Merle Oberon
Biography
Merle Oberon was born Estelle Merle O'Brien Thompson on February 19, 1911, in Bombay, British India. She was a British actress of Anglo-Indian origin whose career spanned from the 1920s to the 1970s, establishing her as a major leading lady during the Golden Age of Hollywood. Born and raised in British India, she began her acting career in British cinema in the early 1930s. She achieved a breakout role in The Private Life of Henry VIII in 1933. Oberon later moved to Hollywood, becoming an international star and earning acclaim for films such as The Dark Angel in 1935, Wuthering Heights in 1939, and That Uncertain Feeling in 1941. She passed away on November 23, 1979, at the age of sixty-eight.
Career overview
Estelle Merle O'Brien Thompson, known professionally as Merle Oberon, was a British actress of Anglo-Indian origin who was born in Bombay, British India, on February 19, 1911. Her career spanned from the 1920s through the 1970s, establishing her as a major leading lady during the Golden Age of Hollywood and an international star.
After being born and raised in British India, Oberon began her acting career in British cinema during the early 1930s. She achieved a breakout role in the film The Private Life of Henry VIII in 1933. Following this success, she moved to Hollywood and gained acclaim for her work in several notable films, including The Dark Angel in 1935, Wuthering Heights in 1939, and That Uncertain Feeling in 1941. Her performance as Kitty Vane in The Dark Angel earned her a nomination for an Academy Award.
Throughout her extensive career, Oberon amassed known acting credits across numerous productions, including appearances in Letter to Loretta and Four Star Playhouse. She remained active in the entertainment industry until passing away on November 23, 1979.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
76 titles- Charmed Lives: A Family Romance (2028) as Self (archive footage)
- Churchill and the Movie Mogul (2019) as Self (archive footage)
- The Trouble with Merle (2002) as Self
- Korda: I Don't Grow on Trees: Part One (1993) as Self
- The American Film Institute Salute to ... (1973) as Self
- Interval (1973) as Serena Moore
- Interval (1973) Producer
- The Epic That Never Was (1969) as Self - Interviewee / Messalina (archive footage)
- Hotel (1967) as The Duchess Caroline
- The Oscar (1966) as Merle Oberon
- Of Love and Desire (1963) as Katherine Beckmann
- The DuPont Show of the Week (1961) as Self
- Assignment Foreign Legion (1956)
- The Price of Fear (1956) as Jessica Warren
- The 20th Century Fox Hour (1955)
- Désirée (1954) as Empress Josephine
- Deep in My Heart (1954) as Dorothy Donnelly
- All Is Possible in Granada (1954) as Margaret Faulson
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- Letter to Loretta (1953) as Self - Guest Host
- Letter to Loretta (1953) as Self - Guest Host / Lucille
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Mata Hari
- Four Star Playhouse (1952) as Martha
- Four Star Playhouse (1952) as Margot Sterling
- Four Star Playhouse (1952) as Carol
- Dans la vie tout s'arrange (1952) as Elizabeth Rockwell
- 24 Hours of a Woman's Life (1952) as Linda Venning
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Self
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) as Self - Host / Marian Thorne
- Pardon My French (1951) as Elizabeth Rockwell
- What's My Line? (1950) as Self
- The Colgate Comedy Hour (1950) as Self
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self
- Berlin Express (1948) as Lucienne Mirbeau
- Night Song (1948) as Cathy Mallory
- Night in Paradise (1946) as Delarai
- Temptation (1946) as Ruby
- A Song to Remember (1945) as George Sand
- This Love of Ours (1945) as Karin Touzac
- The Lodger (1944) as Kitty Langley
- Dark Waters (1944) as Leslie Calvin
- Forever and a Day (1943) as Marjorie Ismay
- Stage Door Canteen (1943) as Merle Oberon
- First Comes Courage (1943) as Nicole Larsen
- Affectionately Yours (1941) as Sue Mayberry
- That Uncertain Feeling (1941) as Jill Baker
- Lydia (1941) as Lydia MacMillan
- 'Til We Meet Again (1940) as Joan Ames
- Breakdowns of 1940 (1940) as Self
- Wuthering Heights (1939) as Catherine 'Cathy' Earnshaw Linton
- Over the Moon (1939) as Jane Benson
- The Lion Has Wings (1939) as Mrs. Richardson
- The Cowboy and the Lady (1938) as Mary Smith
- Hollywood Goes to Town (1938) as Self
- The Divorce of Lady X (1938) as Leslie Steele / Lady Claire Mere
- I, Claudius (1937) as Messalina
- These Three (1936) as Karen Wright
- Screen Snapshots (Series 16, No. 1) (1936) as Self
- Beloved Enemy (1936) as Helen Drummond
- The Dark Angel (1935) as Kitty Vane
- Folies Bergère de Paris (1935) as Baroness Genevieve Cassini
- The Scarlet Pimpernel (1934) as Lady Marguerite Blakeney
- The Private Life of Don Juan (1934) as Antonita, a Dancer of Passionate Temperament
- The Battle (1934) as Mitsuko Yorisaka
- The Broken Melody (1934) as Germaine Brissard
- The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933) as Anne Boleyn
- Ebb Tide (1932) as (uncredited)
- Aren't We All? (1932) as Bit Part
- Wedding Rehearsal (1932) as Miss Hutchinson
- Men of Tomorrow (1932) as Ysobel d'Aunay
- Service for Ladies (1932) as Undetermined Minor Role (uncredited)
- For the Love of Mike (1932) as Bit Part
- Fascination (1931) as Flower Seller
- Never Trouble Trouble (1931) as Minor Role
- A Warm Corner (1930) as Bit Part (uncredited)
- The Three Passions (1928) as Bit Part (uncredited)
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Merle Oberon best known for?
Merle Oberon is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The American Film Institute Salute to ... (1973), The Oscar (1966), Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009), Loser (2000).
When and where was Merle Oberon born?
Merle Oberon was born on February 19, 1911 in Bombay, Bombay Presidency, British India [now Mumbai, Maharashtra, India]. They passed away on November 23, 1979.
How many credits does Merle Oberon have?
Merle Oberon has accumulated over 76 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1928 to 2028.
What is Merle Oberon's background in cinema and television?
Merle Oberon was born Estelle Merle O'Brien Thompson on February 19, 1911, in Bombay, British India. She was a British actress of Anglo-Indian origin whose career spanned from the 1920s to the 1970s, establishing her as a major leading lady during the Golden Age of Hollywood. Born and raised in British India, she began...
Merle Oberon by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Self — aged about 40
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) as Self - Host / Marian Thorne — aged about 40
- Wuthering Heights (1939) as Catherine 'Cathy' Earnshaw Linton — aged about 28
- These Three (1936) as Karen Wright — aged about 25
- The Oscars (1953) as Self — aged about 42
- What's My Line? (1950) as Self — aged about 39
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