Posted: May 12th, 2008, 11:41 am
In the Spotlight: PAULETTE GODDARD
The raven haired beauty was born Marion Pauline Levy on June 3, 1910 in Whitestone Landing, Queens, Long Island. She was the only child of a Jewish father Joseph Russell Levy, and an Episcopalian mother Alta Mae Goddard. Her parents divorced while she was young, and she was raised by her mother.
She and her mother struggled those early years, with her uncle, Charles Goddard (her mother's brother) lending a hand.
Charles Goddard helped his niece find jobs as a fashion model, and with the Ziegfeld Follies as one of the Ziegfeld Girls from 1924 to 1928. She attended Washington Irving High School in Manhattan at the same time as actress Claire Trevor.
Her stage debut was in the Ziegfeld revue "No Foolin" in 1926. The next year she made her stage acting debut in "The Unconquerable Male". She also changed her first name to Paulette and took her mother's maiden name.
She married an older, wealthy lumber tycoon
in 1926 or 1927 and moved to North Carolina to be a socialite, but divorced him in 1930 and received a huge divorce settlement.
In 1929 she came to Hollywood with her mother after signing a contract with Hal Roach Studios, and appeared in small parts of several films over the next few years, starting with Laurel & Hardy shorts.
At Samuel Goldwyn Productions, she also joined such future notables as Betty Grable, Lucille Ball, Ann Sothern, and Jane Wyman as "Goldwyn Girls" with Eddie Cantor in films such as "The Kid from Spain", "Roman Scandals" and "Kid Millions".
In 1932, she met Charlie Chaplin and began an eight-year personal and cinematic relationship with him. Chaplin bought Goddard's contract from Roach Studios and cast her as a street urchin opposite his Tramp character in the 1936 film "Modern Times", which made Goddard a star. During this time she lived with Chaplin in his Beverly Hills home.
Goddard with Charles Chaplin in "Modern Times" (1936).
Their actual marital status was and has remained a source of controversy and speculation. During most of their time together, both refused to comment on the matter.
Goddard the blonde goddess.
Goddard began gaining star status after appearing in "The Young in Heart", "Dramatic School", and a supporting role in "The Women" which starred Joan Crawford, Norma Shearer and Rosalind Russell.
During filming of "The Women", Goddard was considered as a finalist for the role of Scarlett O'Hara in the 1939 film "Gone with the Wind", but after many auditions and a Technicolor screen test, lost the part to Vivien Leigh. It has been suggested that questions regarding her marital status with Chaplin, in that era of morals clauses, may have cost her the role.
Goddard came very close to playing Scarlett O'Hara in "Gone With the Wind."
Nonetheless, in 1939, Goddard signed a contract with Paramount Pictures and her next film "The Cat and the Canary" with Bob Hope, was a turning point in the careers of both actors. The duo reteamed for the successful comedy "The Ghost Breakers."
"The Cat and the Canary" with Bob Hope in 1939.
"Ghost Busters" (1939) with Bob Hope.
Goddard starred with Chaplin again in his 1940 film "The Great Dictator", in DeMille's "North West Mounted Police" and then was Fred Astaire's leading lady in the musical "Second Chorus", where she met future husband Burgess Meredith.
Goddard with Fred Astaire in "Second Chorus" (1940).
Chaplin and Goddard would split amicably, and she allegedly obtained a divorce in Mexico in 1942, with Chaplin agreeing to a generous settlement. For years afterward, Chaplin stated that they were married in China in 1936, but to private associates and family, he claimed they were never legally married, except in common law.
Goddard with 'husband' Charles Chaplin (1936 - 1942).
In his memoirs, "My Father Charlie Chaplin," from 1960, Charles Jr. describes her as a lovely, caring and intelligent woman throughout the book.
Goddard with Charles Boyer & Olivia de Havilland in "Hold Back the Dawn" (1941).
Actress Claire Trevor once reminisced on her friendship with Goddard. She said that Goddard was a year older, and that they had attended high school and sorority together, and that the guys were "gaga" over the lovely, young Pauline.
One of her best-remembered film appearances was in the variety musical "Star Spangled Rhythm" (1943) in which she sang a comic number "A Sweater, a Sarong, and a Peekaboo Bang" with contemporary sex symbols Dorothy Lamour and Veronica Lake.
Goddard, Dorothy Lamour & Veronica Lake performing 'A Sweater, a Sarong, and a Peekaboo Bang' in "Star Spangled Rhythm" (1943).
In a 1944 picture with Fred MacMurray.
