th spot….not bad for someone who’s last movies was in 1933.
Jump To Marie Dressler Links: 1. Box Office 2. Reviews 3. Trivia 4. UMR Table