Gloria Stuart

Gloria Stuart had an interesting, and long spanning acting career which ran nearly 80 years. She would accumulate an Oscar nomination, Golden Globe nomination, a Saturn award, and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Screen Actors Guild.

Stuart received her big break when she was able to sign with Universal Studios. She appeared in a few films with the production company, the most notable being The Invisible Man. Having a disappointing career with Universal, she would leave and begin working for 20th Century Fox.

While working for Fox, she became one of the founding members of the Screen Actors Guild. During the 30’s, Stuart appeared in 42 films. However, she never received the role which really took her to the A-list status coveted in Hollywood.

Due to her frustration of not landing the roles she wanted, she put the acting life behind her. During this period of her life, she explored different forms of art. Upon moving to Italy with her second husband, she took up oil painting and was able to sell out a gallery in New York.

While she had a nearly 30 year hiatus from acting, she would return to the craft in the mid-70’s. It wouldn’t be until 1997, however, that she would receive the biggest break in her career. She appeared in James Cameron’s Titanic as ‘Old Rose’. She narrated the film and her soft presence earned her praise from critics, and she was even nominated for an Oscar. Upon her new found success, she wrote a memoir in 1999, titled: “I Just Kept Hoping”.

Stuart died in her sleep and is survived by a daughter, four grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren.