Heres an excerpt from the New York Times obituary: Deanna Durbin, who as a plucky child movie star with a sweet soprano voice charmed American audiences during the Depression and saved Universal Pictures from bankruptcy before she vanished from public view 64 years ago, has died, a fan club announced on Tuesday. She was 91. She retired from the movies at an early age, and has resisted all efforts to bring her back "" including a possible offer to sing in "My Fair Lady.". No other details were given. Durbin passed away "a few days ago",. She broke into the movies in 1936, aged 14, when she appeared in "Every Sunday" with Judy Garland, according to her biography on the IMDb film website. David announced her death through a fan newsletter, saying she died a few days ago. She is Deanna Durbin - one of the best-loved of all stars. Even if they were involved in 1943 the year Deanna divorced her first husband, she did not get pregnant until the spring of 1945. Jeanette MacDonald & Nelson Eddy Home Page | Mac/Eddy Club 1996-2022. How could anybody really think that I was going to spend the rest of my life with a man I found I didnt love, just for the sake of an image?. Deanna Durbin, one of Hollywood's biggest box-office stars in the 1930s and early '40s, has died aged 91. I have many CDs of her recordings, and also her movies on DVD and VHS. And she continues to enchant with her film library available on DVD to new generations. In a newsletter, the Deanna Durbin Society said Ms. Durbin died a few days ago, quoting her son, Peter H. David, who thanked her admirers for respecting her privacy. Their divorce was final on October 27, 1949. Durbin's husband of almost 50 years, Charles David, died in Paris on March 1, 1999. Durbin made her first film appearance with Judy Garland in Every Sunday (1936), and . Mr. David once said that he and Ms. Durbin had made a deal that he would protect her from spiders, mosquitoes and reporters., Ms. Durbin, who gave almost no interviews after she left Hollywood, did send reporters a letter in 1958 that read in part: I was a typical 13-year-old American girl. And I did. Koster worked closely with the young singer to bring out credible performances. I loved my wife. I cant sugarcoat what occurred for the sake of being polite. She was discovered by an MGM casting director searching Los Angeles singing schools for someone to portray the opera star Ernestine Schumann-Heink as a child. Its no coincidence that the most popular film stars of that era were singers: Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy, Deanna Durbin, Shirley Temple, Judy Garland, etc. Deanna Durbin, a singer-actress who, as a child star, became one of the biggest box-office . The Kick was not a boot that would have carried a football over the crossbar, but neither was it a token tap. From 1936 to 1938, she also was singing with Eddie Cantors radio show, and her vocal coach urged a career in opera, but she opted instead for films. She was 91. 1:18 pm. Then he writes a paragraph that I dont fully understand; was he just angry at Hedda Hopper who next morning reported the supposed studio tryst? One has to wonder why I knew Judy Lewis, the daughter of Clark Gable and Loretta Young. She was 91. No other details were given. Capitalising on her fame, Universal cast Durbin in a series of musical movies including "That Certain Age" and "Mad About Music" which made the actress with the sweet soprano voice into one of Hollywood's most popular stars. 'Winnipeg's sweetheart' actress Deana Durbin dies | CBC News Loaded. That Joseph Cotten would not have left his wife for Deanna if he indeed was the father of her child would have been very painful for Deanna, if indeed he was her great love. Ms. Durbin was an extremely talented singer. But if accurate, it might explain why Deanna might have married her longtime friend Felix Jackson who stuck around for the birth of a child and then deserted her. Learn more about merges. Actually, Hollywood gossip columnist Hedda Hopper accused Deanna and co-star Joseph Cotten of having an affair during this film. (Getty Images), /celebs/international/reclusive-hollywood-actress-deanna-durbin-dies-at-91/eventshow/19820946.cms, She made her name playing the ideal teenage daughter in "Three Smart Girls" in 1936 and in its profitable follow-up the next year, "One Hundred Men and a Girl", which was credited with saving Universal studios from bankruptcy. George Lloyd Murphy (July 4, 1902 - May 3, 1992) was an American dancer, actor, and politician. Her son Peter H.. All those years of being important and making millions for your studioand then you are given the boot and your dressing room belongings are unceremoniously dumped at the studio gate. Deannas assessment of that marriage: I hibernated all my life, and when I married Vaughn Paul it wasnt any different. In 1947, she was the highest paid star in Hollywood, known for movies such as Three Smart Girls, Spring Parade and Mad about Music. 