Dorothy Fay Hammerton (26 September 1893 – 23 June 1973), known professionally as Fay Holden, was a British-born, American-based actress. She was known as Gaby Fay early in her career.

Biography

Holden was born in Birmingham, England. After leaving England in 1929, Holden and her husband moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada for a time. They co-owned The Empress Theatre until 1933, and they created a theatre company, The British Guild Players, that specialized in comedies during the depression era. Eventually they left Vancouver and moved to Hollywood. Holden appeared in 46 motion pictures between 1935 and 1958, and she is best known for her recurring role as Emily Hardy, mother of

Mickey Rooney Mickey Rooney (born Joseph Yule Jr.; other pseudonym Mickey Maguire; September 23, 1920 – April 6, 2014) was an American actor. In a career spanning nine decades, he appeared in more than 300 films and was among the last surviving stars of the ...

's character in the '' Andy Hardy'' film series. The series was enormously popular in the late 1930s and early 1940s, and Holden was in 15 of the 16 Hardy movies, surpassed only by Rooney, who was in all 16. Holden is remembered for her performance as

Hazel The hazel (''Corylus'') is a genus of deciduous trees and large shrubs native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere. The genus is usually placed in the birch family Betulaceae,Germplasmgobills Information Network''Corylus''Rushforth, K. (1999). ...

, the mother of

Samson Samson (; , '' he, Šīmšōn, label= none'', "man of the sun") was the last of the judges of the ancient Israelites mentioned in the Book of Judges (chapters 13 to 16) and one of the last leaders who "judged" Israel before the institution o ...

(

Victor Mature Victor John Mature (January 29, 1913 – August 4, 1999) was an American stage, film, and television actor who was a leading man in Hollywood during the 1940s and 1950s. His best known film roles include ''One Million B.C.'' (1940), '' My Darlin ...

), in

Cecil B. DeMille Cecil Blount DeMille (; August 12, 1881January 21, 1959) was an American film director, producer and actor. Between 1914 and 1958, he made 70 features, both silent and sound films. He is acknowledged as a founding father of the American cine ...

's ''

Samson and Delilah Samson and Delilah are Biblical figures. Samson and Delilah may also refer to: In music * ''Samson and Delilah'' (opera), an opera by Camille Saint-Saëns * ''Samson & Delilah'' (album), released in 2013 by V V Brown * "Samson and Delilah" (t ...

'', in which she utters her character's most notable line: "He wants to marry a Philistine!" She was married to David Clyde from 1914 until his death in 1945. She died in Los Angeles, California, aged 79, from cancer.

Partial filmography

*'' The Pace That Kills'' (1935) as Madame / Henchwoman *''

I Married a Doctor ''I Married a Doctor'' is a 1936 American drama film directed by Archie Mayo and written by Casey Robinson. It is an adaptation of Sinclair Lewis’s novel Main Street. The film stars Pat O'Brien, Josephine Hutchinson, Ross Alexander, Guy Kibb ...

'' (1936) as Ella Stowbody *'' The White Angel'' (1936) as Queen Victoria (uncredited) *''

Wives Never Know ''Wives Never Know'' is a 1936 American black-and-white comedy film directed by Elliott Nugent. Written by Frederick Hazlitt Brennan, Edwin Justus Mayer and Keene Thompson, the film stars Charlie Ruggles, Mary Boland, and Adolphe Menjou, and wa ...

'' (1936) as Mrs. Gossamer *''

Polo Joe ''Polo Joe'' is a 1936 American comedy film directed by William C. McGann and starring Joe E. Brown, Carol Hughes and Richard 'Skeets' Gallagher.Gehring p.125 The screenplay concerns a man who, despite his fear of horses, takes up polo to impr ...

'' (1936) as Aunt Minnie *''

The Accusing Finger ''The Accusing Finger'' is a 1936 American drama film directed by James P. Hogan and written by Madeleine Ruthven, Brian Marlow, John Bright and Robert Tasker. The film stars Paul Kelly, Marsha Hunt, Kent Taylor, Robert Cummings, Harry Care ...

'' (1936) as Little Old Lady (uncredited) *''

Guns of the Pecos ''Guns of the Pecos'' is a 1937 American Western film directed by Noel M. Smith and written by Harold Buckley. The film stars Dick Foran, Anne Nagel, Gordon Hart, Joseph Crehan, Eddie Acuff and Robert Middlemass. The film was released by War ...

'' (1937) as Aunt Carrie Burton *''

Bulldog Drummond Escapes ''Bulldog Drummond Escapes'' is a 1937 American film directed by James P. Hogan starring Ray Milland as Capt. Hugh "Bulldog" Drummond. Paramount continued with the Bulldog Drummond series, producing seven more films over the next two years. Th ...

