Occupation Actress/Dancer Spouse George Landy (m. ?–1955) Role Dancer | Name Kathryn McGuire Years active 1919—1930 | |
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Movies Sherlock Jr, The Navigator, Synthetic Sin, The Lost Zeppelin, The Flame of Life Similar People Donald Crisp, Clyde Bruckman, Buster Keaton, Joseph M Schenck, Charles Bowers | ||
Kathryn McGuire (December 6, 1903 – October 10, 1978) was an American dancer and silent-film actress.
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Early life
Born in Peoria, Illinois, McGuire was said to be recognized by critics and fans alike as one of the rising stars in film. Selected one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars in 1922, she came from a family who had never had a member partake in the acting profession.
At an early age, McGuire's family moved to Aurora, Illinois and then to Chicago. McGuire received her education from the Jennings Seminary in Aurora, and remained there even after her parents left that city. By the time she graduated at about the age of fourteen, her parents were ready to move to California.
McGuire was highly interested in dancing, and took classes under the leading ballet masters when she arrived in California. Even after her film career kicked off and she became deeply interested in this new employment, she continued to keep up her dancing.
Career
While studying at the Hollywood High School, as well as her dancing, McGuire participated in a program exhibition at the Maryland Hotel in Pasadena.
She was seen by Thomas H. Ince, who immediately offered McGuire a solo number in an upcoming film. Her dancing skills led her not only to find jobs at Ince, but also at Universal and Mack Sennett. It was Sennett who realized that McGuire had genuine acting capabilities along the lines of her talent for dance after she performed a number in a comedy being produced by Sennett. She went on to become featured in Sennett's comedies.
McGuire's first serious role came as the "only girl" in The Silent Call (1921). She is probably best remembered today for the parts of The Girl and Betsy O'Brien, alongside Buster Keaton, in Sherlock Jr. and The Navigator (both 1924) respectively. She also starred with Gladys Walton as a second lead in Playing with Fire (1921) for Universal, as well as in The Flame of Life (1923) with Priscilla Dean. By 1930, however, her film career had ended.
Personal life
On September 18, 1927, McGuire married George Landy, a studio publicity director, in Hollywood. Their marriage ended in 1955 upon his death. They had a daughter, born July 14, 1936.
Death
McGuire died of cancer in 1978, at age 74, in Los Angeles, California. She was survived by a daughter and a sister.