Astrid Allwyn (born Astrid Christofferson; November 27, 1905 – March 31, 1978) was an American stage and film actress.

Early years

Allwyn was born in South Manchester, Connecticut, part of a family that included four sisters and a brother. When she was three years old, her family moved to Springfield, Massachusetts. At age 13, she sang well enough in a concert to be offered a scholarship to the Boston Conservatory of Music, but she declined rather than move away from her home. After finishing high school, she moved to New York, hoping for a career as a concert singer, but she ended up taking classes at a business college and becoming a typist for a business on Wall Street.

Career

Allwyn studied dancing and dramatics in New York and later joined a stock company. Allwyn made her Broadway debut in 1929 in Elmer Rice's '' Street Scene''. On the strength of her performance in '' Once in a Lifetime'', she was given film work. She signed with

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by amazon (company), Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded o ...

and began her screen career. In films, she often played the woman from whom the male star escaped, for example

Charles Boyer Charles Boyer (; 28 August 1899 – 26 August 1978) was a French-American actor who appeared in more than 80 films between 1920 and 1976. After receiving an education in drama, Boyer started on the stage, but he found his success in American fi ...

's character's fiancée in the 1939 version of '' Love Affair'' or

James Stewart James Maitland Stewart (May 20, 1908 – July 2, 1997) was an American actor and military pilot. Known for his distinctive drawl and everyman screen persona, Stewart's film career spanned 80 films from 1935 to 1991. With the strong morality ...

's mentor's daughter in '' Mr. Smith Goes to Washington''.

Personal life

Her first husband was actor Robert Kent; the two appeared together in the 1936

Shirley Temple Shirley Temple Black (born Shirley Jane Temple;While Temple occasionally used "Jane" as a middle name, her birth certificate reads "Shirley Temple". Her birth certificate was altered to prolong her babyhood shortly after she signed with Fox in ...

film '' Dimples''. They married on January 10, 1937, in Tijuana, Mexico, and were divorced in 1941. She remained married to second spouse Charles O. Fee until her death in 1978, at age 72. Two of their daughters,

Melinda Melinda is a feminine given name. Etymology The modern name ''Melinda'' is a combination of "Mel" with the suffix "-inda". "Mel" can be derived from names such as Melanie meaning "dark, black" in Greek, or from Melissa (μέλισσα) meaning ...

and Vicki, also became actresses.

Death

On March 31, 1978, Allwyn died of cancer in Los Angeles, California.

Complete filmography

*''

West of Broadway ''West of Broadway'' is a lost 1926 American silent romantic comedy Western film directed by Robert Thornby and starring Priscilla Dean. It was released through Producers Distributing Corporation. The film was based on the short story "New Yo ...

'' (1931) - Young woman (uncredited) *'' Lady with a Past'' (1932) - Lola *'' Love Affair'' (1932) - Linda Lee * '' The Night Mayor'' (1932) - Patsy *''

Hat Check Girl ''Hat Check Girl'' is a 1932 American pre-Code comedy film directed by Sidney Lanfield and written by Barry Conners and Philip Klein. The film stars Sally Eilers, Ben Lyon, Ginger Rogers and Monroe Owsley. The film was released on October 8, ...

'' (1932) - A Party Guest (uncredited) *'' The Girl From Calgary'' (1932) - Mazie Williams *''

Bachelor Mother ''Bachelor Mother'' (1939) is an American romantic comedy film directed by Garson Kanin, and starring Ginger Rogers, David Niven, and Charles Coburn. The screenplay was written by Norman Krasna from an Academy Award-nominated story by Felix Jac ...

'' (1932) - Lola Butler *''The Iron Master'' (1933) - Flo Lancert *'' Hello, Sister!'' (1933) - Webster's Secretary *'' He Couldn't Take It'' (1933) - Blonde *'' Only Yesterday'' (1933) - (uncredited) *'' All of Me'' (1934) - Ray (uncredited) *'' Beggars in Ermine'' (1934) - Mrs. Vivian Dawson *'' Mystery Liner'' (1934) - Lila Kane *''

Monte Carlo Nights ''Monte Carlo Nights'' is a 1934 American pre-Code film directed by William Nigh. Plot A man wrongfully convicted of murder escapes custody and goes in search of real killer. The problem is that he only has one clue to go on. Cast *Mary Brian ...

'' (1934) - Blondie Roberts *'' Servants' Entrance'' (1934) - Sigrid Hansen *'' The White Parade'' (1934) - Gertrude Mack *'' One More Spring'' (1935) - Girl at Auction *'' The Great Hotel Murder'' (1935) - Nora, Bookstand Girl (uncredited) *'' It's a Small World'' (1935) - Nancy Naylor *'' Dante's Inferno'' (1935) - Girl in Stoke-Hold (uncredited) *'' Accent on Youth'' (1935) - Genevieve Lang *'' Ladies Love Danger'' (1935) - Chorus Girl (uncredited) *''

Way Down East ''Way Down East'' is a 1920 American silent romantic drama film directed by D. W. Griffith and starring Lillian Gish. It is one of four film adaptations of the melodramatic 19th century play ''Way Down East'' by Lottie Blair Parker. There wer ...

'' (1935) - Kate *'' Hands Across the Table'' (1935) - Vivian Snowden *'' Charlie Chan's Secret'' (1936) - Janice Gage *''

It Had to Happen ''It Had to Happen'' is a 1936 American drama film starring George Raft and Rosalind Russell. The movie was written by Kathryn Scola, and Howard Ellis Smith, and directed by Roy Del Ruth. It is based on the 1909 short story "Canavan, the Man Who ...

