Gloria Swanson
Biography
Gloria Swanson was an American actress. She was one of the most prominent stars during the silent film era, known for her work under the direction of Cecil B. DeMille. She made dozens of silent films and was nominated for the first Academy Award in the Best Actress category. Swanson successfully transitioned to talkies with The Trespasser in 1929. She is best known for her role in the film Sunset Boulevard, released in 1950. Swanson's acting career spanned multiple decades and formats, including theater and television. She was a prominent figure in the film industry, particularly during the silent era.
Career overview
Gloria Swanson was a prominent American actress during the silent film era. She made dozens of silent films, often under the direction of Cecil B. DeMille. Swanson was a fashion icon of her time, known for her style and presence on screen.
Swanson successfully transitioned to talkies in 1929 with the film The Trespasser. However, her popularity began to wane in the 1930s. She continued to work in theater and television during this period.
Swanson is perhaps best known for her role in the 1950 film Sunset Boulevard, in which she played a faded silent film star. This critically acclaimed film has become a classic of American cinema and is often cited as one of the greatest films of all time.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
128 titles- Boulevard! A Hollywood Story (2021) as Self (archive footage)
- This Is Francis X. Bushman (2021) as Self (Archive Footage)
- Cinéastes de notre temps : Erich von Stroheim (2012) as Self
- Hollywood sul Tevere (2009)
- Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema (2007) as Self (voice) (archive footage)
- The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies (1995) as Self (archive footage)
- The Casting Couch (1995)
- Marilyn Monroe (1986) as archive footage
- Hollywood (1980) as Self
- Men Who Rate a 10 (1980) as Self
- Ciné regards (1978) as Self
- Les Rendez-vous du dimanche (1975) as Self
- The Great Debate (1974) as Self
- Airport 1975 (1974) as Gloria Swanson
- Killer Bees (1974) as Madame Maria von Bohlen
- The Age of Ballyhoo (1973) as Narrator
- V.I.P. Schaukel (1971) as Self
- Brasileiros em Hollywood (1970) as Sef (archive footage)
- The Dick Cavett Show (1968) as Self
- The Carol Burnett Show (1967) as Self - Guest
- The Hollywood Palace (1964) as Self
- Burke's Law (1963) as Venus Hekate Walsh
- Burke's Law (1963) as Miss Lily Boles
- Kraft Suspense Theatre (1963) as Mrs. Charlotte Heaton
- The Merv Griffin Show (1962) as Self
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962) as Mrs. Daniels
- The Beverly Hillbillies (1962) as Self
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self
- Dr. Kildare (1961) as Julia Colton
- Ben Casey (1961) as Victoria Hoffman
- Straightaway (1961) as Lorraine Carrington
- The Legend of Rudolph Valentino (1961) as Self (archive footage)
- When Comedy Was King (1960) as (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Hedda Hopper's Hollywood (1960) as Self
- The Big Party (1959) as Self
- Tonight Starring Jack Paar (1957) as Self
- The Steve Allen Show (1956) as Self
- Nero's Mistress (1956) as Agrippina
- The Oscars (1953)
- This Is Your Life (1952) as Self
- Three for Bedroom C (1952) as Ann Haven
- What's My Line? (1950) as Self
- Sunset Boulevard (1950) as Norma Desmond
- The Golden Twenties (1950) as Self (archive footage)
- Down Memory Lane (1949) as The Reluctant Bride
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self
- Dear Miss Gloria (1946) as Miss Gloria
- Happy Times and Jolly Moments (1943) as (archive footage)
- Father Takes a Wife (1941) as Leslie Collier Osborne
- Music in the Air (1934) as Frieda Hotzfelt
- The Camera Speaks (1934) as Self (archive footage)
- Hollywood on Parade No. B-5 (1933) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Perfect Understanding (1933) as Judy Rogers
- Perfect Understanding (1933) Producer
- The Film Parade (1933) as (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Broadway Gossip No.2 (1932)
- Round About Hollywood (1931) as Self
- Indiscreet (1931) as Geraldine 'Gerry' Trent
- Tonight or Never (1931) as Nella Vago
- The House That Shadows Built (1931) as (archive footage)
- What a Widow! (1930) as Tamarind Brook
- What a Widow! (1930) Producer
- Queen Kelly (1929) as Kitty Kelly / Queen Kelly
- Queen Kelly (1929) Producer
- The Trespasser (1929) as Marion Donnell