She received her only Academy Award nomination, for Best Supporting Actress, in 1944 for "So Proudly We Hail!" (1943). Her most successful film was "Kitty" (1945), where she played the title role. In "The Diary of a Chambermaid" (1946), she starred opposite Burgess Meredith, by then her husband.
Veronica Lake, Goddard, & Claudette Colbert in "So Proudly We Hail!" (1943). Goddard received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
Goddard with John Wayne (1942).
In the little known, lively Mitchell Leisen film, Kitty (1945).
With Gary Cooper in 1946.
Her career began to fade in the late 1940s. In 1946 she made DeMille's "Unconquered" with Gary Cooper and in 1947 she made "An Ideal Husband" in Britain . In 1949, she formed Monterey Pictures with John Steinbeck. Her last starring roles were the English production "The Unholy Four", and "Charge of the Lancers" in 1954.
Goddard with then husband Burgess Meredith in "A Miracle Can Happen" (1947).
A practical joker, Goddard's trademark infectious grin lent her a
bewitching appeal that few could resist.
Two of Goddard's 1949 appearances on the screen.
Edward G. Robinson with Miss G. in "Vice Squad" (1953).
She also acted in summer stock and on television. In 1964, she attempted a comeback in films with a supporting role in the Italian film "Time of Indifference", but that turned out to be her last feature film. Her last acting role was in "The Snoop Sisters" (1972) for television.
Goddard with good friend Joan Crawford (1972).
Goddard was married to actor Burgess Meredith from 1944 to 1949. She suffered a miscarriage while married to him. She had no children. In 1958 she married the author Erich Maria Remarque. They remained married until his death in 1970.
The lady was also known for her impressive jewelry collection.
Goddard was treated for breast cancer, apparently successfully, although the surgery was very invasive and the doctor had to remove several ribs.
She later settled in Ronco sopra Ascona, Switzerland, where she died a few months before her 80th birthday, following a short battle with emphysema.
She is buried in Ronco cemetery, next to Remarque and her mother.
In her will, she left $20 million to New York University (NYU). Goddard Hall, an NYU freshman residence hall on Washington Square, is named in her honor.
Former TCM/SSO board member Larry Russell was close friends with Paulette Goddard, often recollecting what a beautiful person she was. They especially enjoyed going to the Ice Cream Parlor for banana splits. Those were the days in the golden age of Hollywood.
Quoted: I lived in Hollywood long enough to learn to play tennis and become a star, but I never felt it was my home.
Miss Goddard has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The raven haired beauty was born Marion Pauline Levy on June 3, 1910 in Whitestone Landing, Queens, Long Island. She was the only child of a Jewish father Joseph Russell Levy, and an Episcopalian mother Alta Mae Goddard. Her parents divorced while she was young, and she was raised by her mother.
She and her mother struggled those early years, with her uncle, Charles Goddard (her mother's brother) lending a hand.
Charles Goddard helped his niece find jobs as a fashion model, and with the Ziegfeld Follies as one of the Ziegfeld Girls from 1924 to 1928. She attended Washington Irving High School in Manhattan at the same time as actress Claire Trevor.
Her stage debut was in the Ziegfeld revue "No Foolin" in 1926. The next year she made her stage acting debut in "The Unconquerable Male". She also changed her first name to Paulette and took her mother's maiden name.
She married an older, wealthy lumber tycoon
in 1926 or 1927 and moved to North Carolina to be a socialite, but divorced him in 1930 and received a huge divorce settlement.
In 1929 she came to Hollywood with her mother after signing a contract with Hal Roach Studios, and appeared in small parts of several films over the next few years, starting with Laurel & Hardy shorts.
At Samuel Goldwyn Productions, she also joined such future notables as Betty Grable, Lucille Ball, Ann Sothern, and Jane Wyman as "Goldwyn Girls" with Eddie Cantor in films such as "The Kid from Spain", "Roman Scandals" and "Kid Millions".
In 1932, she met Charlie Chaplin and began an eight-year personal and cinematic relationship with him. Chaplin bought Goddard's contract from Roach Studios and cast her as a street urchin opposite his Tramp character in the 1936 film "Modern Times", which made Goddard a star. During this time she lived with Chaplin in his Beverly Hills home.
Goddard with Charles Chaplin in "Modern Times" (1936).
Their actual marital status was and has remained a source of controversy and speculation. During most of their time together, both refused to comment on the matter.
Goddard the blonde goddess.
Goddard began gaining star status after appearing in "The Young in Heart", "Dramatic School", and a supporting role in "The Women" which starred Joan Crawford, Norma Shearer and Rosalind Russell.
