Marian Nixon
Marian Nixon (born Marja Nissinen;[1] October 20, 1904 – February 13, 1983) was a Finnish-American film actress. Sometimes credited as Marion Nixon, she appeared in more than 70 films.[2]
Marian Nixon | |
---|---|
Born | Marian Nissinen October 20, 1904 Superior, Wisconsin, U.S. |
Died | February 13, 1983 78) Los Angeles, California, U.S. | (aged
Other names | Marian Nixon |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1922–1936 |
Spouses | Joseph Benjamin
(m. 1925; div. 1927)Edward Hillman, Jr.
(m. 1929; div. 1933) |
Children | 5, including Barbara Lyon (stepdaughter) |
Career
Born in Superior, Wisconsin, to parents of Finnish descent,[1][3] Nixon began her career as a teen dancing in choruses in vaudeville.[2] She began appearing in bit part in films in 1922 and landed her first substantial role in the 1923 film Cupid's Fireman opposite Buck Jones. The following year, she was named a WAMPAS Baby Star.[4] Nixon continued to work steadily throughout the mid to late 1920s appearing in Riders of the Purple Sage (1925), Hands Up! (1926), and The Chinese Parrot (1927). In 1929, she made her talkie debut as the lead in Geraldine. Later that same year, Nixon appeared opposite Al Jolson in Say It with Songs followed by General Crack in 1930. In 1931, Nixon's Beauty Arts Institute moved into the Equitable Building of Hollywood; Nixon was president of the company.[5]
In 1932, she starred as Rebecca in the film adaption of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm with Ralph Bellamy.[6] Following the release of Rebecca, Nixon co-starred in Winner Take All with James Cagney. The next year she had a supporting role in John Ford's Pilgrimage. In 1934, Nixon attempted to change her wholesome image with a role in the comedy We’re Rich Again. The film was not a success and, after appearing in eight more films, Nixon retired from acting in 1936. She made her last film, Captain Calamity, at the age of 32.
Personal life
Nixon was married four times. She married boxer Joseph Benjamin in 1925, but they divorced two years later. Then, on August 11, 1929, Nixon married Chicago department store heir Edward Hillman Jr. at his parents' home. That union ended in 1933. The following year, Nixon wed director William A. Seiter with whom she had worked on the film We're Rich Again. Their marriage lasted until Seiter's death in 1964 and produced three children: Christopher Seiter, Selena, and Jessica. Finally, on April 1, 1972, in Los Angeles, she married actor/producer Ben Lyon, although her obituary in the Chicago Tribune reports that she married Lyon in 1971.[7]
Her grandsons are the screenwriters Ted Griffin and Nicholas Griffin, the sons of a daughter Nixon had with husband William Seiter.[8][2]
Death
Nixon died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center[7] of complications following open heart surgery on February 13, 1983.[9] and is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California.[10]
Recognition
For her contribution to the motion picture industry, Nixon has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1724 Vine Street in Los Angeles, California. It was dedicated on February 8, 1960.[11]
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1923 | Rosita | Undetermined Bit Role | Uncredited; Survives |
The Shriek of Araby | Minor Role | Uncredited; Survives; from Gosfilmofond-to-MOMA | |
Big Dan | Dora Allen | Survives | |
Cupid's Fireman | Agnes Evans | Lost | |
1924 | The Vagabond Trail | Lou Macon | Lost |
The Circus Cowboy | Bird Taylor | Lost | |
Just Off Broadway | Jean Lawrence | Lost | |
The Last of the Duanes | Ruth | Survives | |
1925 | The Hurricane Kid | Joan Langdon | Credited as Marion Nixon; Survives |
Durand of the Bad Lands | Molly Gore | Lost | |
Riders of the Purple Sage | Bess Erne | ||
The Saddle Hawk | Rena Newhall | Lost | |
I'll Show You the Town | Hazel Deeming | Survives | |
Let 'er Buck | Jacqueline McCall | Credited as Marion Nixon; Lost | |
Where Was I? | Alicia Stone | Survives | |
The Sporting Life | Nora Cavanaugh | Lost | |
1926 | Hands Up! | Mae | preserved by the U.S. Library of Congress; Survives |
