Tamara Shayne

Tamara Shayne (25 November 1902 – 23 October 1983), also known as Tamara Nikoulin, was a Russian-born actress and long-time resident in the United States.[1]

Tamara Shayne
Ludwig Donath and Tamara Shayne in Jolson Sings Again (1949)
Born
Tamara Veniaminovna Olkenitskaya

(1902-11-25)25 November 1902
Perm, Russian Empire
Died23 October 1983(1983-10-23) (aged 80)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1932–1961
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 1932; died 1972)​

Early life

Tamara Shayne was born Tamara Veniaminovna Olkenitskaya on 25 November 1902 in Perm, Russia, to the family of a Jewish actor Veniamin Olkenitsky-Nikulin (aka Benjamin Nikulin). Her older brother Konstantin was also an actor.[2]

Career

Shayne appeared in European films before migrating to the United States in 1927 with her future husband, the actor Akim Tamiroff;[3] the couple married in February 1933.[4]

Her first role (uncredited) in an American film was in The Captain Hates the Sea (1934). She also appeared uncredited in Ninotchka (1939) as Anna, the cellist roommate of the titular character portrayed by Greta Garbo. Shayne appeared in nearly two dozen films from 1934-61, and is possibly best remembered as Moma Yoelson in The Jolson Story (1946) and Jolson Sings Again (1949).[3]

Personal life

Shayne remained married to Akim Tamiroff until his death in 1972, and she retired at that time. She died from complications following a heart attack on 23 October 1983.[5]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1934 The Captain Hates the Sea General's Wife Uncredited
1935 George White's 1935 Scandals Russian Girl - Old Southern Custom Uncredited
1939 Ninotchka Anna - Moscow Roommate Uncredited
1942 Somewhere I'll Find You Mama Lugovska Uncredited
1943 Mission to Moscow Russian Nurse Uncredited
1944 Song of Russia Mme. Orlova
1946 The Jolson Story Mrs. Yoelson
1947 It Happened in Brooklyn Mrs. Kardos
1947 Northwest Outpost Olga Natalia's Maid
1947 Pirates of Monterey Filomena
1948 Walk a Crooked Mile Mrs. Ecko, Landlady Uncredited
1948 The Snake Pit Ward 33 Inmate Uncredited
1949 Jolson Sings Again Moma Yoelson
1949 Black Magic Maria Balsamo
1949 Thieves' Highway Parthena Garcos
1949 The Red Danube Helena Nagard
1951 I Can Get It for You Wholesale Mrs. Cooper Uncredited
1953 Tonight We Sing Customer Uncredited
1955 Mr. Arkadin Woman in Apartment
1956 Anastasia Zenia Uncredited
1961 Romanoff and Juliet Evdokia Romanoff

References
  1. John Walker (ed) Halliwell Who's Who in the Movies, London: HarperCollins, 1999 (13th edition), p. 375 suggests her year of birth was 1897
  2. Doug McClelland Blackface to blacklist: Al Jolson, Larry Parks, and The Jolson story, Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 1998, pg. 154
  3. "Tamara Shayne, 80, Actress; Was Jolson's Mother in Films", The New York Times, 27 October 1983.
  4. Marriage date. "Ancestry.com".
  5. "Biography for Tamara Shayne", TCM.com; accessed 20 June 2017.
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