Mary Kornman

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Mary Kornman

Mary Kornman in Dogs of War (1923)
Born Mary A. Kornman
December 27, 1915(1915-12-27)
Idaho Falls, Idaho U.S.
Died June 1, 1973 (aged 57)
Glendale, California U.S.
Occupation Film actress
Years active 1922-1940

Mary Kornman (December 27, 1915June 1, 1973) was an American child actress who was the leading female star of the Our Gang series during the Pathé silent era.

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[edit] Our Gang

The daughter of Hal Roach's still-photo cameraman Gene Kornman, Mary became the first leading lady of the Our Gang series. Kornman was one of the series' biggest stars during its early years between 1922 and 1926.[1] As she grew older, though, much of her "poise and sophistication" she had as a child somehow disappeared.[1]

[edit] Later career

After the series, she had a successful movie career through her twenties. She also continued appearing with Our Gang co-star Mickey Daniels into adulthood, as evidenced by some publicity shots from the era. She appeared with Mickey Daniels in the teen version of Our Gang, The Boy Friends. She married Leo Tover, a cameraman, in or around 1934, but divorced approximately five years later. She later married Ralph B. McCutcheon, a horse trainer on some of her Western films; this marriage lasted until her death.

In 1935 she appeared in The Desert Trail as a store owner and the love interest of John Wayne. She continued to appear in features until 1940, when she retired from the screen.

[edit] Legacy

When asked in the 1960 what she thought of being part of Our Gang, Kornman replied "It was fun being a gang member. It was play. I have no regrets...We didn't have to be talented — which is natural for kids...I think we had a privileged childhood working in those films."[1]

Kornman died of cancer on June 1, 1973.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Maltin, Leonard and Bann, Richard W. (1977, rev. 1992). The Little Rascals: The Life and Times of Our Gang, p. 249. New York: Crown Publishing/Three Rivers Press. ISBN 0-517-58325-9

[edit] External links

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