'' (1937) as Natalie *''

Internes Can't Take Money ''Internes Can't Take Money'' is a 1937 American drama film directed by Alfred Santell and starring Barbara Stanwyck, Joel McCrea, Lloyd Nolan and Stanley Ridges. McCrea portrays Dr. Kildare in the character's first screen appearance. Metro-Goldw ...

'' (1937) as Mother Teresa *'' King of Gamblers'' (1937) as Nurse *'' Exclusive'' (1937) as Mrs. Swain *''

Souls at Sea ''Souls at Sea'' is a 1937 American adventure film directed by Henry Hathaway and starring Gary Cooper and George Raft. Based on a story by Ted Lesser, the film is about a first mate on a slave ship who frees the slaves on the ship after a mutiny ...

'' (1937) as Mrs. Martin (uncredited) *''

Double or Nothing Double or nothing (UK often double or quits) is a gamble to decide whether a loss or debt should be doubled. The result of a "double or nothing" bet is either the subject doubled to twice the amount as the original ''or'' the doubling of a debt. It ...

'' (1937) as Martha Sewell Clark *''

You're Only Young Once ''You're Only Young Once'' is a 1937 comedy film directed by George B. Seitz. Following '' A Family Affair'', it is the second film of the Andy Hardy series. Lewis Stone replaces Lionel Barrymore as Judge Hardy while Fay Holden replaced Sprin ...

'' (1937) as Mrs. Emily Hardy *''

Love Is a Headache ''Love Is a Headache'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by Richard Thorpe and written by Marion Parsonnet, Harry Ruskin and William R. Lipman. The film stars Gladys George, Franchot Tone, Ted Healy, Mickey Rooney, Frank Jenks and Ralph ...

'' (1938) as Mary, Peter's Secretary *''

Judge Hardy's Children ''Judge Hardy's Children'' is a 1938 film in the Andy Hardy series. The plot involves the Hardys visiting Washington, DC, in this third entry in MGM's "Hardy Family" series. Plot summary Judge Hardy (Lewis Stone) has been appointed chairman o ...

'' (1938) as Mrs. Emily Hardy *''

Test Pilot A test pilot is an aircraft pilot with additional training to fly and evaluate experimental, newly produced and modified aircraft with specific maneuvers, known as flight test techniques.Stinton, Darrol. ''Flying Qualities and Flight Testing ...

'' (1938) as Lingerie Saleslady (uncredited) *''

Hold That Kiss ''Hold That Kiss'' (1938) is a romantic comedy film starring Maureen O'Sullivan and Dennis O'Keefe. Plot Travel agency clerk Tommy Bradford (Dennis O'Keefe) delivers tickets to wealthy J. Westley Piermont ( George Barbier) at the lavish wedding ...

'' (1938) as Mrs. Evans *''

Love Finds Andy Hardy ''Love Finds Andy Hardy'' is a 1938 American romantic comedy film that tells the story of a teenage boy who becomes entangled with three different girls all at the same time. It stars Mickey Rooney, Lewis Stone, Fay Holden, Cecilia Parker, Ju ...

'' (1938) as Mrs. Emily Hardy *''

Out West with the Hardys ''Out West with the Hardys'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by George B. Seitz and the fifth film in the Andy Hardy series of sixteen films. Premise Judge Hardy gets a request to help out an old friend so he takes his family on a holi ...

'' (1938) as Mrs. Emily Hardy *'' Sweethearts'' (1938) as Hannah *''

Sergeant Madden ''Sergeant Madden'' is a 1939 film noir forerunner directed by Josef von Sternberg and starring Wallace Beery. The supporting cast in this dark police crime drama, noted for its imaginative and evocative cinematography, includes Tom Brown, Lara ...

'' (1939) as Mary Madden *''

The Hardys Ride High ''The Hardys Ride High'' (1939) is the sixth film of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Andy Hardy series. Plot summary Judge Hardy learns that he has inherited two million dollars. He and his family travel to Detroit to claim the inheritance and they exp ...

'' (1939) as Mrs. Emily Hardy *''

Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever ''Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever'' is a 1939 American romantic comedy film directed by W. S. Van Dyke. The plot is about Andy Hardy having a crush on his high school drama teacher, Miss Rose Meredith. It is the seventh of sixteen Andy Hardy films s ...

'' (1939) as Mrs. Emily Hardy *''

Judge Hardy and Son ''Judge Hardy and Son'' (1939) is the 8th film, of 16, in the Andy Hardy series. It is the last MGM film in the 1930s.

'' (1939) as Mrs. Emily Hardy *''

Andy Hardy Meets Debutante ''Andy Hardy Meets Debutante '' is a 1940 American romantic comedy film directed by George B. Seitz. The film stars Lewis Stone, Mickey Rooney, Cecilia Parker, Fay Holden and Judy Garland. It is the ninth of the ''Andy Hardy'' full-length film ...

