Born in New York City, New York, she came from a large Irish-American family. Her father died when she was fifteen so she decided to go onto the stage. A year later she was doing a specialty dance which earned her the nicknames of St Vitis, Mosquito and Lightning.
Courtney's first role as a singer and dancer came in the musical The Wild Rose in 1926. She became well-known among New York theatrical audiences for her work in Good News (1927), a musical comedy about college life. Her other credits include Spring Is Here in 1929 and America's Sweetheart in 1931. In the early 1930s, Miss Courtney left Broadway and went to Hollywood.
Courtney acted in 58 films between 1930 and 1940. She secured her first movie work by asking Harry Cohn of Columbia Pictures for his assistance. The red-headed comedian made her screen debut as Cousin Betty in Loose Ankles (1930). The film co-starred Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. and Loretta Young. Her many movie credits include The Raven (1935), Suzy (1936), The Shop Around the Corner (1940), and Turnabout (1940), her last film.
Courtney was married to an Italian nobleman, whereby she acquired the title Marchesa, but did not use it. She died at the Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune, New Jersey in 1975 of undisclosed causes at the age of 67.
Filmography
Actress
1940
Turnabout as
Miss Edwards
1940
The Farmer's Daughter as
Emily French
1940
The Shop Around the Corner as
Ilona
1939
Missing Evidence as
Nellie Conrad
1939
When Tomorrow Comes as
Waitress (uncredited)
1939
Blondie Meets the Boss as
Betty Lou Wood
1939
Beauty for the Asking as
Gwen Morrison
1938
Five of a Kind as
Libby Long
1938
Letter of Introduction as
Woman at Barry's Party (uncredited)
1938
Crime Ring as
Kitty
1938
Having Wonderful Time as
Emma
1937
The Hurricane as
Girl on Ship (uncredited)
1937
Partners in Crime as
Lillian Tate
1937
The 13th Man as
Julie Walters
1937
Armored Car as
Blind Date
1937
The Hit Parade as
Tillie
1937
Some Time Soon (Short) as
Patsy
1937
Clarence as
Della
1937
Time Out for Romance as
Mabel
1936
Wedding Present as
Mary Lawson
1936
Two in a Crowd as
Mrs. Flynn (uncredited)
1936
It Couldn't Have Happened (But It Did) as
Linda Sands
1936
Suzy as
Maisie
1936
Three Cheers for Love as
Dorothy
1936
Let's Sing Again as
Marge Wilkins
1936
Brilliant Marriage as
Sally Patrick
1936
The Reckless Way as
Laura Jones
1935
Magnificent Obsession as
Nurse May (uncredited)
1935
Millions in the Air as
Miss Waterbury
1935
Another Face as
Mamie - Joe's Secretary (uncredited)
1935
Ship Cafe as
Molly
1935
The Girl Friend as
Hilda
1935
The Affair of Susan as
Mrs. Barnes
1935
The Raven as
Mary Burns
1935
Dizzy Dames as
Arlette
1935
Break of Hearts as
Miss Wilson
1935
Air Hawks as
Second Nurse (uncredited)
1935
Men of the Hour as
Miss Allison (uncredited)
1935
Carnival as
Girl (uncredited)
1935
I'm a Father (Short) as
Secretary
1935
Sweepstake Annie as
Marge
1934
Broadway Bill as
Nurse Mae (uncredited)
1934
Jealousy as
Penny
1934
The Captain Hates the Sea as
Flo
1934
It's the Cats (Short) as
May
1934
Hollywood Here We Come (Short)
1933
I Love That Man as
Public Stenographer (scenes deleted)
1933
Hold Your Man as
Maizie
1933
Cheating Blondes as
Polly
1933
The World Gone Mad as
Susan Bibens - Telephone Operator (uncredited)
1932
Big City Blues as
Faun
1931
The Hot Heiress as
Margie
1930
Sunny as
'Weenie'
1930
Bright Lights as
Peggy North
1930
Not Damaged as
Maude Graham
1930
The Song of the Flame as
Grusha
1930
Spring Is Here as
Mary Jane Braley
1930
Loose Ankles as
Betty
Soundtrack
1936
Suzy (performer: "Under the Bamboo Tree" (1902) - uncredited)
1935
Ship Cafe (performer: "I Won't Take No for an Answer")
1935
Dizzy Dames (performer: "Let's Be Frivolous")
1931
The Hot Heiress ("Like Ordinary People Do", uncredited)
1930
Bright Lights (performer: "Hey! Hey! He's Not So Dumb" - uncredited)
1930
The Song of the Flame (performer: "The Goose Hangs High")
1930
Spring Is Here (performer: "Spring Is Here" (1929), "Bad Baby" (1929), "What's the Big Idea?" (1929) - uncredited)