During filming of "The Women", Goddard was considered as a finalist for the role of Scarlett O'Hara in the 1939 film "Gone with the Wind", but after many auditions and a Technicolor screen test, lost the part to Vivien Leigh. It has been suggested that questions regarding her marital status with Chaplin, in that era of morals clauses, may have cost her the role.
Goddard came very close to playing Scarlett O'Hara in "Gone With the Wind."
Nonetheless, in 1939, Goddard signed a contract with Paramount Pictures and her next film "The Cat and the Canary" with Bob Hope, was a turning point in the careers of both actors. The duo reteamed for the successful comedy "The Ghost Breakers."
"The Cat and the Canary" with Bob Hope in 1939.
"Ghost Busters" (1939) with Bob Hope.
Goddard starred with Chaplin again in his 1940 film "The Great Dictator", in DeMille's "North West Mounted Police" and then was Fred Astaire's leading lady in the musical "Second Chorus", where she met future husband Burgess Meredith.
Goddard with Fred Astaire in "Second Chorus" (1940).
Chaplin and Goddard would split amicably, and she allegedly obtained a divorce in Mexico in 1942, with Chaplin agreeing to a generous settlement. For years afterward, Chaplin stated that they were married in China in 1936, but to private associates and family, he claimed they were never legally married, except in common law.
Goddard with 'husband' Charles Chaplin (1936 - 1942).
In his memoirs, "My Father Charlie Chaplin," from 1960, Charles Jr. describes her as a lovely, caring and intelligent woman throughout the book.
Goddard with Charles Boyer & Olivia de Havilland in "Hold Back the Dawn" (1941).
Actress Claire Trevor once reminisced on her friendship with Goddard. She said that Goddard was a year older, and that they had attended high school and sorority together, and that the guys were "gaga" over the lovely, young Pauline.
One of her best-remembered film appearances was in the variety musical "Star Spangled Rhythm" (1943) in which she sang a comic number "A Sweater, a Sarong, and a Peekaboo Bang" with contemporary sex symbols Dorothy Lamour and Veronica Lake.
Goddard, Dorothy Lamour & Veronica Lake performing 'A Sweater, a Sarong, and a Peekaboo Bang' in "Star Spangled Rhythm" (1943).
In a 1944 picture with Fred MacMurray.
She received her only Academy Award nomination, for Best Supporting Actress, in 1944 for "So Proudly We Hail!" (1943). Her most successful film was "Kitty" (1945), where she played the title role. In "The Diary of a Chambermaid" (1946), she starred opposite Burgess Meredith, by then her husband.
Veronica Lake, Goddard, & Claudette Colbert in "So Proudly We Hail!" (1943). Goddard received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
Goddard with John Wayne (1942).
In the little known, lively Mitchell Leisen film, Kitty (1945).
With Gary Cooper in 1946.
Her career began to fade in the late 1940s. In 1946 she made DeMille's "Unconquered" with Gary Cooper and in 1947 she made "An Ideal Husband" in Britain . In 1949, she formed Monterey Pictures with John Steinbeck. Her last starring roles were the English production "The Unholy Four", and "Charge of the Lancers" in 1954.
Goddard with then husband Burgess Meredith in "A Miracle Can Happen" (1947).
A practical joker, Goddard's trademark infectious grin lent her a
bewitching appeal that few could resist.
Two of Goddard's 1949 appearances on the screen.
Edward G. Robinson with Miss G. in "Vice Squad" (1953).
She also acted in summer stock and on television. In 1964, she attempted a comeback in films with a supporting role in the Italian film "Time of Indifference", but that turned out to be her last feature film. Her last acting role was in "The Snoop Sisters" (1972) for television.
Goddard with good friend Joan Crawford (1972).
Goddard was married to actor Burgess Meredith from 1944 to 1949. She suffered a miscarriage while married to him. She had no children. In 1958 she married the author Erich Maria Remarque. They remained married until his death in 1970.
The lady was also known for her impressive jewelry collection.
Goddard was treated for breast cancer, apparently successfully, although the surgery was very invasive and the doctor had to remove several ribs.
She later settled in Ronco sopra Ascona, Switzerland, where she died a few months before her 80th birthday, following a short battle with emphysema.
She is buried in Ronco cemetery, next to Remarque and her mother.
In her will, she left $20 million to New York University (NYU). Goddard Hall, an NYU freshman residence hall on Washington Square, is named in her honor.
Former TCM/SSO board member Larry Russell was close friends with Paulette Goddard, often recollecting what a beautiful person she was. They especially enjoyed going to the Ice Cream Parlor for banana splits. Those were the days in the golden age of Hollywood.
Quoted: I lived in Hollywood long enough to learn to play tennis and become a star, but I never felt it was my home.
Miss Goddard has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.