4k followers. Much to my surprise she wrote back to me. And as an instant Hollywood star with her very first movie, Three Smart Girls, she almost single-handedly fixed the problems of her fretting bosses at Universal, bringing them box-office gold. Read Less, Durbin shared a special Juvenile Award with Mickey Rooney at the 1938 Oscars fo Read More, Durbin shared a special Juvenile Award with Mickey Rooney at the 1938 Oscars for their "significant contribution in bringing to the screen the spirit and personification of youth". In a newsletter, the Deanna Durbin Society said Ms. Durbin died "a few days ago," quoting her son, Peter H. David, who thanked her admirers for respecting her privacy. In fact, Brownie received an Oscar nomination for Best Sound Recording for Phantom (but only won for a 1939 film, When Tomorrow Comes). Murphy was a song-and-dance leading man in many big-budget Hollywood musicals from 1930 to 1952. In Deannas films, she was the main draw and the leading men were secondary. Her first movie was Every Sunday, in which she appeared alongside Judy Garland. He badly mismanaged her affairs and after she fired him she learned what had been going on behind her back. Film critic Thomson wrote that she was hopelessly adrift in the role. Durbin's death was initially reported by her son, Peter H. David, in the Deanna Durbin. Deanna later publicly blamed their divorce on their mutual utter boredom. Here is part of his letter to her: catebar44 Her second marriage, to Felix Jackson, the 43-year-old producer of several of her films, also ended in divorce, after the birth of a daughter. The two moved to France and had a son. This marriage was happy and they were together 50 years until Charles David died in 1999. No other details were given. The former child star, married Charles David, who directed her in the 1945 film "Lady on a Train," in 1951 and together they had one son, Peter. . For reprint rights |, Bookmark or read stories offline - Download the TOI app. She was given a special miniature 1938 Academy Award for her significant contribution in bringing to the screen the spirit and personification of youth.. joanne tew It was announced today that Deanna Durbin passed away, apparently a few days ago at age 91. Copyright 2022 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. In a newsletter, the Deanna Durbin Society said Ms. Durbin died "a few days ago," quoting her son, Peter H. David, who thanked her admirers for respecting her privacy. I could never buy her marriage to Felix and how easily he relinquished complete custody to Deanna and never paid any kind of support. Durbin died on about April 20 Deanna Durbin, a singer-actress who, as a child star, became one of the biggest box-office attractions of the 1930s and 40s has died at the age of 91. Los Angeles, June 25, 2023. I spent an afternoon with Judy Lewis when we did a joint book signing in Beverly Hills. Although she appeared in only one short and 21 feature films in her 12-year Hollywood career, Durbin nevertheless left behind a trove of upbeat productions that made her one of the biggest stars of her era and earned her loyal fans decades after her last film was released in 1948. Daughter Jessica Louise was born on February 7, 1946, seven and a half months later. No other details were given. The announcement of her death was made by her son, Peter H. David, in her official fan newsletter. It's already old news now, as dated as its subject the obituary notices announcing the death at 91 of Deanna Durbin, the "plucky child movie star" who saved Universal Studios from financial ruin; "the best-loved and most fondly remembered singing star of Hollywood's golden age" who cut short her career at 28; "the perfect girl next door" who left the . I was so thrilled when she sent me a picture with her autograph. Didnt know how to write checks or balance a bank account, that sort of thing. Deanna loves spaghetti and candy and like all youngsters