Patricia Ellis

Patricia Ellis
Born Patricia Gene O'Brien
(1918-05-20)May 20, 1918
Birmingham, Michigan, U.S.
Died March 26, 1970(1970-03-26) (aged 51)
Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
Occupation American film actress
Years active 1932–1939
Spouse(s) George T. O'Maley [1] (1941[1])-1970; her death)

Patricia Ellis (May 20, 1918 – March 26, 1970) was an American film actress of the 1930s.

Early years

Born Patricia O'Brien,[2][3] later Patricia Leftwich[4] in Birmingham, Michigan, the step-daughter of Alexander and Margaret Leftwich,[5] her step-father was "an eminent New York producer of musical shows."[6] She had a step-brother, Alexander Leftwich Jr.[5] Her childhood activities included singing and dancing, and she learned French and German.[7]

A 1932 newspaper article said, "Since she was able to walk, Patricia has been familiar with the world of the theater, accompanying her father constantly to rehearsals and performances."[8] Also in 1932, another newspaper reported, "She understudied all her father's leading women in the last few years, assisted him with lighting and costuming and knows stage production, too."[7]

Ellis attended Brantwood Hall School and Gardner School for Girls[8] and began her stage career after leaving school. She took classes in studio facilities while pursuing her acting career.[9]

Stage

Ellis "appeared with Chamberlain Browns stock company at Mount Vernon, N.Y., and at the Riviera Theater, New York City."[8]

Film

Given a film test while appearing on stage in New York City,[6] Ellis was put under contract by Warner Bros..[8] In 1932, she had two small parts, both uncredited, in the films Three on a Match and Central Park. That same year, she was one of fourteen girls chosen as WAMPAS Baby Stars; Ellis, at 14, was the youngest. Her first credited role was in the 1933 film The King's Vacation, starring George Arliss and Marjorie Gateson.

After that film, her career took off, with her starring mostly in lower-budget B-movies but still working steadily. She had roles in eight films in 1933, co-starring that year with James Cagney in Picture Snatcher, and in another seven in 1934. She started 1935 off with A Night at the Ritz, in which she had the lead female role, opposite William Gargan.[10]

She starred in seven films that year and another seven in 1936. Starring alongside some of Hollywood's biggest names, including James Cagney, Ricardo Cortez, and Bela Lugosi, Ellis's career was at its peak by 1937. Most of her roles were in comedy films, along with some mysteries and crime dramas, and by 1936 she was playing the female lead in almost all her films. She starred in five films that year, then only three in 1938, and finally just two in 1939.[10]

Singing

After her work in film, Ellis ventured into music saying, "I was just getting into a rut in Hollywood. ... I want to start a new career -- singing."[1] She made a soundie in 1941. A review in the trade publication Billboard commented: "Miss Ellis isn't bad on voice and excells (sic) on appearance. Men will pay attention to her."[11] Also in 1941, she was a headliner, along with Henny Youngman and Blue Barron's orchestra at Hamid's Pier in Atlantic City, New Jersey[12] and appeared in the top-grossing Broadway hit, "Louisiana Purchase," a musical comedy.

Personal life

Patricia Ellis retired in 1939 leaving Hollywood behind and on July 12, 1941,[1][13] married George T. O'Maley, a successful businessman from Kansas City, Missouri.[14][15] Patricia settled into private life,[16] raising her family in Kansas City. The O'Maleys had one daughter.[1]

Ellis was the oldest of four children born to Eugene Gladstone O'Brien, a Detroit insurance broker, and Florence Calkins of Grand Rapids, Michigan. She was the sister of actress Marjorie Jane (O'Brien) "Marty" Morin and the aunt of actor D. David Morin, her son.

Death

Ellis remained married to George T. O'Maley for the remainder of her life, dying of cancer at age 51 on March 26, 1970, in Kansas City.[17] Her husband died in 2000.[18]

Partial filmography

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Wagner, Laura (Fall 2015). "Patricia Ellis: "I'd Like to Do Characters"". Films of the Golden Age (82): 55–56.
  2. ↑ "The Sunday Times, Perth Western Australia, Feb 14, 1937 'She is Pat O'Brien Too' newspaper article".
  3. ↑ New York Times (March 28, 1970). "'Patricia Ellis Dies; A Screen Actress'". p. 27.
  4. ↑ Roy Liebman (1 January 2000). The Wampas Baby Stars: A Biographical Dictionary, 1922-1934. McFarland. p. 78. ISBN 978-0-7864-0756-9.
  5. 1 2 "The Final Curtain". Billboard. January 25, 1947. p. 43. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  6. 1 2 "Portrait of Young Girl On Her Way Somewhere". Utah, Salt Lake City. The Salt Lake Tribune. October 30, 1932. p. 38. Retrieved December 15, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. 1 2 "Baby Role Irks Patricia Ellis; Grown-Up Film Parts Her Goal". North Carolina, Statesville. Statesville Record And Landmark. October 11, 1932. p. 14. Retrieved December 15, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Daughter of Famous Director Is Signed by Picture Company". Montana, Butte. Montana Butte Standard. June 5, 1932. p. 23. Retrieved December 15, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Takes Schoolbooks to Studio". Pennsylvania, Gettysburg. The Gettysburg Times. May 24, 1932. p. 3. Retrieved December 15, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. 1 2 Patricia Ellis at the Internet Movie Database
  11. ↑ "Movie Machine Reviews: Reel 1035" (PDF). Billboard. October 25, 1941. p. 72. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  12. ↑ "AC Trade Best in 12 Seasons" (PDF). Billboard. August 9, 1941. p. 50. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  13. ↑ "Patricia Ellis Weds in the East". "Los Angeles Times (July 15, 1941) p. A1" – via Proquest.
  14. ↑ George had previously married in 1937 to Edith Marie Banks.
  15. ↑ George's first marriage in 1937 to Edith Marie Banks was likely annulled.
  16. ↑ Polk's Kansas City Directory1955, page 714.
  17. ↑ U.S. Social Security Death Index
  18. ↑ Find-a-Grave: George O'Maley
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