Mary Duncan

Mary Duncan
Born Mary Annie Dungan
August 13, 1895
Luttrellville, Virginia, U.S.
Died May 9, 1993 (aged 97)
Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.
Years active 1927 - 1933
Spouse(s) Stephen "Laddie" Sanford (1933-1977; his death)

Mary Duncan (August 13, 1895 – May 9, 1993) was an American actress.

Biography

Duncan was born Mary Annie Dungan in Northumberland County, Virginia, the sixth of eight children born to Capt. William Dungan and his wife, Ada Thaddeus Douglass. She attended Cornell University before settling on acting as a career. She began her career as a child actress playing on the Broadway stage from 1910. In 1926 she played "Poppy" in the smash hit and controversial play The Shanghai Gesture, in which Florence Reed played her mother (known as "Mother Goddam"). Reed's character kills her daughter in a startling end to the play. This play was turned into a very sanitized film in 1941 with Gene Tierney. Duncan's last film appearance was in the 1933 film Morning Glory, which starred Katharine Hepburn.

Personal life

Duncan met and married Stephen "Laddie" Sanford, who was an international polo player as well as director of the Bigelow-Sanford Carpet Company, in 1933, after which she retired from films. They remained married until his death in 1977. She spent much of her remaining years working with several major charities. She kept herself active by playing golf twice a week and swimming every morning before breakfast, which helped her maintain her size 8 figure. As an actress, she had followed the ministrations of Sylvia of Hollywood to keep her shape.

Death

Mary Duncan died in her sleep aged 97. She was survived by a niece and great-niece, and she was the last known person to have in her possession a copy of the lost Murnau film 4 Devils; Martin Koerber, curator of Deutsche Kinemathek, has speculated that her heirs may still have the valuable print somewhere.

Selected filmography

References

    External links