Date of Birth

2 August 1905, Radersburg, Montana, USA

Date of Death

14 December 1993, New York City, New York, USA

Birth Name

Myrna Adele Williams

At the end of the silent era, Myrna Loy started her career as an exotic, Theda Bara-like femme fatale. Fortunately, she was rescued by the advent of the sound picture, where she was recast in the role of the witty, urbane, professional woman. She is best remembered for her role of Nora Charles opposite William Powell in six "Thin Man" movies (The Thin Man (1934)).

Born in Helena, Mont. Myrna was educated in Los Angeles and Westlake School for Girls. She had some stage experience in stage prologues at Grauman's Theatre in Hollywood. She was discovered by Mrs. Rudolph Valentino: Natacha Rambova' and given a part in pictures. Her first film was What Price Beauty? (1925).

Myrna Williams, later to become Myrna Loy, was born on August 2, 1905 in Radersburg, Montana. Her father was the youngest person ever elected to the Montana State legislature. Later on her family moved to Helena where she spent her youth. At the age of 13, Myrna's father died of influenza and the rest of the family moved to Los Angeles. She was educated in L.A. and the Westlake School for Girls where she caught the acting bug. She started at the age of 15 when she appeared in local stage productions in order to help support her family. Some of the stage plays were held in the now famous Grauman's Theater in Hollywood. Mrs. Rudolph Valentino happened to be in the audience one night who managed to pull some strings to get Myrna some parts in the motion picture industry. Her first film was a small part in the production of What Price Beauty? (1925). Later she appeared the same year in Pretty Ladies (1925) along with Joan Crawford. She was one of the few stars that would start in the silent movies and make a successful transition into the sound era. In the silent films, Myrna would appear as an exotic femme fatale. Later in the sound era, she would become a refined, wholesome character. Unable to land a contract with MGM, she continued to appear in small, bit roles, nothing that one could really call acting. In 1926, Myrna appeared in the Warner Brothers film called Satan in Sables (1925) which, at long last, landed her a contract. Her first appearance as a contract player was The Caveman (1926) where she played a maid. Although she was typecast over and over again as a vamp, Myrna continued to stay busy with small parts. Finally, in 1927, she received star billing in Bitter Apples (1927). The excitement was short lived as she returned to the usual smaller roles afterward. Myrna would take any role that would give her exposure and showcase the talent she felt was being wasted. It seemed that she would play one vamp after another. She wanted something better. Finally her contract ran out with warner and she signed with MGM where she got two meaty roles. One was in the The Prizefighter and the Lady (1933), and the other as Nora Charles in The Thin Man (1934) with William Powell. Most agreed that the Thin Man series would never have been successful without Myrna. Her witty perception of situations gave her the image that one could not pull a fast one over on the no-nonsense Mrs. Charles. After The Thin Man (1934), Myrna would appear in five more in the series. Myrna was a big box-office draw. She was popular enough that, in 1936, she was named Queen of the Movies and Clark Gable the king in a nationwide poll of movie goers. Her popularity was at its zenith. She continued to make films through the 40s and 50s but the roles were fewer and fewer. By the 1960's the parts had all but dried up as producers and directors looked elsewhere for talent. In 1960 she appeared in Midnight Lace (1960) and was not in another until 1969 in The April Fools (1969). The 1970s found her in TV movies, not theatrical productions. Her last film was in 1981 called Summer Solstice (1981) (TV). By the time Myrna passed away, on December 14, 1993, at the age of 88, she had appeared in a phenomenal 129 motion pictures. She was buried in Helena, Montana.

For five years (1949-54) she served as a film advisor for UNESCO.

She served as an advisor to the National Committee Against Discrimination in Housing.

She made her Broadway debut in the 1973 revival of "The Women".

Hobbies: Sculpturing and dancing.

One of a handful of great movie stars never nominated for an acting Oscar, she received an honorary Academy Award in 1991.

Loy's last film was also the last for Henry Fonda.

She became a founder member of the American Place Theatre, a non-profit theatre set up to help new writers develop.

'Caterina Williams' is sometimes quoted as her real name.

In 1937, Myrna had a narrow escape when her horse bolted during the filming of The Rains Came (1939) with Tyrone Power; she was nearly killed.

Loy donned a uniform during the War when she joined the Hollywood Chapter of 'Bundles for Bluejackets' -- helping to run a Naval Auxiliary Canteen and going on fund raising tours.

Men-Must-Marry-Myrna Clubs were formed due to her portrayal as The Perfect Wife (The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)).

A devout Democrat and feminist, she later dismissed her work in the pre-Civil Rights-era movie Ham and Eggs at the Front (1927) as "shameful".

Myrna enrolled at Venice High School -- a school which later named its annual speech and drama awards 'Myrnas'.

Spent her early years on a ranch and in the town of Helena, Montana, which was also the home of Gary Cooper.

When her father was travelling by train in early 1905, he went through a small station called 'Myrna' - he eventually named her after that station.

After graduating from high school in 1923, Myrna got a job dancing in the chorus during the prologue for The Ten Commandments at Grauman's Chinese Theatre.

In 1936 Myrna was named Queen of the Movies and Clark Gable King in a national poll, winning a crown of tin and purple velvet. in her autobiography, she says that she did not get on with Gable in her earlier films with him. However, in her later films he developed a respect for Loy and they became good friends.

In 1918, her father died in the Spanish Flu epidemic, and Myrna, her mom, and brother moved to LA.

Recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kennedy Center in 1988.

