Josephine Dunn

Mary Josephine Dunn[1] (May 1, 1906 – February 3, 1983) was an American stage and film actress of the 1920s and 1930s.[2]

Josephine Dunn
Photoplay, 1930
Born
Mary Josephine Dunn

May 1, 1906
New York City, U.S.
DiedFebruary 3, 1983(1983-02-03) (aged 76)
Thousand Oaks, California, U.S.
Years active1920–1938
Spouse(s)
William P. Cameron
​
​
(m. 1925; div. 1928)​

Clyde Greathouse
​
​
(m. 1931; div. 1931)​

Eugene J. Lewis
​
​
(m. 1933; div. 1935)​

Carroll Case
​
​
(m. 1935; died 1978)​

Early years

Dunn was born in New York City[3] and educated at the Holy Cross convent.[4]

Career

Dunn's first venture into entertainment came at age 14 when she became a member of the chorus at the Winter Garden Theatre. Rather than return to school, she continued in her career, appearing in almost 20 productions, including the Ziegfeld Follies.[4] Her Broadway credits include Between Two Worlds (1934), Take a Chance (1932), Pickwick (1927), and Dear Sir (1924).[5]

Dunn began her film career with a role in Fascinating Youth (1926) after she completed the then-new Paramount Pictures School. She went on to have the lead roles in Love's Greatest Mistake (1927) and Fireman, Save My Child (1927).[4]

After nine months of inactivity in film, Dunn signed a long-term contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.[4]

She starred in 23 silent films, and in 1929 she was one of 13 girls named as "WAMPAS Baby Stars", which that year included actress Jean Arthur. In 1930 she made a successful transition, unlike many silent stars, to sound films. In 1930 she starred in Safety in Numbers (1930) alongside Carole Lombard and Kathryn Crawford. She starred in sixteen films through 1932.

Personal life

Dunn became associated with what would become known as the "Algonquin Round Table", which included actress Tallulah Bankhead.

In 1925, Dunn married William P. Cameron in Elkton, Maryland. He was a contracting engineer.[6] They were divorced in 1928.[7] She married Clyde Greathouse, an official of an oil company, in Los Angeles on January 10, 1931,[8] and they were divorced on October 26, 1931.[9] On January 6, 1933, in Great Neck, New York,[10] she married Eugene J. Lewis,[11] whom she divorced in 1935 to marry Carroll Case, whose father Frank Case owned the Algonquin Hotel in New York City, which housed the now famous "Algonquin Round Table". She retired from acting in 1938, and remained with Case for the remainder of his life, until he died in 1978.

Death

Dunn died of cancer on February 3, 1983, in Thousand Oaks, California, aged 76.[3]

Partial filmography

References
  1. Wilson, Scott (2016). Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed. McFarland. p. 213. ISBN 9781476625997. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  2. allmovie bio
  3. Ellenberger, Allan R. (2001). Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory. McFarland. p. 210. ISBN 9780786450190. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  4. "Comeback Star in Lyric Film". The Daily Plainsman. South Dakota, Huron. September 21, 1929. p. 5. Retrieved July 19, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Josephine Dunn". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on 20 July 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  6. "Josephine Dunn Will Marry Again". Warren Times Mirror. Pennsylvania, Warren. Associated Press. January 7, 1931. p. 13. Retrieved July 20, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Josephine Dunn, Movie Actress, Soon to Marry". Reading Times. Pennsylvania, Reading. Associated Press. January 15, 1931. p. 9. Retrieved October 7, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Josephine Dunn Weds". The Tennessean. Tennessee, Nashville. Associated Press. January 12, 1931. p. 9. Retrieved July 20, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Josephine Dunn, Film Actress, Given Divorce". The Los Angeles Times. California, Los Angeles. October 27, 1931. p. 25. Retrieved July 20, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Josephine Dunn Speaking: I'm Married Again". Daily News. New York, New York City. February 7, 1933. p. 180. Retrieved July 20, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Josephine Dunn Reveals Wedding". The Press Democrat. California, Santa Rosa. United Press. February 7, 1933. p. 1. Retrieved October 7, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.


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