All The Babes
Billie Burke
Also known as Mary William Ethelbert Appleton Burke
Career
Active 1903 – 1960
Biography
About Billie Burke
Billie Burke was an American actress with a career that ran from 1903 to 1960, a span of 57 years that took her from Broadway stages to silent films, sound films, and radio. She was born in Washington, D.C., stood 5'3" with a slim build and natural 36C bust, and had blonde hair and blue eyes. Her most famous role came late in her career when she played Glinda the Good Witch of the North in the MGM musical The Wizard of Oz (1939). She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Merrily We Live (1938), and she also appeared in the Topper film series.
In her personal life, Burke was married to Broadway producer and impresario Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. from 1914 until his death in 1932. They had a daughter, Patricia Burke Ziegfeld, born in 1916. Burke retired in 1921 to raise her daughter, but the Wall Street Crash of 1929 prompted her to resume acting. After Ziegfeld died, she moved from New York to Beverly Hills, California, in 1932. Among her early suitors was the operatic tenor Enrico Caruso. In 1910, she purchased a mansion in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, and renamed it Burkeley Crest.
Burke died of natural causes in Los Angeles on May 14, 1970, at the age of 85. She was interred beside Ziegfeld at Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, New York. She was a small woman with a real, natural figure, and she left a lasting mark on American entertainment. Her career bridged several eras of performance, from vaudeville-influenced stage work to the golden age of Hollywood.
Record
Profile details
Personal
- Died
- Thursday 14th of May 1970 (age 85)
- Years Active
- 1903-1960 (started around 18 years old; 57 years active)
- Birthplace
- Washington, D.C., United States
- Ethnicity
- Caucasian
- Sexuality
- Straight
Body
- Hair Color
- Blonde
- Eye Color
- Blue
- Weight
- 128 lbs (or 58 kg)
- Measurements
- 36–29–37 (B–W–H) · WHR 0.78
- Bra/Cup Size
- 36C show conversions - UK: 36C, EU: 80C, AU: 14C, JP: 80C
- Boobs
- Real/Natural
Frequently asked
What was her most famous role?
She played Glinda the Good Witch of the North in the 1939 MGM film The Wizard of Oz.
Who was she married to?
She was married to Broadway producer and impresario Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. from 1914 until his death in 1932.
Why did she leave New York for California?
After her husband's death in 1932, she moved from New York to Beverly Hills, California.
How did a financial crisis affect her career?
She had retired in 1921 to raise her daughter, but the Wall Street Crash of 1929 prompted her to return to acting.
Did she have any children?
Yes, she had one daughter, Patricia Burke Ziegfeld, born in 1916.
Did you know
- Burke's career spanned 57 years, from 1903 to 1960, which began when she was about 18.
- She was nominated for an Academy Award for her role in Merrily We Live (1938), the year before she played Glinda.
- Operatic tenor Enrico Caruso was among her early suitors.
- She renamed her Hastings-on-Hudson mansion 'Burkeley Crest' after purchasing it in 1910.
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