Rita La Roy

Rita La Roy (born Ina La Roi Stuart, October 2, 1901 – February 18, 1993) was an American actress and dancer, beginning her career in 1929, and having her last significant role in 1940.

Rita La Roy
Born
Ina La Roi Stuart

(1901-10-02)October 2, 1901
DiedFebruary 18, 1993(1993-02-18) (aged 91)
OccupationActress
Years active1929–1951 (acting)
Spouse(s)
Ben Hershfield
(m. 1931; div. 1933)
Children1

Career

La Roy appeared in over 50 films, the best known of which was Blonde Venus, which starred Marlene Dietrich. After her acting career, she had a school for models in Hollywood.[1] Also in the 1940s, she wrote and produced her own television show for KTLA in Los Angeles, for which she won an Emmy Award in 1948.

Early life

While the studio publicity machine claimed she had been born in Paris, France, she was actually born in the small town of Bonners Ferry, Idaho in 1901.[2] Her early years saw her work as both a dress designer and a stock company actress,[3] before moving onto vaudeville, where she became a dancer.

Performing on the Pantages and Orpheum theater circuits, she was known for erotic acts, which included dances such as the "frog dance", the "peacock dance" and the "cobra dance" in which her feet and legs were tied together under a stylized snakeskin so that she danced by undulating her torso."[4]

Film career

In 1929, she made her film debut in The Delightful Rogue, starring opposite matinee idol Rod La Rocque.[5]

Over the next several years, working as part of the RKO Radio Pictures stable, she appeared in both starring and supporting roles. While her final significant role was in the 1940 comedy-mystery Hold That Woman!, she had several small roles during the 1940s, including in such films as Sergeant York and You're My Everything.[5]

Post-film life

After retiring from film, for the most part, in the early 1940s, she ran the Rita La Roy Modeling School and Agency. She later wrote and produced her own shows for the local television station in Los Angeles, KTLA. For one of those programs she won an Emmy in 1948. She died of pneumonia in Chula Vista, California in 1993, aged 91.[4]

Filmography

Title Year Role Notes
Masquerade 1929 Girl
The Love Trap 1929 Mary Harrington
The Delightful Rogue 1929 Nydra
Dynamite 1929 Good Mixer Uncredited
Lilies of the Field 1930 Florette
Lovin' the Ladies 1930 Louise Endicott
Midnight Mystery 1930 Madeline Austen
Conspiracy 1930 Nita Strong
Leathernecking 1930 Fortune Teller
Check and Double Check 1930 Elinor Crawford
Sin Takes a Holiday 1930 Grace Lawrence
Playthings of Hollywood 1930
A Holy Terror 1931 Kitty Carroll
Traveling Husbands 1931 Daisy
Playthings of Hollywood 1931
The Gay Diplomat 1931 Natalie
Leftover Ladies 1931 Vera Lane
The Yellow Ticket 1931 Fania Rubinstein
The Secret Witness 1931 Mrs. Sylvia Folsom Uncredited
Amateur Daddy 1932 Lottie Pelgram
So Big 1932 Paula Storm Uncredited
While Paris Sleeps 1932 Fifi
Sinners in the Sun 1932 Lil
Hollywood Speaks 1932 Millie Coreen
Bachelor's Affairs 1932 Sonya Denton
The Honor of the Press 1932 Daisy Tellem
Blonde Venus 1932 Taxi Belle Hooper
Hot Saturday 1932 Camille
From Hell to Heaven 1933 Elsie Ruby
The Song of Songs 1933
I've Got Your Number 1934 Sassy Call Girl Uncredited
Whirlpool 1934 Thelma
One Is Guilty 1934 Lola Deveroux
Name the Woman 1934 Marie Denton
Fugitive Lady 1934 Sylvia Brooks
Hollywood Boulevard 1936 Nella
The Mandarin Mystery 1936 Martha Kirk
Lady from Nowhere 1936 Mabel Donner
Find the Witness 1937 Rita Calmette
King of Gamblers 1937 Woman at table Uncredited
The Hit Parade 1937 Woman ex-convict Uncredited
Mountain Music 1937 Mrs. Hamilton B. Lovelace
Flight from Glory 1937 Molly
Dangerous to Know 1938 Mrs. Barnett Uncredited
Condemned Women 1938 Cora
Border G-Man 1938 Mrs. Rita Browning
Smashing the Rackets 1938 Reluctant Witness Uncredited
Fixer Dugan 1939 Patricia 'Pat' O'Connell
Hold That Woman! 1940 Lulu Driscoll
Sergeant York 1941 Saloon Girl Uncredited
Hangmen Also Die! 1943 Girl Uncredited
You're My Everything 1949 Fashion Editor Uncredited

References

  1. Hopper, Hedda (April 5, 1946). "Hollywood". Daily News. New York, New York City. p. 45. Retrieved August 7, 2018 via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Rita La Roy profile". 123 Movies TV. Archived from the original on August 3, 2014. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
  3. "Rita La Roy: Biography". MSN. Archived from the original on August 3, 2014. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
  4. "Rita La Roy; Actress, Model Agency Owner". LA Times. February 23, 1993. Archived from the original on August 3, 2014. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
  5. "Rita La Roy". AFI. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
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