Marion Davies

Also known as Marion Cecilia Douras

Actress (former)Producer (former)

Born: Jan 3, 1897
nationality: American

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Career

Active 1914 – 1937

Biography

About Marion Davies

Edited by the community

Marion Davies was an American actress and producer active from 1914 to 1937. Born in Brooklyn, New York, she started her career as a chorus girl and appeared in Broadway musicals and the Ziegfeld Follies. In 1917, she made her film debut in Runaway Romany. Her relationship with newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst, whom she met while performing in the 1916 Follies, shaped her Hollywood career. Hearst financed her films, promoted her in his newspapers, and founded Cosmopolitan Pictures for her. By 1924, she was the number one female box office star, thanks to hits like When Knighthood Was in Flower and Little Old New York. During the Jazz Age, she was known for hosting lavish parties for Hollywood actors and political elites.

In 1924, her name became linked to scandal when film producer Thomas Ince died after a party on Hearst's yacht. Her film career declined during the Great Depression, and she struggled with alcoholism. She retired from acting in 1937 to care for Hearst and devote herself to charitable work. She stayed with Hearst until his death in 1951. Eleven weeks later, she married sea captain Horace Brown. She died in 1961 at age 64 from bone cancer.

Her legacy was later overshadowed by the character Susan Alexander Kane in Citizen Kane (1941), widely assumed to be based on her. Many commentators, including Orson Welles, defended her as a gifted actress and comedienne. Welles believed Hearst's patronage did her more harm than good. Davies had a natural, real bust and was of Caucasian ethnicity. She was straight. She worked as a producer as well, though her producing career was brief. Her early life in a convent school ended when she fled to chase a performing career. She was born on January 3, 1897. She died on September 22, 1961. She was 64 years old.

Profile details

Personal

Died: Friday 22nd of September 1961 (age 64)
Years Active: 1914-1937 (started around 18 years old; 23 years active)
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Sexuality: Straight

Body

Boobs: Real/Natural

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Frequently asked

How did Marion Davies' relationship with William Randolph Hearst affect her career?

Hearst financed her films, promoted her in his newspapers and newsreels, and founded Cosmopolitan Pictures to produce her movies, which helped make her the top female box office star by 1924.

Was the Susan Alexander Kane character in Citizen Kane based on Marion Davies?

Many people assumed so, but director Orson Welles and other commentators defended Davies as a talented actress, arguing that Hearst's patronage harmed her reputation more than it helped.

What scandal was Marion Davies linked to in 1924?

Film producer Thomas Ince died after a party aboard William Randolph Hearst's yacht, and Davies' name became associated with the incident, though no charges were brought against her.