'' (1936) - Mabel Spears (scenes cut) *'' Follow the Fleet'' (1936) - Mrs. Iris Manning *'' Star for a Night'' (1936) - Josephine Hall *'' Dimples'' (1936) - Cleo Marsh *'' Flying Hostess'' (1936) - Phyllis Crawford *''

Stowaway A stowaway or clandestine traveller is a person who secretly boards a vehicle, such as a ship, an aircraft, a train, cargo truck or bus. Sometimes, the purpose is to get from one place to another without paying for transportation. In other ...

'' (1936) - Kay Swift *''

Woman-Wise ''Woman-Wise'' is a 1937 American crime film directed by Allan Dwan and written by Ben Markson. The film stars Rochelle Hudson, Michael Whalen (actor), Michael Whalen, Thomas Beck (actor), Thomas Beck, Alan Dinehart, Douglas Fowley and George Ha ...

'' (1937) - "Bubbles" Carson *''

Murder Goes to College ''Murder Goes to College'' is a 1937 American comedy film directed by Charles Reisner and written by Brian Marlow, Eddie Welch and Robert Wyler. The film stars Roscoe Karns, Marsha Hunt, Lynne Overman, Buster Crabbe, Astrid Allwyn and Harvey St ...

'' (1937) - Greta Barry *''

Venus Makes Trouble ''Venus Makes Trouble'' is a 1937 American comedy film directed by Gordon Wiles and starring James Dunn, Patricia Ellis and Astrid Allwyn. It was produced and distributed by Columbia Pictures as a second feature. Synopsis The plot revolves ...

'' (1937) - Iris Randall *'' It Could Happen to You'' (1937) - Angela *''

Love Takes Flight ''Love Takes Flight'' is a 1937 American drama film directed by Conrad Nagel and written by Lionel Houser and Mervin J. Houser. The film stars Bruce Cabot, Beatrice Roberts, John Sheehan, Astrid Allwyn, Elliot Fisher and Wild Bill Elliott. The f ...

'' (1937) - Diane Audre *''

The Westland Case ''The Westland Case'' is a 1937 American mystery film directed by Christy Cabanne and starring Preston Foster, Frank Jenks, and Carol Hughes. Cast * Preston Foster as Bill Crane * Frank Jenks as Doc Williams * Carol Hughes as Emily Lou Martin ...

'' (1937) - Miss Brentino *'' International Crime'' (1938) - Phoebe Lane *'' Love Affair'' (1939) - Lois Clarke *'' Miracles for Sale'' (1939) - Mrs. Zelma La Claire *''

Honeymoon in Bali ''Honeymoon in Bali'' is a 1939 American romantic comedy film. It is also known by the alternative titles ''Husbands or Lovers'' and ''My Love for Yours''. Virginia Van Upp's screenplay was based on the short stories "Our Miss Keane" by Grace Sa ...

'' (1939) - Fortune Teller at Egret Room *'' Mr. Smith Goes to Washington'' (1939) - Susan Paine *''

Reno Reno ( ) is a city in the northwest section of the U.S. state of Nevada, along the Nevada-California border, about north from Lake Tahoe, known as "The Biggest Little City in the World". Known for its casino and tourism industry, Reno is th ...

'' (1939) - Flora McKenzie *'' The Lone Wolf Strikes'' (1940) - Binnie Weldon *''

Gangs of Chicago ''Gangs of Chicago'' is a 1940 crime film, starring Lloyd Nolan, Barton MacLane, Lola Lane, Ray Middleton, Astrid Allwyn, and Horace McMahon. Alan Ladd has a small uncredited role. Plot After the death of his corrupt father, young Matty Burns ...

'' (1940) - Virginia Brandt *'' The Leather Pushers'' (1940) - Pat Danbury *'' Meet the Missus'' (1940) - Violet Stevens *'' City of Missing Girls'' (1941) - Nora Page *''

Melody for Three ''Melody for Three'' is a 1941 American film directed by Erle C. Kenton, one of the six films of the Dr. Christian series. Plot summary Dr. Christian takes an interest in a young boy, a violin prodigy, whose mother is a divorced music teacher ...

'' (1941) - Gladys McClelland *''

The Hard-Boiled Canary ''The Hard-Boiled Canary'' is a 1941 American musical comedy film directed by Andrew L. Stone and written by Robert Lively and Andrew L. Stone. It was later reissued as ''There's Magic in Music''. The film stars Allan Jones, Susanna Foster, ...

'' (1941) - Girl (uncredited) *'' Puddin' Head'' (1941) - Yvonne Jones *'' Cracked Nuts'' (1941) - Ethel Mitchell *''

Unexpected Uncle ''Unexpected Uncle'' is a 1941 American comedy-drama film directed by Peter Godfrey and starring Charles Coburn, Anne Shirley, and James Craig. Cast *Anne Shirley as Kathleen Brown * James Craig as Johnny Kerrigan *Charles Coburn as Alfred Cra ...

'' (1941) - Sara Cochran *'' No Hands on the Clock'' (1941) - Gypsy Toland *'' Hit Parade of 1943'' (1943) - Joyce Germaine

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Allwyn, Astrid 1905 births 1978 deaths 20th-century American actresses American film actresses American stage actresses Actresses from Connecticut Deaths from cancer in California People from Manchester, Connecticut Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) 20th-century American singers