she hates to diet, but now Universal has told her she must reduce. I was an actor. The comparison with Garbo is, I feel, a false one Garbo didnt want to stop being a movie star, events overtook her, and Garbo played with fame in the years of her retirement the impression one gets with Garbo is that she just didnt really know what to do with herself. It would ruin the image, she told Robert Shipman in Films and Filming magazine in 1983. I appreciate your bluntness and think there must have been some real reasons for Deanna to not only give up her career but to leave the US and live the rest of her life in seclusion. Ive READ that he would never agree to DNA testing. About the same time, in 1936, she began singing on Eddie Cantors popular weekly radio program. She was a genuine, sweet person and I felt the only reason John Jr would have refused to do a DNA test was that he might have had to share his dads royalties, etc. By Warren Boroson April 30, 2010, 6:22 pm. For reprint rights |, /celebs/international/reclusive-hollywood-actress-deanna-durbin-dies-at-91/eventshow/19820952.cms, Deanna Durbin, a singing child movie star of the 1930s who became one of the world's highest paid actresses before turning her back on stardom, has died at the age of 91. Veteran Canadian actress/singer Deanna Durbin has died at the age of 91. Joanne Tew, maceddy All of her films were shown and he was one of the guest speakers. No specific details were given. Memorial ID. As a final note on daughter Jessica, I was sad to read that she apparently was estranged from her mother in adulthood. I could never believe that my contemporaries were my fans. Six of her early films, including 100 Men, were directed by Henry Koster, who had fled Hitlers Germany in 1933, moved to the U.S. and directed such films as The Bishops Wife (1947) with Cary Grant and Harvey (1950) with James Stewart. Nevertheless, she seemed happy and carefree during the filming of Cant Help Singing. Now, this brings me to another interview I did in the 1980s with one of our club members, a retired Navy nurse, Pat Hudson. Vale Deanna Durbin December 4, 1921 - April 20, 2013. (Getty Images), She made her name playing the ideal teenage daughter in "Three Smart Girls" in 1936 and in its profitable follow-up the next year, "One Hundred Men and a Girl", which was credited with saving Universal studios from bankruptcy. Here, for example, is a recent quote from Doug Bonner, a filmmaker and Emmy-winning sound designer. Durbin's husband of over 48 years, Charles David, died in Paris on March 1, 1999. But her popularity had peaked. On April 30, 2013, a newsletter published by the Deanna Durbin Society reported that Durbin died "in the past few days", quoting her son, Peter H. David, who thanked her admirers for respecting her privacy. Her pictures after the baby was born beginning with Something in the Wind revealed an unhappy Deanna who became more mechanical in her roles. I am reminded of what a magical moment it was when Charlie Chaplin returned to America to receive an honorary Oscar in 1972. (Getty Images) At 25, Durbin was the second highest-paid woman in America behind her fellow actress Bette Davis, according to the New York Times, and her fan club ranked as the world's largest during her active years. She emphasized that she never identified herself with the public image that the media created around her. Senator from California, the first notable American . Reminds me of a certain baritone and his spouse who also stayed married until death do us partbut who lived separate lives. The character I was forced into had little or nothing in common with myself or with other youth of my generation, for that matter. Yes, you should treasure her letters. Nelson Eddy sings Christmas carols for you. She was 91. If you have not seen that clip before you can watch it here at YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3Pl-qvA1X8. I am also a devoted fan of Jeanette and Nelson. Read Less, Her son Peter H. David was quoted as telling The Deanna Durbin Society newslett Read More, Her son Peter H. David was quoted as telling The Deanna Durbin Society newsletter that the actress died "a few days ago", thanking her admirers for respecting her privacy. The French born David married Deanna in 1950 and Deanna chose to leave America and settle in France. In the mid to late 1940s Pat lived in the Los Angeles area with her mother, who was dating a Hollywood undercover vice squad