'' (1940) as Mrs. Emily Hardy *'' Bitter Sweet'' (1940) as Mrs. Millick *''

Andy Hardy's Private Secretary ''Andy Hardy's Private Secretary'' is a 1941 American comedy film directed by George B. Seitz and starring Lewis Stone, Mickey Rooney, Kathryn Grayson, Ann Rutherford and Fay Holden. It was the tenth of the 16-film Andy Hardy series. Marian Ha ...

'' (1941) as Mrs. Emily Hardy *'' The Penalty'' (1941) (scenes deleted) *''

Washington Melodrama ''Washington Melodrama'' is a 1941 American drama film directed by S. Sylvan Simon and starring Frank Morgan, Ann Rutherford, and Kent Taylor. Plot It is 1941 and the United States remains at an uneasy peace. Prominent Washington, D.C. industria ...

'' (1941) as Mrs. Claymore *''

Ziegfeld Girl Ziegfeld Girls were the chorus girls and showgirls from Florenz Ziegfeld's theatrical Broadway revue spectaculars known as the ''Ziegfeld Follies'' (1907–1931), in New York City, which were based on the Folies Bergère of Paris. Descripti ...

'' (1941) as Mrs. Regan *'' I'll Wait for You'' (1941) as Mrs. Miller *''

Blossoms in the Dust ''Blossoms in the Dust'' is a 1941 American biographical film directed by Mervyn LeRoy and starring Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon, Felix Bressart, Marsha Hunt, Fay Holden and Samuel S. Hinds. It tells the true story of Edna Gladney, who helped o ...

'' (1941) as Mrs. Kahly *''

Life Begins for Andy Hardy ''Life Begins for Andy Hardy'' is a 1941 American comedy film and the 11th installment of the 16 popular Andy Hardy movies. Directed by George B. Seitz, ''Life Begins for Andy Hardy'' was also the last Andy Hardy movie to feat ...

'' (1941) as Mrs. Emily Hardy *'' H.M. Pulham, Esq.'' (1941) as Mrs. John Pulham *''

The Courtship of Andy Hardy ''The Courtship of Andy Hardy'' is a 1942 film, part of the Andy Hardy series. It gave an early role to Donna Reed although Mickey Rooney had lobbied for his then-wife Ava Gardner to have her part. Within a few months of the film's release, she ...

'' (1942) as Mrs. Emily Hardy *''

Andy Hardy's Double Life ''Andy Hardy's Double Life'' is a 1942 comedy film directed by George B. Seitz. It was the thirteenth installment of MGM's enormously popular Andy Hardy film series starring Mickey Rooney as the title character. It was the feature film debut ...

'' (1942) as Mrs. Emily Hardy *'' Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble'' (1944) as Mrs. Emily Hardy *''

Canyon Passage ''Canyon Passage'' is a 1946 American Western film directed by Jacques Tourneur and set in frontier Oregon. It stars Dana Andrews, Susan Hayward and Brian Donlevy. Featuring love triangles and an Indian uprising, the film was adapted from the ...

'' (1946) as Mrs. Overmire *''

Little Miss Big ''Little Miss Big'' is a 1946 American comedy film directed by Erle C. Kenton and written by Erna Lazarus. The film stars Beverly Simmons, Frederick Brady, Fay Holden, Frank McHugh, Dorothy Morris and Milburn Stone. The film was released on Aug ...

'' (1946) as Mary Jane Baxter *''

Love Laughs at Andy Hardy ''Love Laughs at Andy Hardy'' is a 1946 American film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, directed by Willis Goldbeck and starring Mickey Rooney and Lewis Stone. The film is also known under its American promotional title ''Uncle Andy Hardy''. Th ...

'' (1946) as Mrs. Emily Hardy *''

Whispering Smith ''Whispering Smith'' is a 1948 American Western film directed by Leslie Fenton and starring Alan Ladd as a railroad detective assigned to stop a gang of train robbers. The supporting cast includes Robert Preston, Brenda Marshall and Donald C ...

'' (1948) as Emmy Dansing *''

'' (1949) as Hazelelponit *''

The Big Hangover ''The Big Hangover'' is a 1950 American comedy film released by MGM. The film starred Van Johnson and Elizabeth Taylor and was written and directed by Norman Krasna. Supporting players include Percy Waram, Fay Holden, Leon Ames, Edgar Buchanan, S ...

'' (1950) as Martha Belney *''

Andy Hardy Comes Home ''Andy Hardy Comes Home'' is a 1958 comedy film directed by Howard W. Koch. It is the 16th and final film in the Andy Hardy series, with Mickey Rooney reprising his signature role. It was produced 12 years after the previous Hardy film, and was ...

'' (1958) as Mrs. Emily Hardy (final film role)

References

External links

* * * (as Gaby Fay) {{DEFAULTSORT:Holden, Fay 1893 births 1973 deaths American film actresses English film actresses Deaths from cancer in California Deaths from multiple myeloma Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract players People from Birmingham, West Midlands People from Greater Los Angeles British emigrants to the United States 20th-century American actresses Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) 20th-century British actresses 20th-century English women 20th-century English people