History Creator / MaryAstor

Astor was in a variety of roles in a variety of genres; although mostly an unknown actress nowadays, she appeared in a variety of movies with many famous actors that are still known today, such as Creator/HumphreyBogart, Creator/JudyGarland, and Creator/ClarkGable. She hit the headlines in 1936 thanks to [[https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/09/inside-the-trial-of-actress-mary-astor-hollywoods-juiciest-sex-scandal a messy child custody case]], during which her ex-husband (no slouch in the infidelity/bigamy department himself) threatened to reveal an alleged [[TheCasanova [=maneater=]]] reputation (specifically, an affair with married playwright George S. Kaufman) that she had written about in her SecretDiary.[[note]]Keep in mind this was the days of the Hays Code, and morality clauses were written into actors' contracts. If immoral conduct of any kind were proved, it could end careers. (Look at [[https://www.thehairpin.com/2011/04/scandals-of-classic-hollywood-ingrid-bergman-instrument-of-evil/ what happened to Bergman]] a decade later.) Mary, with her beloved little daughter to support, ''had'' to come out of this smelling like a rose.[[/note]] While said diary was never called to court because the judge demanded the whole book, not just torn-out pages or excerpts, New York ''Daily News'' IntrepidReporter [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florabel_Muir Florabel Muir]] got hold of it and her photocopies were published. [[NoSuchThingAsBadPublicity It didn't damage Mary's career, however]] -- she managed to win an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward for ''Film/TheGreatLie'' in 1941.

Astor was in a variety of roles in a variety of genres; although mostly an unknown actress nowadays, she appeared in a variety of movies with many famous actors that are still known today, such as Creator/HumphreyBogart, Creator/JudyGarland, and Creator/ClarkGable. She hit the headlines in 1936 thanks to [[https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/09/inside-the-trial-of-actress-mary-astor-hollywoods-juiciest-sex-scandal a messy child custody case]], during which her ex-husband (no slouch in the infidelity/bigamy department himself) threatened to reveal an alleged [[TheCasanova [=maneater=]]] reputation she had written about in her SecretDiary.[[note]]Keep in mind this was the days of the Hays Code, and morality clauses were written into actors' contracts. If immoral conduct of any kind were proved, it could end careers. (Look at [[https://www.thehairpin.com/2011/04/scandals-of-classic-hollywood-ingrid-bergman-instrument-of-evil/ what happened to Bergman]] a decade later.) Mary, with her beloved little daughter to support, ''had'' to come out of this smelling like a rose.[[/note]] While said diary was never called to court because the judge demanded the whole book, not just torn-out pages or excerpts, New York ''Daily News'' IntrepidReporter [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florabel_Muir Florabel Muir]] got hold of it and her photocopies were published. [[NoSuchThingAsBadPublicity It didn't damage Mary's career, however]] -- she managed to win an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward for ''Film/TheGreatLie'' in 1941.

Astor was in a variety of roles in a variety of genres; although mostly an unknown actress nowadays, she appeared in a variety of movies with many famous actors that are still known today, such as Creator/HumphreyBogart, Creator/JudyGarland, and Creator/ClarkGable. She hit the headlines in 1936 because of [[https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/09/inside-the-trial-of-actress-mary-astor-hollywoods-juiciest-sex-scandal a messy child custody case]], during which her ex-husband (no slouch himself in the infidelity/bigamy department) had threatened to reveal an alleged [[TheCasanova [=maneater=]]] reputation she had written about in her SecretDiary.[[note]]Keep in mind this was the days of the Hays Code, and morality clauses were written into actors' contracts. If immoral conduct of any kind were proved, it could end careers. (Look at [[https://www.thehairpin.com/2011/04/scandals-of-classic-hollywood-ingrid-bergman-instrument-of-evil/ what happened to Bergman]] a decade later.) Mary, with her beloved little daughter to support, ''had'' to come out of this smelling like a rose.[[/note]] While said diary was never called to court because the judge demanded the whole book, not just torn-out pages or excerpts, New York ''Daily News'' IntrepidReporter [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florabel_Muir Florabel Muir]] got hold of it and her photocopies were published. [[NoSuchThingAsBadPublicity It didn't damage Mary's career, however]] -- she managed to win an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward for ''Film/TheGreatLie'' in 1941.

Astor was in a variety of roles in a variety of genres; although mostly an unknown actress nowadays, she appeared in a variety of movies with many famous actors that are still known today, such as Creator/HumphreyBogart, Creator/JudyGarland, and Creator/ClarkGable. She hit the headlines in 1936 because of [[https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/09/inside-the-trial-of-actress-mary-astor-hollywoods-juiciest-sex-scandal a messy child custody case]], during which her husband (no slouch in the infidelity/bigamy department himself) had threatened to reveal an alleged [[TheCasanova [=maneater=]]] reputation she had written about in her SecretDiary.[[note]]Keep in mind this was the days of the Hays Code, and morality clauses were written into actors' contracts. If immoral conduct of any kind were proved, it could end careers. (Look at [[https://www.thehairpin.com/2011/04/scandals-of-classic-hollywood-ingrid-bergman-instrument-of-evil/ what happened to Bergman]] a decade later.) Mary, with her beloved little daughter to support, ''had'' to come out of this smelling like a rose.[[/note]] While said diary was never called to court because the judge demanded the whole book, not just torn-out pages or excerpts, New York ''Daily News'' IntrepidReporter [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florabel_Muir Florabel Muir]] got hold of it and her photocopies were published. [[NoSuchThingAsBadPublicity It didn't damage Mary's career, however]] -- she managed to win an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward for ''Film/TheGreatLie'' in 1941.