- Sadie Thompson (1928) as Sadie Thompson
- The Love of Sunya (1927) as Sunya Ashling
- The Untamed Lady (1926) as St. Clair Van Tassel
- Fine Manners (1926) as Orchid Murphy
- Stage Struck (1925) as Jennie Hagen
- Madame Sans-Gêne (1925) as Catherina Hubscher
- The Coast of Folly (1925) as Joyce Gathway / Nadine Gathway
- Her Love Story (1924) as Princess Marie
- Wages of Virtue (1924) as Carmelita
- The Humming Bird (1924) as Toinette
- A Society Scandal (1924) as Marjorie Colbert
- Manhandled (1924) as Tessie McGuire
- Zaza (1923) as Zaza
- Bluebeard's 8th Wife (1923) as Mona deBriac
- Hollywood (1923) as Gloria Swanson
- Prodigal Daughters (1923) as Swifty Forbes
- My American Wife (1922) as Natalie Chester
- Her Husband’s Trademark (1922) as Lois Miller
- Beyond the Rocks (1922) as Theodora Fitzgerald
- A Trip to Paramountown (1922) as Self
- Her Gilded Cage (1922) as Suzanne Ornoff
- The Impossible Mrs. Bellew (1922) as Betty Bellew
- The Affairs of Anatol - Promo Reel (1921) as As herself
- The Affairs of Anatol (1921) as Vivian Spencer (Anatol's wife)
- Under the Lash (1921) as Deborah Krillet
- Don't Tell Everything (1921) as Marian Westover
- The Great Moment (1921) as Nada Pelham / Nadine Pelham
- Why Change Your Wife? (1920) as Beth Gordon
- Something to Think About (1920) as Ruth Anderson
- Male and Female (1919) as Lady Mary Lasenby
- Don't Change Your Husband (1919) as Leila Porter
- For Better, for Worse (1919) as Sylvia Norcross
- Shifting Sands (1918) as Marcia Grey
- Station Content (1918) as Kitty Manning
- Society for Sale (1918) as Phylis Clyne
- Wife or Country (1918) as Sylvia Hamilton
- You Can't Believe Everything (1918) as Patricia Reynolds
- Every Woman's Husband (1918) as Edith Emerson
- The Secret Code (1918) as Sally Carter Rand
- Her Decision (1918) as Phyllis Dunbar
- Dangers of a Bride (1917)
- Whose Baby? (1917) as The Wife
- Teddy at the Throttle (1917) as Gloria Dawn
- The Sultan's Wife (1917) as Gloria
- The Pullman Bride (1917) as The Pullman Bride
- Baseball Madness (1917) as The Heiress
- Sunshine (1916)
- Haystacks and Steeples (1916) as Gloria - the Society Girl
- The Danger Girl (1916) as The Danger Girl - Reggie's Madcap Sister
- A Social Cub (1916) as Gloria
- A Dash of Courage (1916) as The Prominent Citizen
- Hearts and Sparks (1916) as Gloria - Bobby's Sweetheart
- The Nick of Time Baby (1916) as The Blacksmith's Daughter
- His New Job (1915) as Stenographer (uncredited)
- The Romance of an American Duchess (1915) as Minor Role (uncredited)
- The Misjudged Mr. Hartley (1915) as Maid
- At the End of a Perfect Day (1915) as Hands Bouquet to Holmes
- Sweedie Goes to College (1915) as Betty - College Girl
- The Ambition of the Baron (1915) as Minor Role (uncredited)
- The Fable of Elvira and Farina and the Meal Ticket (1915) as Farina, Elvira's Daughter
- The Broken Pledge (1915) as Gloria
- The Fable of the Syndicate Lover (1915) as Department Store Customer (uncredited)
- The Fable of the Club Girls and the Four Times (1914) as One of the Club Girls (uncredited)
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Gloria Swanson best known for?
Gloria Swanson is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Boulevard! A Hollywood Story (2021), Hollywood (1980), Ciné regards (1978), Les Rendez-vous du dimanche (1975).
When and where was Gloria Swanson born?
Gloria Swanson was born on March 27, 1899 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. They passed away on April 4, 1983.
How many credits does Gloria Swanson have?
Gloria Swanson has accumulated over 128 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1920 to 2021.
What is Gloria Swanson's background in cinema and television?
Gloria Swanson was an American actress. She was one of the most prominent stars during the silent film era, known for her work under the direction of Cecil B. DeMille. She made dozens of silent films and was nominated for the first Academy Award in the Best Actress category. Swanson successfully transitioned to talkies...
Gloria Swanson by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Hollywood (1980) as Self — aged about 81
- Sunset Boulevard (1950) as Norma Desmond — aged about 51
- V.I.P. Schaukel (1971) as Self — aged about 72
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962) as Mrs. Daniels — aged about 63
- The Carol Burnett Show (1967) as Self - Guest — aged about 68
- Tonight Starring Jack Paar (1957) as Self — aged about 58
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