Florence Shirley (born Florence Isabell Splaine;[1] June 5, 1892 – May 12, 1967) was an American stage and film actress.
Florence Shirley | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Shirley in His Majesty Bunker Bean, 1916 | |
| Born | Florence Isabell Splaine June 5, 1892 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | May 12, 1967 (aged 74) Hollywood, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1906–1952 |
| Spouse |
A. J. Koehler
(m. 1917) |
Early years
editBorn in New York City, Shirley was the daughter of Francis Splaine.[1]
Career
edit
Shirley began her stage career in Boston at age 14 when she said two lines in a Christmas play put on by John Craig's Castle Square Stock Company. Craig's interest led to her having children's parts in other plays, including boys' parts in productions of Shakespeare's plays. By 1914, she had become the ingenue of that company.[2]
She enjoyed moderate success on Broadway.[3] After the sinking of the Titanic in April 1912, she participated in a benefit concert for survivors held at the George M. Cohan Theatre.[4] Her last Broadway appearance was in Alice in Arms (originally called Star in the Window[5]) alongside Kirk Douglas.[6]
She appeared in more than 50 films throughout her film career.[3]
Personal life and death
editOn February 14, 1917, Shirley married efficiency engineer A. J. Koehler in New York City.[1]
Works
editSelected filmography
editShirley's film credits include the following:[citation needed]
- Stars and Stripes Forever (Navy nurse), 1952 (uncredited)
- Deadline - U.S.A. (Miss Barndollar), 1952 (uncredited)
- The Dancing Masters (Matron), 1943 (uncredited)
- Let's Face It (Woman in Sun Shell Cafe), 1943 (uncredited)
- A Yank at Eton (Mrs. Sampson), 1942 (uncredited)
- Her Cardboard Lover (Casino patron watching chemin de fer game), 1942 (uncredited)
- We Were Dancing (Mrs. Charteris), 1942
- It Started with Eve (Bit Role), 1941 (uncredited)
- When Ladies Meet (Janet Hopper), 1941
- Three Sons o' Guns (Mrs. Tyler), 1941
- Nice Girl? (Woman Gossip), 1941 (uncredited)
- Lady with Red Hair (Daisy Dawn), 1940 (uncredited)
- Third Finger, Left Hand (Agnes, dinner guest), 1940 (uncredited)
- Pier 13 (Mrs. Forrest), 1940
- New Moon (Guest), 1940 (uncredited)
- Private Affairs (Mrs. Gilkin), 1940
- Opened by Mistake (Elizabeth Stiles), 1940
- I Take This Woman (Mrs. Leila Bettincourt), 1940 (uncredited)
- Balalaika (Lily Allison (Paris tourist)), 1939 (uncredited)
- Ninotchka (Marianne, Swana's Phone Friend), 1939 (uncredited)
- The Women (Miss Archer), 1939 (uncredited)
Broadway
editShirley's Broadway credits include the following productions:[7]
- Alice in Arms (Daisy), 1945
- Take My Tip (Mrs. Dolly Browning), 1932
- Fast Service (Doris Borden), 1931
- Doctor X (Eleanor Stevens), 1931
- Embers (Germaine Bie), 1926
- The Poor Nut (Julia Winters), 1925
- The Locked Door (Muriel Walling), 1924
- My Aunt From Ypsilanti (Peggy), 1923
- Why Men Leave Home (Fifi), 1923
- Apple Blossoms (Mrs. Anna Merton), 1920
- Oh, Lady! Lady!! (Fanny Welch), 1918
- Anthony in Wonderland, 1917
- His Majesty Bunker Bean, 1916
- The Wall Street Girl (Pearl Williams), 1912
References
edit- ^ a b c "Splaine-Koehler Wedding". The Miami Republican. Kansas, Paola. February 23, 1917. p. 1. Retrieved April 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "A Charming Stock Ingenue". National Magazine: 312–313. May 1914. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
- ^ a b "Rites today for Florence Shirley". Los Angeles Times. May 15, 1967. p. 26.
- ^ "More benefits planned; many stage stars volunteer for Cohan Theatre concert to-night" (PDF). The New York Times. April 21, 1912. p. 8. Retrieved June 9, 2008.
- ^ "Premiere tonight of 'Alice in Arms'". The New York Times. January 31, 1945. p. 26.
- ^ "Thin Man Proves Himself". The Wall Street Journal. January 29, 1945. p. 4.
- ^ Florence Shirley at the Internet Broadway Database
External links
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