Jessie Bonstelle (1970 - 1932)

After the death of her parents in 1890, Jessie Bonstelle went to New York City, and in 1891 she joined the company of Fanny Janauschek, with whom she toured for a season. In 1892 she worked as an understudy and chorus member in Augustin Daly’s company, but the season left her exhausted. However, in 1893 […]

Priscilla Bonner (1899 - 1996)

Priscilla Bonner was born in Washington, D.C. on February 17, 1899. Her father, John S. Bonner, was in the Army and she spent much of her life in different places. She often play acted to amuse herself, playing all the parts and shifting the sets. While her father was stationed in Chicago, assigned to the […]

Bonnie Wright Bonnell (1905 - 1964)

Bonnie Bonnell (August 1, 1905 – March 14, 1964) was an actress who played “straight woman” in seven early short comedies, most of which featured the Three Stooges when they worked with Ted Healy between 1933 and 1934. According to Stooges biographers, she was also Healy’s offscreen girlfriend during that time. In the film Plane Nuts, […]

Symona Boniface (1894 - 1950)

Actress. Symona Boniface began her career in the theatre, where she produced and wrote plays in addition to acting. In the 1920s she entered film, where at first she had bit or uncredited parts, and occasionally a meatier supporting role. Her most important early role was in the 1931 feature ‘Dragnet Patrol.’ In 1934 she […]

Beulah Bondi (1889 - 1981)

Beulah Bondi was born as Beulah Bondy in Valparaiso, Indiana, the daughter of Eva Suzanna (née Marble), an author, and Abraham O. Bondy, who worked in real estate. Bondi began her acting career on the stage at age seven, playing Cedric Errol in the play Little Lord Fauntleroy in a production at the Memorial Opera […]

Sudie Bond (1928 - 1984)

Actress. She is probably best known for her role as Thelma Rice in the film “Silkwood” (1983). Starting out as a dancer and choreographer, she made her Broadway debut in 1952 and made numerous appearances in film and television. Her TV credits include regular roles in the soap opera “Guiding Light” and the sitcom, “Flo”, […]

Shannon Bolin (1917 - 2016)

Actress. Shannon Bolin will be remembered for originating the role of ‘Mrs. Meg Boyd’ in the successful Broadway production “Damn Yankees” (1955 to 1957). Born Ione Shannon Bolin, she studied at Wesleyan University and later the University of Maryland, prior to working as a teacher and at the US Department of Justice in Washington. After […]

May Boley (1881 - 1963)

American motion picture actress of the 1920s, 30s, and 40s. Appeared with John Barrymore in the 1930 drama “Moby Dick.” (bio by: A.J. Marik)

Mary Boland (1882 - 1965)

Born Marie Anne Boland in Girardville, Mary Boland was the daughter of repertory actor William Boland, and his wife Mary Cecilia Hatton. She had an older sister named Sara. The family later moved to Detroit. Mary Boland went to school in the classy Convent of the Sacred Heart in Detroit. By the age of fifteen she […]

Charlotte Boisjoli (1970 - 2001)

Actress. Boisjoli appeared in the films, “Zero Patience” (1993), “La Ligne De Chaleur” (1987), “It Can’t Be Winter, We Haven’t Had Summer Yet” (1980), “Monsieur Zero” (1977), “The Awakening” (1970), “Phedre” (1963), and as the narrator for, “Saint-Denys Garneau” (1960). Boisjoli also played in the television shows, “Sous Un Ciel Variable” in 1995, “Bonjour Docteur” […]

Alejandra Boero (1918 - 2006)

Stage director and actress. Also an actor´s teacher. Born Liria Ofelia Alejandra Digiamo Viera, she was one of the pioneers of the Argentine independent stage. She founded in 1950 the Nuevo Teatro group. During her last years, she managed the Theater “Andamio 90.” (bio by: 380W)

Virginia True Boardman (1889 - 1971)

Born Margaret Shields in Fort Davis, Texas, Virginia Boardman began her theatrical career in 1906 as Virginia Eames (using her mother’s surname) and went on to appear in 52 films between 1911 and 1936. Although her career started off strong, like many actresses of the silent film era she failed to make a successful transition […]

Betty Blythe (1893 - 1972)

Actress. One of Hollywood’s earliest sex symbols. Born Elizabeth Blythe Slaughter in Los Angeles, she studied at USC and appeared on Broadway and the London stage before making her film debut in 1918. Two years later she signed with Fox Films as a replacement for screen vamp Theda Bara and became a very popular matinee […]

Margaret “Maggie” Blye (1939 - 2016)

Magaret Blye (October 24, 1942 – March 24, 2016) was an American actress, also sometimes billed as Margaret Blye Blye was born October 24, 1939 in Houston, Texas. She appeared in a number of popular television series. Among her first roles was that of defendant Betty Kaster in the 1965 Perry Mason episode, “The Case of […]

Betty Blue (1931 - 2000)

Actress/Model. She was the Playboy Playmate for the month of November 1956. She appeared in the films “Not Tonight Henry” (1961), as ‘Betty,’ and “Andy Warhol’s Women In Revolt” (1972), as ‘Pocahontas.’