Astor was in a variety of roles in a variety of genres; although mostly an unknown actress nowadays, she appeared in a variety of movies with many famous actors that are still known today, such as Creator/HumphreyBogart, Creator/JudyGarland, and Creator/ClarkGable. She hit the headlines in 1936 because of [[https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/09/inside-the-trial-of-actress-mary-astor-hollywoods-juiciest-sex-scandal a messy child custody case]], because her husband (no slouch in the infidelity/bigamy department) had threatened to reveal an alleged [[TheCasanova [=maneater=]]] reputation she had written about in her SecretDiary.[[note]]Keep in mind this was the days of the Hays Code, and morality clauses were written into actors' contracts. If immoral conduct of any kind were proved, it could end careers. (Look at [[https://www.thehairpin.com/2011/04/scandals-of-classic-hollywood-ingrid-bergman-instrument-of-evil/ what happened to Bergman]] a decade later.) Mary, with her beloved little daughter to support, ''had'' to come out of this smelling like a rose.[[/note]] While said diary was never called to court because the judge demanded the whole book, not just torn-out pages or excerpts, New York ''Daily News'' IntrepidReporter [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florabel_Muir Florabel Muir]] got hold of it and her photocopies were published. [[NoSuchThingAsBadPublicity It didn't damage Mary's career, however]] -- she managed to win an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward for ''Film/TheGreatLie'' in 1941.

[[quoteright:315:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mary_astor.jpeg]]

Astor was in a variety of roles in a variety of genres; although mostly an unknown actress nowadays, she appeared in a variety of movies with many famous actors that are still known today, such as Creator/HumphreyBogart, Creator/JudyGarland, and Creator/ClarkGable. She hit the headlines in 1936 because of [[https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/09/inside-the-trial-of-actress-mary-astor-hollywoods-juiciest-sex-scandal a messy child custody case]], because her husband (no slouch in the infidelity/bigamy department) had threatened to reveal an alleged [[TheCasanova [=maneater=]]] reputation she had written about in her SecretDiary.[[note]]Keep in mind this was the days of the Hays Code, and morality clauses were written into actors' contracts. If immoral conduct of any kind were proved, it could end careers. (Look at [[https://www.thehairpin.com/2011/04/scandals-of-classic-hollywood-ingrid-bergman-instrument-of-evil/ what happened to Bergman]] a decade later.) Mary, with her beloved little daughter to support, ''had'' to come out of this smelling like a rose.[[/note]] While said diary was never called to court because the judge demanded the whole book, not just torn-out pages or excerpts, New York ''Daily News'' IntrepidReporter [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florabel_Muir Florabel Muir]] got hold of it and her photocopies were published. [[NoSuchThingAsBadPublicity It didn't damage Mary's career, however]] -- she managed to win an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward for ''The Great Lie'' in 1941.

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mary_astor2.jpg]]

->''"There are five stages in the life of an actor: 'Who's Mary Astor? Get me Mary Astor. Get me a Mary Astor type. Get me a young Mary Astor. Who's Mary Astor?'"''

Mary Astor, born as Lucile Vasconcellos Langhanke (May 3, 1906 -- September 25, 1987) was an American actress. She is mostly remembered for her appearance in the 1941 version of ''The Maltese Falcon'', however, she'd been appearing movies from before they were being made with sound. Her first film was in a [[Film/TheScarecrow 1920 short film]] starring Creator/BusterKeaton (it turned out to be a DeletedRole). She continued making films throughout her teen years for the benefit of her parents, who took all the money she earned for their own lavish lifestyles, until she rebelled. (Many of these pictures are considered [[MissingEpisode to be lost]]). She transitioned into talkies, being named as one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars (the HollywoodHypeMachine actresses) in 1926.

Mary Astor, born as Lucile Vasconcellos Langhanke (May 3, 1906 -- September 25, 1987) was an American actress. She is mostly remembered for her appearance in the 1941 version of ''The Maltese Falcon'', however, she'd been appearing movies from before they were being made with sound. Her first film was a 1921 silent at 14, but it turned out to be a DeletedRole. She continued making films throughout her teen years for the benefit of her parents, who took all the money she earned for their own lavish lifestyles, until she rebelled. (Many of these pictures are considered [[MissingEpisode to be lost]]). She transitioned into talkies, being named as one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars (the HollywoodHypeMachine actresses) in 1926.

