| Gloria Swanson Quick Info | |
|---|---|
| Height | 5 ft 1 in |
| Weight | 48 kg |
| Date of Birth | March 27, 1899 |
| Zodiac Sign | Aries |
| Date of Death | April 4, 1983 |
Gloria Swanson was an American actor, producer, and businessperson who rose to acclaim with her work in silent films in the 1920s. She received 3 Academy Award nominations for her work in Sunset Boulevard, Sadie Thompson, and The Trespasser. Swanson was honored with 2 stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960: one for motion pictures at 6750 Hollywood Boulevard and another for television at 6301 Hollywood Boulevard.
Born Name
Gloria May Josephine Swanson
Other Names
Gloria Mae, Big Chief
Age
She was born on March 27, 1899.
Died
On April 4, 1983, she died of a heart ailment at the age of 84 in New York City, New York, United States.
Resting Place
Church of the Heavenly Rest, New York City, New York, United States
Sun Sign
Aries
Born Place
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Nationality
Education
Gloria studied at a Catholic convent school in Key West, Florida.
Occupation
Actor, Producer, Businessperson
Family
- Father – Joseph Theodore Swanson (né Svensson) (Soldier)
- Mother – Adelaide (née Klanowski)
- Others – Jöns/James Peter Svensson (Paternal Grandfather), Johanna Jonasdotter (Paternal Grandmother), Herniak/Herman Klanowsky/Klanowski (Maternal Grandfather), Bertha A. May (Maternal Grandmother)
Build
Slim
Height
5 ft 1 in or 155 cm
Weight
48 kg or 106 lbs
Boyfriend / Spouse
Gloria Swanson had dated –
- Wallace Beery (1916-1918) – On March 27, 1916, she got married to actor Wallace Beery on her 17th birthday. However, by the time of their wedding night, she realized that she had made a mistake as she did not like his home or his family and was repulsed by him as a lover. Afterward, Gloria saw Wallace with other women when she was pregnant with their child. However, the fetus got aborted. She soon filed for divorce which was finalized on December 13, 1918.
- Thomas Meighan (1918-1919)
- Herbert K. Somborn (1919-1922) – Gloria Swanson married filmmaker Herbert K. Somborn on December 20, 1919, in a civil ceremony at the Alexandria Hotel in Los Angeles. Their daughter Gloria Swanson Somborn was born on October 7, 1920. The couple divorced on August 9, 1922, and he accused her of adultery with 13 men, including Cecil B. DeMille and Marshall Neilan.
- Cecil B. DeMille (1921)
- Rudolph Valentino (1921)
- Marshall Neilan (1922)
- Joseph P. Kennedy (1922-1929) – She had a long-term romance with businessperson Joseph P. Kennedy, father of future President John F. Kennedy.
- Abe Lyman (1923)
- Antonio Moreno (1923)
- Rod La Rocque (1924)
- Ben Lyon (1924)
- Henry de La Falaise (1925-1931) – She married French nobleman Henry de La Falaise on January 28, 1925, but they later divorced in 1931. Also, she conceived a child with Henry but opted for an abortion.
- Michael Farmer (1931-1934) – She married her 4th husband Michael Farmer on August 16, 1931, and their son Michelle Bridget Farmer was born on April 5, 1932. Swanson and Farmer divorced in 1934.
- Herbert Marshall (1934-1939)
- Aristotle Onassis (1941-1943)
- Joseph Kennedy Jr. (1941) – RUMOR
- William Davey (1945-1946) – She married William Davey on January 29, 1945, and the marriage was a troubled one. He died the following year.
- William Dufty (1976-1983) – Her final marriage was to writer William Dufty, whom she married in 1976. The duo remained together until her death in 1983.
Note – Swanson adopted 1-year-old Sonny Smith in 1923 and she renamed him ‘Joseph Patrick Swanson’ after her father.
Race / Ethnicity
White
Gloria Swanson was of Swedish descent on her father’s side and had Polish, German, and French roots on her mother’s side.
Hair Color
Salt and Pepper
Eye Color
Blue
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Distinctive Features
- A mole on her face
- Flapper girl look
Religion
She was raised in the Lutheran faith.
Gloria Swanson Favorite Things
- Leading Man In Silent Films – Elliott Dexter
- Leading Man In Talkies – William Holden
- One Of Her Favorite Films From Her Silent Career – Beyond the Rocks (1922)
- Personal Favorite Of All Her Films – Madame Sans-Gêne (1925)
Source – IMDb
Gloria Swanson Facts
- She co-starred as Norma Desmond in the 1950 critically-acclaimed black comedy film Sunset Boulevard. This role won her the Golden Globe Award for “Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama” and she was also nominated for an Academy Award.
- She was friends with Lois Wilson and Dirk Benedict.
- Gloria Swanson was a Republican.
- She hated acting in slapstick comedy.
Featured Image by RKO Studio / Kevin Stewart Fine Art / Public Domain