Lisa Blount (1957 - 2010)

Lisa Blount was born in Fayetteville, Arkansas to Glen Roscoe Blount and Margaret Louise Martin, and raised in Jacksonville, Arkansas. After graduating from Jacksonville High School and studying theatre at Valdosta State University in Georgia, she landed several small television roles. She played Lynette Pomeroy in An Officer and a Gentleman. Another memorable role was that […]

Clara Blore (1890 - 1973)

American actress appearing in films of the 1930s, and 40s. Married to character actor Eric Blore. (bio by: A.J. Marik)  Family links:  Parents:  Joseph Chesterfield Mackin (1841 – 1914)  Clara Grace Niegelsen Mackin (1861 – 1946)  Spouse:  Eric Blore (1887 – 1959)* *Calculated relationship

Lucille Bliss (1916 - 2012)

Voice Actress. Born Lucille Theresa Bliss in New York City, Lucille Bliss became known for her voice. She became a recognized television pioneer when she was tapped to voice the character of Crusader Rabbit in the first made for television cartoon series. The initial episodes aired in 1949 and ran through 1951. She debuted in […]

Imogene Bliss (1918 - 2003)

Actress. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, she had a long flourishing career on Broadway before entering feature films in the early 1970s. Among her most notable credits are “The King of Marvin Gardens” (1972), “Richard” (1972), “Chapter Two” (1979), “The Mating Story” (1980), “Heaven Help Us” (1985) and “The Christmas Tree” (1996). She also appeared in […]

Beatrice Blinn (1901 - 1979)

Actress. She appeared in “Don’t Gamble With Love”(1936). “Mr. Deeds Goes To Town”(1936), “Golden Boy”(1939), “Cafe Hostess”(1940), “Convicted Woman”(1940) and “Stop! Look! and Laugh!”(1960). (bio by: MC)  Family links:  Spouse:  Crane Wilbur (1886 – 1973)

Monica Bleibtreu (1944 - 2009)

Actress. She was well known throughout western Europe and the German speaking countries as a performer of the stage, motion pictures and television. She was a graduate of Vienna’s prestigious Max Reinhardt acting school, and performed in theater houses throughout Germany before turning her attention to television and motion pictures. In 1975 she earned a […]

Hedwig Bleibtreu (1868 - 1958)

Actress. Born in Linz,  Austria,  she made her stage debut in 1886 at the Theater of Augsburg in Germany. In 1891 she moved to Vienna, where she became the doyenne of the National Theatre. She later appeared in the silent films “Die Herrin der Welt” (1919) and “Die Kurtisane von Venedig” (1924). Her most famous […]

Jerri Blanchard (1900 - 1984)

Actress. She appeared in the film “Follies Girl” (1943) and hosted her own television series ‘Hotel Broadway’ in 1949. (bio by: Ginny M)

Anita Blanch (1907 - 1983)

Actress. She was born in Valencia (Comunidad Valenciana, Spain) and died in México D.F. (México). She and her sister founded a stage company, touring for Argentina, Venezuela and finally Mexico, where they stablished. She also appeared in cinema and television. She is best remembered in works such as El Conde de Montecristo (1942), La Virgen […]

Syan Blake (1970 - 2015)

Actress. Born Sian Blake, she will best be remembered for playing soul singer Frankie Pierre on the long-running BBC soap, ‘EastEnders’ between 1996 and ’97. She discovered she had a talent for acting at primary school and appeared in local plays before studying for three years at Guilford School of Acting. After college she landed […]

Madge Cummings Blake (1899 - 1969)

Character Actress.  Madge Cummings Blake’s career started when she was fifty and was the epitome of what the perfect mother, sister or aunt should be both in physical appearance and demeanor.  She was short, plump, matronly with a warm smile and a sweet voice.  She was born in Kinsley, Kansas the daughter of a Methodist […]

Katharine Blake (1928 - 1991)

South African born actress who starred in “To Have and to Hold” (1963)and “Anne of the Thousand Days” (1969). (bio by: Kieran Smith)

Patricia Blair (1933 - 2013)

Actress. Patricia Blair will be best remembered for playing Rebecca Boone opposite Fess Parker in the TV series “Daniel Boone” (1964 to 1970). Born Patsy Lou Blake, she was raised in Dallas, Texas. Her radiant beauty enabled her to launch a career in modeling while a teenager. The experience created opportunities for her to try […]

Vivian Blaine (1921 - 1995)

Actress and Singer.  Vivian Blaine is best remembered as ‘Miss Adelaide,’ the young woman with a heart of gold in the 1955 Musical “Guys and Dolls,” opposite Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra, and Jean Simmons.  Vivian Blaine worked in every aspect of show business from movies to nightclubs.  She was already an accomplished nightclub performer and […]

Lujza Blaha (1850 - 1926)

Singer and actress, ‘The Hungarian Nightingale.’