Mary Astor, born as Lucile Vasconcellos Langhanke (May 3, 1906 -- September 25, 1987) was an American actress. She is mostly remembered for her appearance in the 1941 version of ''Film/TheMalteseFalcon'', however, she'd been appearing movies from before they were being made with sound. Her first film was a 1921 silent at 14, but it turned out to be a DeletedRole. She continued making films throughout her teen years for the benefit of her parents, who took all the money she earned for their own lavish lifestyles, until she rebelled. (Many of these pictures are considered [[MissingEpisode to be lost]]). She transitioned into talkies, being named as one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars (the HollywoodHypeMachine actresses) in 1926.

* ''Film/TheMalteseFalcon'' (1941)

Astor was in a variety of roles in a variety of genres; although mostly an unknown actress nowadays, she appeared in a variety of movies with many famous actors that are still known today, such as Creator/HumphreyBogart, Creator/JudyGarland, and Creator/ClarkGable. She hit the headlines in 1936 because of [[https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/09/inside-the-trial-of-actress-mary-astor-hollywoods-juiciest-sex-scandal a messy child custody case]], because her husband (no slouch in the infidelity/bigamy department) had threatened to reveal an alleged {{maneater}} reputation she had written about in her SecretDiary.[[note]]Keep in mind this was the days of the Hays Code, and morality clauses were written into actors' contracts. If immoral conduct of any kind were proved, it could end careers. (Look at [[https://www.thehairpin.com/2011/04/scandals-of-classic-hollywood-ingrid-bergman-instrument-of-evil/ what happened to Bergman]] a decade later.) Mary, with her beloved little daughter to support, ''had'' to come out of this smelling like a rose.[[/note]] While said diary was never called to court because the judge demanded the whole book, not just torn-out pages or excerpts, New York ''Daily News'' IntrepidReporter [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florabel_Muir Florabel Muir]] got hold of it and her photocopies were published. [[NoSuchThingAsBadPublicity It didn't damage Mary's career, however]] -- she managed to win an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward for ''The Great Lie'' in 1941.

* ''Film/{{Turnabout}}''

Mary Astor, born as Lucile Vasconcellos Langhanke (May 3, 1906 -- September 25, 1987) was an American actress. She is mostly remembered for her appearance in the 1941 version of ''Film/TheMalteseFalcon'', however, she'd been appearing movies from before they were being made with sound. Her first film was a 1921 silent at 14, but it turned out to be a DeletedRole. She was in other movies throughout her teenage years (many considered [[MissingEpisode to be lost]]) and transitioned into talkies, being named as one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars (the HollywoodHypeMachine actresses) in 1926.

Astor was in a variety of roles in a variety of genres; although mostly an unknown actress nowadays, she appeared in a variety of movies with many famous actors that are still known today, such as Creator/HumphreyBogart, Creator/JudyGarland, and Creator/ClarkGable. She hit the headlines in 1936 because of a messy divorce, because her husband had threatened to reveal an alleged {{maneater}} reputation she had written about in her SecretDiary. While said diary was never called to court, New York ''Daily News'' IntrepidReporter [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florabel_Muir Florabel Muir]] got hold of it and her photocopies were published. [[NoSuchThingAsBadPublicity It didn't damage Mary's career, however]] -- she managed to win an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward for ''The Great Lie'' in 1941.

Astor was in a variety of roles in a variety of genres; although mostly an unknown actress nowadays, she appeared in a variety of movies with many famous actors that are still known today, such as Creator/HumphreyBogart, Creator/JudyGarland, and Creator/ClarkGable. She hit the headlines in 1936 because of a messy divorce, because her husband had threatened to reveal an alleged {{maneater}} reputation she had written about in her SecretDiary. While said diary was never called to court, New York ''Daily News'' IntrepidReporter [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florabel_Muir]] Florabel Muir got hold of it and her photocopies were published. [[NoSuchThingAsBadPublicity It didn't damage Mary's career, however]] -- she managed to win an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward for ''The Great Lie'' in 1941.

Astor was in a variety of roles in a variety of genres; although mostly an unknown actress nowadays, she appeared in a variety of movies with many famous actors that are still known today, such as Creator/HumphreyBogart, Creator/JudyGarland, and Creator/ClarkGable. She hit the headlines in 1936 because of a messy divorce, because her husband had threatened to reveal an alleged {{maneater}} reputation she had written about in her diary, but said diary was never called to court. [[NoSuchThingAsBadPublicity It didn't damage her career, however]] -- she managed to win an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward for ''The Great Lie'' in 1941.

Due to her alcoholism, Astor was recommended in rehab to write an autobiography by a priest/psychologist. The book being a bestseller in 1959. She later moved to New York and appeared on Broadway and acted on TV. She also became an author, writing another autobiography as well as fiction. She retired from acting in the 1960s and died from respiratory failure at 81 years old.

[[quoteright:262:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mary_astor.jpg]]

->''There are five stages in the life of an actor: "Who's Mary Astor? Get me Mary Astor. Get me a Mary Astor type. Get me a young Mary Astor. Who's Mary Astor?"''

!!Selected filmography

* ''Film/RedDust''
* ''Film/ThePrisonerOfZenda''

* ''Film/MeetMeInStLouis''