Marie Nordstrom (12 April 1881/1886 - 2 January 1979) was an American actress.

Early years

Born in Fort Apache, Arizona Territory, Nordstrom was the daughter of United States Cavalry Captain Charles E. Nordstrom. She was also the older sister of actress, novelist, and playwright

Frances Nordstrom Frances Nordstrom (born June 1883 in Fort Davis, Texas) was an American actress and playwright. Early years Born in Fort Davis, Texas, Nordstrom was the daughter of United States Cavalry Captain Charles E. Nordstrom. He had command of that for ...

. They moved with their mother to Washington, D.C., after their father's death. She was educated at Georgetown Convent in the District of Columbia and went on to study voice with

Oscar Saenger Oscar Saenger (January 5, 1868 – April 20, 1929) was a singing teacher. With the Victor Talking Machine Company he produced a complete course in vocal training in twenty lessons. Biography He was born on January 5, 1868, in Brooklyn, New Yor ...

. Nordstrom became interested in the theater when, at about age 12, she and her sister attended a play in San Antonio, Texas. Frances told a reporter in 1908, "... our youthful minds were entranced, whereupon we each resolved that when we grew to womanhood we were going to be actresses." After they moved to Washington, both sisters attended more plays, which reinforced their interest in acting careers.

Career

Nordstrom began her career in opera, appearing in productions that included ''La Tosca'' and ''Madame Butterfly'',

Henry E. Dixey Henry E. Dixey (born Henry E. Dixon; January 6, 1859 – February 25, 1943) was an American actor and theatre producer. Dixey was born on January 6, 1859, in Boston, Massachusetts. He made his stage debut in Boston in 1868, joining the variety ...

, however, persuaded her to focus her efforts on acting rather than on singing. In 1904, she became the leading lady in the company headed by Dixey. Her introduction to Dixey came by accident when she accompanied her sister to an audition. Although the appointment had been made for Frances, Dixey was emphatic that Marie was the woman he wanted for the production of ''David Garrick''. In 1908, she joined the

Chicago Opera House The Chicago Opera House was a theater complex in Chicago, Illinois, designed by the architectural firm of Cobb and Frost. The Chicago Opera House building took the cue provided by the Metropolitan Opera of New York as a mixed-used building: it h ...

troupe as its leading lady. Nordstrom's Broadway credits include ''The Sap Runs High'' (1936), ''Mirrors'' (1928), ''Sweetheart Time'' (1926), ''Fashions of 1924'' (1923), ''Lady Bug'' (1922), ''Bought and Paid For'' (1921), ''Girl o' Mine'' (1918), ''The Passing Show of 1917'', ''The Charm of Isabel'' (1914), ''Bought and Paid For'' (1911), ''The Devil'' (1908), ''Papa Lebonnard'' (1908), ''The Man on the Box'' (1905), and ''Henry E. Dixey and Company'' (1904).

Personal life

In May 1909, Nordstrom married Dixey in Milwaukee. The couple kept the wedding secret for a month, announcing it in New York in June 1909. In 1925, she married Elliott Brown in New York City. Brown manufactured marine machinery.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nordstrom, Marie 1880s births 1979 deaths 20th-century American actresses Vaudeville performers Actresses from Arizona American stage actresses