Possibly Interesting Facts About Susan Hayward

1.  Susan Hayward (1917-1975) was born Edythe Marrener in Brooklyn, New York.

2.  When Susan Hayward was seven, she was hit by a car and suffered a fractured hip. Although doctors’ told her she might never walk again she was back on her feet in less than a year. The injury left her with one leg that was an inch and half shorter than the other, and she had to wear a lift in her shoe.  This cause her to have an ususual walk, but it became a trademark strut for her in Hollywood.

3.  Susan Hayward was one of 100s of actresses that arrived in Hollywood to try out for the Scarlett O’Hara part in Gone With The Wind.  Although she obviously did not get that part….she did start appearing in bit roles in movies from 1937-1938.  

4.  Susan Hayward’s first official screen role was in 1938’s Girls of Probation.  Her first real break was when she appeared in Gary Cooper’s hit film, Beau Geste (1939).  Once she got noticed…there was nothing stopping her as she became one of the biggest box office stars.

5.  Movie exhibitors voted Susan Hayward among the most popular stars in the country 8 times from 1951 to 1961. Her rankings during that time frame…1951-19th, 1952-9th, 1953-9th, 1954-14th, 1955-19th, 1956-13th,1959-10th and 1961-19th.

6.  Susan Hayward portrayed an alcoholic in three films.  She was nominated for an Oscar® for each of those performances. Those movies were 1947’s Smash-Up: The Story of a Woman, 1949’s My Foolish Heart , and 1955’s I’ll Cry Tomorrow.  She picked up two more Oscar® nominations in her career….1952’s With A Song In My Heart and 1958’s I Want To Live!.  She won the Best Actress Oscar® for I Want To Live!

7.  Susan Hayward was married two times in her life.  Her first marriage to B actor Jess Barker lasted from 1944 to 1954 and produced 2 children….fraternal twin sons named Gregory and Timothy. Her second marriage to Floyd Eaton Chalkley lasted from 1957 to 1966 (his death)…they had no children.

8.  Roles Susan Hayward turned down or was seriously considered for:  Elizabeth Taylor’s part in Cleopatra, Anne Bancroft’s part in The Graduate, Barbara Stanwyck’s part in Double Indemnity, Ingrid Bergman’s part in For Whom The Bell Tolls and parts in South Pacific, Can-Can and The Razor’s Edge.

9.  Susan Hayward is one of many members of the cast and crew of 1956’s Conqueror that eventually died of a type of cancer.  The Conqueror is sometimes called “An RKO Radioactive Picture.” It was filmed near a nuclear test site, and the set was contaminated by nuclear fallout.  After location shooting, contaminated soil was transported back to Hollywood in order to match interior shooting done there. Over the next 20 years, many actors (John Wayne) and crew members developed cancer.

10.  Susan Hayward’s footprints at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre are the only ones set in gold dust.

Check out Susan Hayward‘s career compared to current and classic actors.  Most 100 Million Dollar Movies of All-Time.   During our research we also discovered this excellent Susan website – Susan Hayward/Classic Film Star.

And finally check one of our few You Tube videos.  Ranking Susan Hayward’s Top Ten Movies.