Image of Marjorie Reynolds

Marjorie Reynolds

Bright, vivacious Marjorie Reynolds (née Marjorie Goodspeed) was born in Idaho on August 12, 1917 to a doctor and homemaker, and raised in Los Angeles. Making her film debut at age 6, she "retired" after only a few years in favor of a normal education. She returned in the mid-30s, as a teenager this time, and began the typical assembly-line route of extra and bit roles for various mega studios, this time billed as Marjorie Moore. Her first speaking role was in Columbia Studio's programmer Murder in Greenwich Village (1937), this time billed as Marjorie Reynolds (her first husband's last name), a moniker she kept for the duration of her career. The blonde (originally brunette) actress then went through a rather unchallenging prairie flower phase opposite Hollywood's top western stars such as Tex Ritter, Buck Jones, Roy Rogers and Tim Holt. It all paid off, however, when she won the top female role opposite Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire in the seasonal film classic Holiday Inn (1942), a role originally designed for Mary Martin. It remains Marjorie's most popular and cherished role on film, but it did not help her make a permanent transition into 'A' quality fare. She continued as a dependable "B" co-lead in such films as Up in Mabel's Room (1944), Meet Me on Broadway (1946), and Heaven Only Knows (1947), with an exciting movie offer such as Fritz Lang's Ministry of Fear (1944) coming her way on a rare occasion. Along with maturity and a new entertainment medium (television) in the 50s came a return to her natural hair color. As William Bendix's patient, resourceful brunette wife on the comedy TV series The Life of Riley (1953), Marjorie became a semi-household name. Her career took a steep decline following its demise five years later and she was only sporadically seen in films, commercials and TV guest spots after that. Married twice, her first husband was Jack Reynolds, who was an Assistant Casting Director for Samuel Goldwyn. They had one daughter, Linda, before divorcing in 1952 after 16 years. Second husband, film editor John Whitney, worked for a time in the 40s as an actor. They were married for 32 years until his death in 1985. Long retired, Marjorie died in 1997 of congestive heart failure after collapsing while walking her dog. Though she didn't fully live up to her potential as a serious, formidable actress, her gentle charm and obvious beauty certainly spruced up the 60+ films in which she appeared.


Read bio at tmdb | Read bio at Wikipedia
Born:
Aug 12, 1917 In Buhl, Idaho, U.S.
Movie/TV Credits:
56
First Appeared:
In the movie Scaramouche 1923-09-15
Latest Project:
Movie Juke Box Rhythm 1959-08-01
Known For
Filmography
Movie Juke Box Rhythm Martha Manton 1959-08-01
Movie Models Inc. Peggy Howard 1952-05-19
Movie No Holds Barred Rhonda Nelson 1952-11-23
Movie Home Town Story Janice Hunt 1951-05-18
Movie His Kind of Woman Helen Cardigan 1951-08-15
Movie Customs Agent Lucille Gerrard 1950-05-18
Movie The Great Jewel Robber Martha Rollins 1950-07-15
Movie That Midnight Kiss Mary 1949-09-22
Movie Bad Men of Tombstone Julie 1949-01-21
Movie Heaven Only Knows Ginger 'The Copper Queen' 1947-09-12
Movie Meet Me on Broadway Ann Stallings 1946-01-26
Movie The Time of Their Lives Melody Allen 1946-08-13
Movie Monsieur Beaucaire Princess Maria of Spain 1946-09-04
Movie Bring on the Girls Sue Thomas 1945-03-30
Movie Duffy's Tavern Peggy O'Malley 1945-09-28
Movie Up in Mabel's Room Geraldine Ainsworth 1944-09-12
Movie Ministry of Fear Carla Hilfe 1944-05-19
Movie 3 Is a Family Kitty Mitchell 1944-11-23
Movie Dixie Jean Mason 1943-06-23
Movie Holiday Inn Linda Mason 1942-01-01
Movie Star Spangled Rhythm Marjorie Reynolds 1942-03-05
Movie Cyclone on Horseback Mary Corbin 1941-06-13
Movie Secret Evidence Linda Wilson 1941-01-31
Movie Tillie the Toiler Bubbles 1941-08-07
Movie Robin Hood of the Pecos Ambrose Ballard 1941-01-14
Movie Top Sergeant Mulligan Gail Nash 1941-10-16
Movie Law of the Timber 'Perry' Lorimer 1941-12-19
Movie Dude Cowboy Barbara Adams 1941-12-12
Movie The Fatal Hour Roberta 'Bobbie' Logan 1940-01-15
Movie Chasing Trouble Susie Carey 1940-01-30
Movie Midnight Limited Joan Marshall 1940-03-20
Movie Doomed to Die Roberta 'Bobbie' Logan 1940-08-12
Movie Enemy Agent Peggy O'Reilly 1940-04-18
Movie Up in the Air Anne Mason 1940-09-09
Movie Streets of New York Anne Carroll 1939-04-12
Movie The Phantom Stage Mary Ellen 1939-02-10
Movie Timber Stampede Anne Carr 1939-06-29
Movie Mystery Plane Betty Lou Barnes 1939-03-08
Movie Gone with the Wind Guest at Twelve Oaks (uncredited) 1939-03-12
Movie Stunt Pilot Betty Lou Barnes 1939-06-30
Movie Danger Flight Betty Lou 1939-11-01
Movie Sky Patrol Betty Lou Barnes 1939-09-11
Movie Mr. Wong in Chinatown Roberta 'Bobbie' Logan 1939-08-01
Movie Six Shootin' Sheriff Molly Morgan 1938-05-20
Movie Rebellious Daughters Claire Elliott 1938-07-01
Movie Delinquent Parents Edith Ellis, as a youth 1938-07-15
Movie Man's Country Madge Crane 1938-07-06
Movie Top of the Town Dancer 1937-04-17
Movie Broadway Melody of 1938 Chorus Girl (uncredited) 1937-08-20
Movie Tex Rides with the Boy Scouts Norma Willis 1937-11-26
Movie Murder in Greenwich Village Molly Murphy 1937-11-03
Movie Dancing Pirate Dancer (uncredited) 1936-05-22
Movie The Big Broadcast of 1937 Dancer (uncredited) 1936-10-05
Movie College Holiday Dancer 1936-12-19
Movie College Humor Student 1933-07-05
Movie Scaramouche Child (uncredited) 1923-09-15
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