Molly O'Day

American actress (1909–1998) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Molly O'Day

Molly O'Day (born Suzanne Dobson Noonan; October 16, 1909[1] – October 22, 1998) was an American film actress and the younger sister of Sally O'Neil.[2]

Quick Facts Born, Died ...
Molly O'Day
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O'Day in 1928
Born
Suzanne Dobson Noonan

(1909-10-16)October 16, 1909
DiedOctober 22, 1998(1998-10-22) (aged 89)
OccupationActress
Spouses
Jack Durant
(m. 1934; div. 1951)
James Kenaston
(m. 1952; div. 1956)
Children4
RelativesSally O'Neil (sister)
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Biography

Born in Bayonne, New Jersey, she was the youngest of 11 children of Judge Thomas Francis Patrick Noonan and his wife, Hannah Kelly, a Metropolitan Opera singer. After their father's death, O'Day and her two sisters moved to Hollywood. Besides O'Neil, another sister, Isabelle, also acted in films.[3]

O'Day's first appearance was in the Laurel and Hardy short 45 Minutes from Hollywood in 1926. She also appeared in Hal Roach's Our Gang series.

Only 16, she defeated 2,000 contenders in an audition for the tough girl heroine in the 1927 prizefighter movie The Patent Leather Kid.

Like O'Neil in 1926, O'Day became one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars in 1928.[4] Also in 1928, she had surgery to "remove several pounds of flesh from her hips and legs."[5] An Associated Press news story reported: "The actress has been gaining weight steadily for the last year and although under contract to a film studio has been idle. Her excessive weight was the cause of her lack of work, Miss O'Day said, and after other flesh reducing methods failed she decided on the surgeon's knife as the final resort."[5]

After appearing in a few dozen films in the 1930s she retired.

Personal life and death

O'Day married actor Jack Durant in 1934 in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico.[6] They divorced July 10, 1951, in Los Angeles, California.[7] They had 4 children together.

O'Day died in Avila Beach, California, one day before her 89th birthday.[citation needed]

Recognition

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On the cover of Motion Picture (July 1928)

O'Day has a star at 1708 Vine Street in the Motion Pictures category on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It was dedicated February 8, 1960.[8]

Filmography

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O'Day and Richard Barthelmess in The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come (1928)
More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Role Notes
192645 Minutes from HollywoodShort
1927The Patent Leather KidCurley Boyle, the Golden Dancer
Hard-Boiled HaggertyGermaine Benoit
The LovelornAnn Hastings
1928The Shepherd of the HillsSammy Lane
The Little Shepherd of Kingdom ComeMelissa TurnerLost film
1929The Show of ShowsPerformer in 'Meet My Sister' Number
1930SistersMolly Shannon
1931Sea DevilsAnn McCall
Sob SisterDaisy
1932Devil on DeckKay WheelerLost film
1933Playthings of DesireRenee Grant
Get That VenusBelle
Gigolettes of ParisPaulette
1934Hired WifePat Sullivan
Chloe, Love Is Calling YouJoyce Gordon
The Life of Vergie WintersSadie
1935Bars of HateGertie
The Law of 45'sJoan Hayden
Lawless BorderMary Warren
Skull and CrownAnn Norton
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References

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