She organized an opposition to the House Unamerican Activities Committee in Hollywood.

In 1923, she was photographed by Henry Waxman, who showed the pictures to Rudolph Valentino. Impressed with Myrna, Valentino arranged for a screen test for his upcoming film, Cobra (1925). She failed it.

She was a favorite of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Jimmy Stewart.

Her father, at age 21, the youngest man ever elected to the Montana State Legislature, owned a small cattle ranch.

At Venice High school, in the middle of a small rose garden, is a larger-than-life-size statue of actress Myrna Loy. And it was made years before Myrna appeared in a single movie. Actually, it isn't a particularly good likeness of Miss Loy. Standing atop a stone pedestal, back arched, the short-haired figure is semi-nude (wearing only a thin gown which leaves little to the imagination), with one arm raised in a dramatic pose. All three statues were modeled by Venice High students, and the trio are meant to depict the "Mental," "Physical" and "Spiritual." According to the bronze plaque on the east side of the pedestal, the statues were erected in 1921, which means that Myrna Loy (then named Myrna Williams) was only 16 years old when she posed for the "Spiritual" statue - long before she became a celebrity.

Received a Honorary Academy Award in the same year as Sophia Loren.

Her final public appearance was in 1991 when she received her lifetime achievement award during _63rd Annual Academy Awards, The (1991) (TV)_ . She was unable to travel to Hollywood to accept the award in person, so the Academy arranged a live satellite link to her Manhattan apartment. Anjelica Huston introduced the film tribute presentation to her, which started with clips from The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) and ended with a clip from After the Thin Man (1936) When the tribute finished, there was instantaneous rapturous applause and Huston then said, "Here from her apartment in New York is Miss Loy. Congratulations Myrna." Loy appeared live on a large screen from her beautiful New York apartment smiling, with her Honorary Oscar on a side table next to her. She was seated wearing sparkling purple evening wear and watched intently on her own television. She viewed and smiled at close up shots of fellow same-year Honorary Award recipient Sophia Loren and other audience members applauding. There was unusually no standing ovation, instead audience members remained seated during the applause, this was by no means a snub. There was a short silence after the applause, while the camera closed in on Miss Loy. She then looked directly at the camera and simply and said, "You've made me very happy, thank you very much," to yet further loud applause and then she disappeared from the screen once more.

Myrna Williams made her stage debut at age twelve at Helena's old Marlow Theater in a dance she choreographed, based on "The Blue Bird" from the Rose Dream Operatta.

In honor of Myrna Loy, a poem was created called, Montana Women, which was read at the celebration of her 86th birthday.

Underwent two mastectomies after being diagnosed with breast cancer twice.

Changing last name from Williams to Loy was suggested by legendary pulp writer Paul Cain (AKA Peter Ruric).

Attended Venice High School in Los Angeles, where a statue of her stands (on the front lawn). The same school was featured in the original Grease (1978), American History X (1998) and in The Chemical Brothers' and Britney Spears' music videos ("Elektrobank" and "Baby one more time", respectively).

Moved to Manhattan in 1960, where she lived until her death in 1993.

Myrna was Co-Chairman of the Advisory Council of the National Committee against discrimination in housing - exposing segregation in federal funded projects.

Made her stage debut in 1916.

Outspoken against Adolf Hitler in the War, Myrna appeared on his blacklist.

Born on a cattle ranch.

Her mother, Della Williams, was a talented pianist who encouraged Myrna's interest in the arts.

First Actress to work for the UN (UNESCO).

Measurements: 35 1/2-26 1/2-33 1/2 (from MGM's designer Adrian), (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)

Her profile was the most requested in the 1930s by women to their plastic surgeons.

Appeared in staged prologues at Grauman's Egyptian theater in Los Angeles, before getting her first role in films. The prologues, staged by Fanchon and Marco, were live shows put on before the feature had begun. Myrna appeared in prologues for The Ten Commandments (1923) and The Thief of Bagdad (1924), among others.

The statue outside Venice High School that bares her likeness is titled 'Inspiration', and has been the target of vandalism and school pranks for decades (Loy mentions in her book that the statue was even decapetated at one point). It is now surrounded by a fence.

Was supposedly the favorite star of famed outlaw John Dillinger. He came out of hiding to see Manhattan Melodrama (1934), in which she starred, and was gunned down by police upon leaving the theater.

William Powell's nickname for her was 'Minnie'.

Subject of the song "Myrna Loy" by The Minus 5.

Her Cheaper by the Dozen (1950) co-star, Jeanne Crain, died exactly ten years to the day after Myrna.

In Italy, she was dubbed at the beginning of the (talking) career either by Tina Lattanzi or Rosina Galli. Later in her career, Lidia Simoneschi was her official Italian voice. She was once dubbed by the talented Giovanna Scotto in A Genius in the Family (1946).

Good friend of Princess Marina.

Appeared in the first feature film with synchronized sound (Don Juan (1926)) and first feature film with audible dialog (The Jazz Singer (1927)).

Turned down the role of Ellie Andrews in It Happened One Night (1934). Claudette Colbert was given the part and went on to win the Best Actress Oscar for her performance.

In 1960 she campaigned for John F. Kennedy. Later she did battle with Californian Governor Ronald Reagan over open-housing legislation and for years afterward was a vigorous member of the National Committee Against Discrimination in Housing.

Is the subject of the song "Myrna Loy" by Steel Pole Bathtub (this song is different from and predates the song by The Minus 5).

Profiled in book "Funny Ladies" by Stephen Silverman. [1999]

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