Mary Astor

Mary Astor (May 3, 1906 – September 25, 1987) was an American actress.

New beginnings

Astor took voice training and singing lessons during her time off, but no roles were offered. Her acting career was then given a boost by her friend, Florence Eldridge (wife of Fredric March), whom she confided in about her woes. Eldridge, who was to star in the stage play Among the Married at the Majestic Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles, recommended Astor for the second female lead. The play was a success and her voice was deemed suitable, being described as low and vibrant.

Related Topics:
Florence Eldridge - Fredric March - Downtown Los Angeles

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She was happy to be back at work, but her happiness abruptly came to an end. On January 3, 1930, while filming sequences for the Fox movie Such Men Are Dangerous, Kenneth Hawks was killed in a mid-air plane crash over the Pacific off San Pedro. Astor had just finished a matinee performance at the Majestic and was lying down on a couch that was part of the set of the play when Florence Eldridge came to her on stage with the news. She was then rushed from the theatre and taken to Eldridge's apartment; a replacement, Doris Lloyd, stepped in for the next show.

Related Topics:
January 3 - 1930 - Pacific - San Pedro - Doris Lloyd

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Astor remained with her friend, Eldridge, at her apartment for some time. Seeming to be "bearing up well," she soon went back to work under the burden of her grief. Shortly after the death of her husband, she debuted in her first talkie, Ladies Love Brutes (1930) at Paramount, which co-starred friend Fredric March.

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While her career picked up, her private life remained rocky. After working on several more movies, she suffered delayed shock over the death of Hawks and had a nervous breakdown. During the months of her illness, she was attended by Dr. Franklyn Thorpe, whom she later married.

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Astor had four husbands, director Kenneth Hawks (married February 26, 1928-his death 1930); physician and surgeon Franklyn Thorpe (married June 29, 1931-divorced 1936); insurance salesman Manuel del Campo (married February 1936-divorced 1941); and stockbroker Thomas Wheelock (married December 25, 1945-divorced 1955).

Related Topics:
Director - Kenneth Hawks - February 26 - 1928 - 1930 - June 29 - 1931 - 1936 - 1941 - December 25 - 1945 - 1955

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She and Thorpe had one daughter, Marylyn Hauoli Thorpe (born June 16, 1932). In May 1932, the Thorpes purchased a yacht and sailed to Hawaii. Astor was pregnant, but the birth was scheduled for August. Her daughter was born in June in Honolulu, her name being a combination of the names of her parents. Her middle name, Hauoli, means "To sing with joy."

Related Topics:
June 16 - 1932 - Hawaii - Honolulu

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When they returned to Southern California, Astor began freelancing and accepted the pivotal role of Barbara Willis in Red Dust (1932) at MGM with Clark Gable and Jean Harlow.

Related Topics:
Southern California - Red Dust - 1932 - MGM - Clark Gable - Jean Harlow

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In late 1932, Astor signed a featured player contract with Warner Bros. Besides spending lavishly, her parents invested in the stock market, which turned out in many instances to be unprofitable. They still lived in Moorcroft, which Astor dubbed a "white elephant" and refused to maintain. She had to turn to the Motion Picture Relief Fund in 1933 to pay her bills.

Related Topics:
1932 - Stock market - Motion Picture Relief Fund - 1933

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Unhappy in her marriage, she took a well deserved break from movie making in 1933 and went to New York by herself. While there, enjoying a whirlwind social life, she met the playwright George Kaufman and had an affair, which she documented in her diary.

Related Topics:
1933 - Playwright - George Kaufman

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