Edward Pawley

Edward Joel Pawley (born March 16, 1901 in Kansas City, Missouri - January 27, 1988) is an American actor. He began his theatrical career in 1920 and reached the Broadway stage in 1923. He starred in various well-known Broadway plays including Elmer Gantry (1928), Two Seconds (1931), Subway Express (1929), The Guardsman (1924), The Shame Woman (1923), and They Knew What They Wanted (1924). Pawley's rich, baritone voice was hailed by leading journalists of the day, such as Walter Winchell and Heywood Hale Broun. While in highschool, he became interested in both journalism and acting. He took drama classes and acted in high school plays. After moving to New York City to pursue a career in the theater, he married his high school sweetheart, Martina May Martin (who had also become a professional stage actress). They had one child, a son named Martin Herbert Pawley. Edward and Martina later divorced then remarried and divorced again. In 1937, he married the then popular Broadway singer/dancer/actress, Helen Shipman of Pennsylvania. They were married for 47 years until her death on April 13, 1984. Pawley had two younger brothers, William Pawley and Anthony Pawley, both of whom also performed on Broadway and in the movies.

Retirement

In retirement, Pawley raised and sold championship goats, wrote poetry, and worked part-time as a radio announcer at a local radio station. He died just two months shy of his 87th birthday as the result of a heart condition while a patient at The University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, Virginia. His residence at the time of his death was in the village of Rock Mills, Rappahannock County, Virginia. He became the quintessential 'Virginia Gentleman' and was loved for his integrity, patriotism, and charm. Also, he was admired for his vocabulary and wonderful speaking voice as well as his status as a former entertainer in three different mediums (i.e., broadway, movies, and radio).

Related Topics:
Goat - Poetry - The University of Virginia - Charlottesville, Virginia - Rock Mills - Integrity - Patriotism

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