policeman. Brownie felt Nelsons voice had never been captured accurately at MGM and also, they always had to turn him down to compensate for anyone that he sang with. Deanna Durbin, a Winnipeg-born screen star of the 1930s and 1940s, has died, according to her son Peter H. David. I could see the wariness in Naughty Marietta and the closeness of Sweethearts and so forth. Deanna Durbin, a Winnipeg-bornscreenstar of the 1930s and 1940s, has died, according to her son Peter H. David. She played a series of ideal teenaged daughters over the next few years in films such as That Certain Age, First Love and Its a Date. Thats why it was such a shock to learn the actual timeline of her marriage to Felix Jackson and her pregnancy during that time. By the time she and David married, Durbin was completing a near total retreat from the public eye. Don't miss a beat. She was one of the irreplaceable, I am thankful for the gift of her voice, and kindness. [Cotten further explained that he got his revenge at a dinner at the Beverly Hills Hotel for the US Vice President.] He was the screenwriter on her earlier films and produced her movies in the mid 1940s. According to Harper's research, Durbin primarily kept at home where she happily raised her children and lived a private life. On December 21, 1950, Durbin married French director-producer Charles Henri David, who had previously directed her in Lady on a Train. (Getty Images) Read Less, Reclusive Hollywood actress Deanna Durbin dies at 91. Deanna Durbin: Ephemeral fame (photo: Deanna Durbin in 1981) [See previous post: "Deanna Durbin: 'Sweet Monster.'"] Per Cotten: Deanna had driven to the lot about eleven; I had come through the gate an hour later. She was 91. Times staff writer Valerie J. Nelson contributed to this report. No other details were given. Durbin tried to transition into a more sophisticated movie persona by taking roles in The Amazing Mrs. Holliday, about refugee children from China and mysteries Lady on a Train and Christmas Holiday. Hers to Hold was released in July 1943. Family Members . No other details were given. Her second marriage, to Felix Jackson, the 43-year-old producer of several of her films, also ended in divorce, after the birth of a daughter. Deanna Durbin, the movie singing-star, was born in 1921, and apparently still lives in a farmhouse outside Paris. Deanna Durbin, who as a plucky child movie star with a sweet soprano voice charmed American audiences during the Depression and saved Universal Pictures from bankruptcy before she vanished from. Third husband of singer and actress Deanna Durbin. (Nelson Eddy was one of the guests who sang at this event.). Deannas father outlived his wife by four years and died in 1976. Nowtoday as I sit here remembering her wonderful films I have to wonder about that second marriage of hers. Audience Relations, CBC P.O. Writing in the Biographical Dictionary of Film, David Thomson said Pasternak appears to have grasped that Durbin was a rarity: a true teenage star, pretty, cheerful, clean and tuneful. Durbin had previously been married to assistant director Vaughn Paul from 1941 to 1943, and writer-actor Felix Jackson, with whom she had a daughter, Jessica, from 1945 to 1949. In fact, he told me that he built an entire new recording booth and setup for Nelsons first (and ultimately last) Universal movie. Critics responded negatively to her attempts to be an adult on screen, as a prostitute in love with a killer in Robert Siodmaks bleak film noir Christmas Holiday (1944) and as a debutante mixed up in a murder plot in Lady on a Train (1945.). Durbin's death was initially reported by her son, Peter H. David, in the Deanna Durbin. The musical actress was one of the most popular and highest-paid young stars in the 1930s. As far as I could see, or would let myself see, she was a completely happy wife and a very busy hostess. The former child star, married Charles David, who directed her in the 1945 film "Lady on a Train," in 1951 and together they had one son, Peter. After that, Durbin, Pasternak and Koster became known as the Durbin unit, which became the key to Universals survival for the next few years. Signed by the studio at 13, Ms. Durbin, who already possessed a mature coloratura soprano, soon appeared in a one-reel short, Every Sunday, with another recently signed 13-year-old, Judy Garland, who sang swing while Ms. Durbin sang classical music. 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