What Happened to Jones | Lucille Bigbee | ||
Rolling Home | Phyllis | Lost | |
Devil's Island | Rose Marie | Survives | |
Spangles | Spangles Delancy | Survives | |
1927 | Heroes of the Night | Mary Allen | |
Down the Stretch | Katie Kelly | ||
Out All Night | Molly O'Day | ||
The Chinese Parrot | Sally Phillmore | ||
Taxi! Taxi! | Rose Zimmerman | Lost film | |
The Auctioneer | Ruth Levi | Lost film | |
1928 | The Fourflusher | June Allen | Survives |
Out of the Ruins | Yvonne Gilbert | Lost film | |
How to Handle Women | Beatrice Fairbanks | Lost film | |
Jazz Mad | Elsa Hausmann | Survives; Library of Congress | |
Red Lips | Cynthia Day | Lost | |
1929 | The Rainbow Man | Mary Lane | Survives; Library of Congress |
In the Headlines | Anna Lou Anderson | Lost film | |
Young Nowheres | Annie Jackson | Lost film | |
Geraldine | Geraldine | ||
Man, Woman and Wife | Bella Rogers / Helen Brandon | ||
Silks and Saddles | Lucy Calhoun | Lost | |
The Red Sword | Vera | Lost | |
Say It with Songs | Katherine Lane | ||
Show of Shows | Performer | Survives | |
General Crack | Archduchess Maria Luisa | Survives;(*only silent cut) | |
1930 | Scarlet Pages | Nora Mason | Survives |
Ex-Flame | Lady Catherine | Lost film | |
The Pay-Off | Annabelle | Survives | |
The Lash | Dona Dolores Delfino | Survives | |
Courage | Muriel Colbrook | Lost | |
College Lovers | Madge Hutton | Lost | |
1931 | Sweepstakes | Babe Ellis | Survives |
Women Go on Forever | Betty | Lost | |
A Private Scandal | Mary Gate | Survives | |
1932 | Charlie Chan's Chance | Shirley Marlowe | |
After Tomorrow | Sidney Taylor | ||
Winner Take All | Peggy Harmon | ||
Amateur Daddy | Sally Smith | ||
Too Busy to Work | Rose | ||
Madison Square Garden | Bee | ||
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm | Rebecca | ||
1933 | Best of Enemies | Lena Schneider | |
Chance at Heaven | Glory Franklyn | Credited as Marion Nixon | |
Face in the Sky | Madge | ||
Doctor Bull | May Tupping | ||
Pilgrimage | Mary Saunders | ||
1934 | Strictly Dynamite | Sylvia Montgomery | |
We're Rich Again | Arabella Sykes | ||
By Your Leave | Andree | ||
Embarrassing Moments | Jane | ||
Once to Every Bachelor | Natalie Stuart | ||
The Line-Up | Peggy Arnold | ||
1935 | Sweepstake Annie | Annie Foster | Alternative title: Annie Doesn't Live Here Anymore |
1936 | Tango | Treasure McGuire | |
The Drag-Net | Katherine 'Kit' van Buren | ||
The Reckless Way | Helen Rogers | ||
Captain Calamity | Madge Lewis |
References
- Glödstaf, Kari (2018). 1000 mykkäelokuvaa: Sirpaleita elokuvan kulta-ajalta.
- Meuel, David (2014-02-20). Women in the Films of John Ford. McFarland. pp. 156–157. ISBN 9780786477890.
- "Tämä kuosi on taas ajankohtainen – toimii täydellisesti myös asusteissa" (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 2018-08-09. Retrieved 2018-08-08.
- Lowe, Denise (2004). An Encyclopedic Dictionary of Women in Early American Films, 1895-1930. Haworth Press. p. 404. ISBN 0-7890-1842-X.
- https://planning.lacity.org/StaffRpt/CHC/2-5-15/chc-2015-333.pdf
- L.N. (July 30, 1932). ""Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" Sings Her Simple Song Again at the Paramount Theatre". The New York Times.
- "Marian Nixon, Debuted in Tom Mix's 'Riders'". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, IL. February 16, 1983. p. 12. Retrieved November 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- Marian Nixon, Finnish Hollywood Archived 2012-04-22 at the Wayback Machine, 25.brinkster.com
- Lamparski, Richard (1989). Whatever Became Of ...? All New Eleventh Series. Crown Publishers. p. 135. ISBN 0-517-57150-1.
- Ellenberger, Allan R. (2001). Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory. McFarland. p. 64. ISBN 9780786450190. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
- "Marian Nixon". Hollywood Walk of Fame. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
External links
- Marian Nixon at IMDb
- Marian Nixon at the TCM Movie Database
- Marian Nixon at AllMovie
- Photographs of Marian Nixon
- Marian Nixon at Find a Grave
- Kinotv|Marian Nixon