Glenda Farrell (June 30, 1904 â€" May 1, 1971) was an American
actress. With a career spanning more than 50 years, Farrell appeared
in over 100 films and television series, as well as numerous Broadway
play; and won an Emmy Award in 1963 for Outstanding Supporting Actress
for her performance as Martha Morrison in the medical drama television
series Ben Casey.Farrell began acting on stage as a child and
continued with various theatre companies and on Broadway before
signing with Warner Bros. Embodying the brassy blonde character of the
early talkies. Farrell was a signature 1930s Warner Bros. star,
starring in films such as Little Caesar (1931), I Am a Fugitive from a
Chain Gang (1932), Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933) and Lady for a Day
(1933). Starting with Smart Blonde (1937), Farrell played Torchy
Blane, the hard-boiled, wisecracking reporter in a series of popular
films; which later was credited by comic book writer Jerry Siegel as
the inspiration for the DC Comics reporter, Lois Lane. After leaving
Warner Bros. in 1939, Farrell remained active in film, television and
theatre throughout rest of her career.Farrell was born in Enid,
Oklahoma, to Wilhelmina "Minnie" (nee Messer, 1879-1931) of German
descent and Charles A. Farrell (1873-1937) of Irish and Cherokee
descent. Farrell was the only daughter and had two younger brothers,
Eugene and Richard. After her family moved to Wichita, Kansas, Farrell
began acting on stage with a theatrical company at age seven, playing
the role of Little Eva in the play Uncle Tom's Cabin. Farrell's mother
had never achieved her desire of being an actress, encouraged and
supported her daughter's acting interests. When her family moved to
San Diego, California, a teenage Farrell joined the Virginia Brissac
Stock Company. Farrell made the third honour roll in Motion Picture
Magazine's "Fame and Fortune Contest". Her picture and biography were
featured in the magazine's April 1919 issue, which also stated that
Farrell had some experience in the chorus, vaudeville, and camp
entertainments. Farrell received a formal education at the Mount
Carmel Catholic Academy.In 1928, Farrell was cast as the lead actress
in the play The Spider and made her film debut in a minor role in
Lucky Boy. Farrell moved to New York City in 1929, where she replaced
Erin O'Brien-Moore as Marion Hardy in Aurania Rouverol's play
Skidding. The play later served as the basis for the Andy Hardy film
series. By April 1929, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported that she had
played the role 355 times. Farrell appeared in a number of other
plays, including Divided Honors, Recapture, and Love, Honor and Betray
with George Brent, Alice Brady, and Clark Gable.
actress. With a career spanning more than 50 years, Farrell appeared
in over 100 films and television series, as well as numerous Broadway
play; and won an Emmy Award in 1963 for Outstanding Supporting Actress
for her performance as Martha Morrison in the medical drama television
series Ben Casey.Farrell began acting on stage as a child and
continued with various theatre companies and on Broadway before
signing with Warner Bros. Embodying the brassy blonde character of the
early talkies. Farrell was a signature 1930s Warner Bros. star,
starring in films such as Little Caesar (1931), I Am a Fugitive from a
Chain Gang (1932), Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933) and Lady for a Day
(1933). Starting with Smart Blonde (1937), Farrell played Torchy
Blane, the hard-boiled, wisecracking reporter in a series of popular
films; which later was credited by comic book writer Jerry Siegel as
the inspiration for the DC Comics reporter, Lois Lane. After leaving
Warner Bros. in 1939, Farrell remained active in film, television and
theatre throughout rest of her career.Farrell was born in Enid,
Oklahoma, to Wilhelmina "Minnie" (nee Messer, 1879-1931) of German
descent and Charles A. Farrell (1873-1937) of Irish and Cherokee
descent. Farrell was the only daughter and had two younger brothers,
Eugene and Richard. After her family moved to Wichita, Kansas, Farrell
began acting on stage with a theatrical company at age seven, playing
the role of Little Eva in the play Uncle Tom's Cabin. Farrell's mother
had never achieved her desire of being an actress, encouraged and
supported her daughter's acting interests. When her family moved to
San Diego, California, a teenage Farrell joined the Virginia Brissac
Stock Company. Farrell made the third honour roll in Motion Picture
Magazine's "Fame and Fortune Contest". Her picture and biography were
featured in the magazine's April 1919 issue, which also stated that
Farrell had some experience in the chorus, vaudeville, and camp
entertainments. Farrell received a formal education at the Mount
Carmel Catholic Academy.In 1928, Farrell was cast as the lead actress
in the play The Spider and made her film debut in a minor role in
Lucky Boy. Farrell moved to New York City in 1929, where she replaced
Erin O'Brien-Moore as Marion Hardy in Aurania Rouverol's play
Skidding. The play later served as the basis for the Andy Hardy film
series. By April 1929, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported that she had
played the role 355 times. Farrell appeared in a number of other
plays, including Divided Honors, Recapture, and Love, Honor and Betray
with George Brent, Alice Brady, and Clark Gable.
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