Myrna Loy

Myrna Loy was an actress who made a significant impact in Hollywood during the 20th century. Born as Myrna Adele Williams on August 2, 1905 in Radersburg, Montana, she was raised in Helena and nearby Radersburg. Her father, David Franklin Williams, was a rancher and the youngest person ever elected to the Montana State legislature. After her father's death from influenza, the family moved to Los Angeles, where Myrna was educated and caught the acting bug. She started her acting career at the age of 15 by appearing in local stage productions to support her family. One night, she caught the attention of Mrs. Rudolph Valentino, who helped her secure some parts in the motion picture industry. Myrna made her first film appearance in the small role of "What Price Beauty?" (1925) and later appeared in "Pretty Ladies" (1925) alongside Joan Crawford. She was one of the few stars to make a successful transition from silent movies to the sound era, starting out as a Theda Bara-like exotic femme fatale in silent films and later becoming a refined and wholesome character in the sound era. Unable to secure a contract with MGM, she appeared in small roles until she finally landed a contract with Warner Brothers after appearing in "Satan in Sables" (1925). Her contract player debut was in "The Caveman" (1926), where she played a maid, but despite being typecast as a vamp, she continued to take on roles that would showcase her talent. Myrna's big break came when she signed with MGM and received two meaty roles in "The Prizefighter and the Lady" (1933) and as Nora Charles in "The Thin Man" (1934) with William Powell. The Thin Man series was a huge success, and Myrna's witty perception of situations gave her the image of a no-nonsense character. She appeared in five more Thin Man films and was named the "Queen of the Movies" in 1936 in a nationwide poll of movie-goers. Despite her popularity, the roles became fewer and fewer in the 1940s and 1950s. In the 1960s, she appeared in "Midnight Lace" (1960) and "The April Fools" (1969) and later in TV movies in the 1970s. Her last film was "Summer Solstice" (1981), and she passed away on December 14, 1993 in New York City at the age of 88. With a career spanning 129 motion pictures, Myrna Loy will always be remembered as the "Queen of Hollywood" during her heyday.