Mary Astor (born Lucile Vasconcellos Langhanke; May 3, 1906 â€"
September 25, 1987) was an American actress. While her career spanned
several decades, Astor may be best remembered for her performance as
Brigid O'Shaughnessy in The Maltese Falcon (1941). She won the Academy
Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of concert pianist
Sandra Kovak in The Great Lie (1941).Astor began her long motion
picture career as a teenager in the silent movies of the early 1920s.
When talkies arrived, her voice was initially considered too masculine
and she was off the screen for a year. After she appeared in a play
with friend Florence Eldridge, the film offers came in, and she was
able to resume her career in talking pictures.In 1936, her career was
nearly destroyed by scandal. Astor had an affair with playwright
George S. Kaufman and was branded an adulterous wife by her
ex-husband, in a custody fight over her daughter. Overcoming these
stumbling blocks in her private life, Astor had greater success on
screen, eventually winning an Academy Award for Best Supporting
Actress for her performance in The Great Lie (1941).
September 25, 1987) was an American actress. While her career spanned
several decades, Astor may be best remembered for her performance as
Brigid O'Shaughnessy in The Maltese Falcon (1941). She won the Academy
Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of concert pianist
Sandra Kovak in The Great Lie (1941).Astor began her long motion
picture career as a teenager in the silent movies of the early 1920s.
When talkies arrived, her voice was initially considered too masculine
and she was off the screen for a year. After she appeared in a play
with friend Florence Eldridge, the film offers came in, and she was
able to resume her career in talking pictures.In 1936, her career was
nearly destroyed by scandal. Astor had an affair with playwright
George S. Kaufman and was branded an adulterous wife by her
ex-husband, in a custody fight over her daughter. Overcoming these
stumbling blocks in her private life, Astor had greater success on
screen, eventually winning an Academy Award for Best Supporting
Actress for her performance in The Great Lie (1941).
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.