Marion Davies
Biography
Marion Davies was born Marion Cecilia Douras on January 3, 1897, in the borough of Brooklyn, New York City, New York. Her parents were Rose Reilly and Bernard J. Douras, a lawyer and judge, and both were of Irish descent. Educated in a religious convent, she left school to pursue a career as a chorus girl. Davies was an American film actress, producer, screenwriter, and philanthropist, and she was recognized as one of the great comedic actresses of the silent era and into the 1930s. She was also widely known for her 34-year romantic relationship and association with newspaper tycoon and publishing giant William Randolph Hearst. Davies died on September 22, 1961, at the age of 64.
Career overview
Marion Davies was born Marion Cecilia Douras in the borough of Brooklyn, New York City, on January 3, 1897. The daughter of Rose Reilly and Bernard J. Douras, she was educated in a religious convent before leaving school to pursue a career as a chorus girl. She established herself as an American film actress, producer, screenwriter, and philanthropist, building a solid reputation as a film comedienne and becoming one of the great comedic actresses of the silent era and into the 1930s. Her known credits on The Movie Database include 68 acting roles, and her best-known movies included The Patsy.
Davies was building her reputation as a comedienne when she began a romantic relationship with newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst, who subsequently took over the management of her career. Hearst financed her pictures, heavily promoted her through his newspapers and Hearst Newsreels, and pressured studios to cast her in historical dramas for which she was ill-suited. Because of Hearst's involvement, Davies became renowned for their 34-year relationship and as Hearst's mistress and hostess of lavish events for the Hollywood elite, rather than solely for her performance career. Despite this, she was a popular movie star in the 1920s and was admired for her comic talents.
Davies passed away on September 22, 1961, at the age of 64.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
83 titles- Citizen Hearst (2021) as Self (archival footage)
- Leslie Howard: The Man Who Gave a Damn (2015) as Self (archive footage)
- Checking Out: Grand Hotel (2004) as (archive footage)
- Murders of Hollywood (2003) as Self (archive footage)
- Captured on Film: The True Story of Marion Davies (2001) as (archive footage)
- The Battle Over Citizen Kane (1996) as Self (archive footage)
- The Casting Couch (1995)
- That's Entertainment! III (1994) as (archive footage) (uncredited)
- The Complete 'Citizen Kane' (1991) as Self (archive footage)
- Hollywood (1980) as Self (archive footage, uncredited)
- Hollywood: The Dream Factory (1972) as Self (archive footage)
- The Big Parade of Comedy (1964) as Tina in 'The Red Mill' (archive footage)
- Hedda Hopper's Hollywood (1960) as Self
- Meet the Family (1954) Original Story
- Ever Since Eve (1937) as Marge Winton
- Cain and Mabel (1936) as Mabel O'Dare
- Behind the Scenes of Cain and Mabel (1936) as Self
- Hearts Divided (1936) as Betsy Patterson
- Hearts Divided (1936) Producer
- A Dream Comes True (1935) as Herself (uncredited)
- Pirate Party on Catalina Isle (1935) as Marion Davies
- Page Miss Glory (1935) as Loretta
- Page Miss Glory (1935) Producer
- Operator 13 (1934) as Gail Loveless
- Peg o' My Heart (1933) as Margaret 'Peg' O'Connell
- Going Hollywood (1933) as Sylvia Bruce
- Blondie of the Follies (1932) as Blondie McClune
- Blondie of the Follies (1932) Producer
- Polly of the Circus (1932) as Polly Fisher
- It's a Wise Child (1931) as Joyce Stanton
- It's a Wise Child (1931) Producer
- Five and Ten (1931) as Jennifer Rarick
- The Christmas Party (1931) as Herself
- The Bachelor Father (1931) as Antoinette "Tony" Flagg
- The Bachelor Father (1931) Producer
- The Florodora Girl (1930) as Daisy Dell
- Not So Dumb (1930) as Dulcy
- Not So Dumb (1930) Producer
- The Hollywood Revue of 1929 (1929) as Self
- Marianne (1929) as Marianne
- Show People (1928) as Peggy Pepper
- Show People (1928) Producer
- The Patsy (1928) as Patricia Harrington
- The Patsy (1928) Producer
- The Cardboard Lover (1928) as Sally
- The Cardboard Lover (1928) Executive Producer
- The Fair Co-Ed (1927) as Marion
- Tillie the Toiler (1927) as Tillie Jones
- Quality Street (1927) as Phoebe Throssel
- Quality Street (1927) Producer
- The Red Mill (1927) as Tina
- Beverly of Graustark (1926) as Beverly Calhoun
- Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925) as Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)
- Lights of Old Broadway (1925) as Fely / Anne
- Zander the Great (1925) as Mamie Smith
- The Wife of the Centaur (1924) as Cameo in chorus line
- Janice Meredith (1924) as Janice Meredith
- Yolanda (1924) as Princess Mary / Yolanda
- The Pilgrim (1923) as Congregation Member (uncredited)
- Little Old New York (1923) as Patricia O'Day
- Adam and Eva (1923) as Eva King
- The Bride's Play (1922) as Enid of Cashell / Aileen Barrett
- When Knighthood Was in Flower (1922) as Mary Tudor
- A Trip to Paramountown (1922) as Self
- Screen Snapshots, Series 3, No. 12 (1922) as Self
- The Young Diana (1922) as Diana May
- Beauty's Worth (1922) as Prudence Cole
- Enchantment (1921) as Ethel Hoyt
- Buried Treasure (1921) as Pauline Vandermuellen
- The Restless Sex (1920) as Stephanie
- April Folly (1920) as April Poole
- April Folly (1920) Producer
- The Belle of New York (1919) as Violet Gray
- The Belle of New York (1919) Producer
- The Dark Star (1919) as Rue Carew
- The Cinema Murder (1919) as Elizabeth Dalston
- Getting Mary Married (1919) as Mary Bussard
- Getting Mary Married (1919) Producer
- Cecilia of the Pink Roses (1918) as Cecilia
- Cecilia of the Pink Roses (1918) Producer
- The Burden of Proof (1918) as Elaine Brooks
- Runaway Romany (1917) as Romany
- Runaway Romany (1917) Writer
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Marion Davies best known for?
Marion Davies is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including That's Entertainment! III (1994), Hollywood (1980), The Big Parade of Comedy (1964), Yo-kai Watch ♪ (2021).
When and where was Marion Davies born?
Marion Davies was born on January 3, 1897 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA. They passed away on September 22, 1961.
How many credits does Marion Davies have?
Marion Davies has accumulated over 83 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1920 to 2021.
What is Marion Davies's background in cinema and television?
Marion Davies was born Marion Cecilia Douras on January 3, 1897, in the borough of Brooklyn, New York City, New York. Her parents were Rose Reilly and Bernard J. Douras, a lawyer and judge, and both were of Irish descent. Educated in a religious convent, she left school to pursue a career as a chorus girl. Davies was a...
Marion Davies by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Hollywood (1980) as Self (archive footage, uncredited) — aged about 83
- The Big Parade of Comedy (1964) as Tina in 'The Red Mill' (archive footage) — aged about 67
- That's Entertainment! III (1994) as (archive footage) (uncredited) — aged about 97
- Show People (1928) as Peggy Pepper — aged about 31
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