Sidney Fox

Sidney Fox was an American actress who worked in early talkies. She was born in the United States and had a brief but notable career in Hollywood. Standing at just 4'11", she had a petite, coquettish look that suited the ingenue roles she often played. She was active from 1931 to 1934, starting her career at around 23 years old, and during those three years she appeared in a string of films for Universal.

Fox was born in New York City, the daughter of Joseph Liefer. Before acting, she worked as a model and a lovelorn columnist as a teenager. She joined a stock company in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and made her Broadway debut in 1929. Her breakthrough came when Universal mogul Carl Laemmle Jr. discovered her and cast her in "Bad Sister" (1931), opposite Bette Davis in her film debut. She went on to co-star with Spencer Tracy in "6 Cylinder Love" (1931) and Paul Lukas in "Strictly Dishonorable" (1931), which is considered her best role. She also had top billing over Bela Lugosi in "Murders in the Rue Morgue" (1932).

Despite early promise, Fox's career declined, and she turned to European films like "Don Quixote" (1933). Her marriage to editor Charles Beahan was stormy and abusive, and she struggled with illness and depression. She died on November 12, 1942, at age 34, from a probable suicide. She is buried in Mt. Lebanon Cemetery in Queens, New York. Today she is remembered as a tragic figure of early Hollywood.