Vivienne Osborne (born Vera Vivienne Spragg; December 10, 1896 – June 10, 1961) was an American stage and film actress known for her work in Broadway theatre and in
silent and sound films.
Career
Osborne began her career on stage when she was 5 years old, and by the time she was 18 years old, she had spent many years touring throughout Washington with a stock theater company. She made her Broadway debut in ''The Whirlwind'' (1919), and her screen debut in 1919 in a film that never was released. She continued work on Broadway, and appeared in films when not working theater.
Osborne's first silent film was in ''The Gray Brother,'' but the film did not have distribution and never was released. From March through December 1928, she appeared in the
Florenz Ziegfeld
Florenz Edward Ziegfeld Jr. (; March 21, 1867 – July 22, 1932) was an American Broadway impresario, notable for his series of theatrical revues, the ''Ziegfeld Follies'' (1907–1931), inspired by the ''Folies Bergère'' of Paris. He also p ...
musical version of ''
The Three Musketeers
''The Three Musketeers'' (french: Les Trois Mousquetaires, links=no, ) is a French historical adventure novel written in 1844 by French author Alexandre Dumas. It is in the swashbuckler genre, which has heroic, chivalrous swordsmen who fight f ...
.''
It was after her performance that
Douglas Fairbanks Sr. offered her a role in ''
The Iron Mask
''The Iron Mask'' is a 1929 American part-talkie adventure film directed by Allan Dwan. It is an adaptation of the last section of the 1847-1850 novel ''The Vicomte de Bragelonne'' by Alexandre Dumas, père, which is itself based on the French l ...
'' (1929), his last silent film, made as a sequel to his 1921 film ''
The Three Musketeers
''The Three Musketeers'' (french: Les Trois Mousquetaires, links=no, ) is a French historical adventure novel written in 1844 by French author Alexandre Dumas. It is in the swashbuckler genre, which has heroic, chivalrous swordsmen who fight f ...
''.
Rather than accept the offer, she chose to remain in New York City and continue her career. She signed with
Paramount Studios
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film and television production and distribution company and the main namesake division of Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS). It is the fifth-oldest film studio in the world, the second-oldest ...
in 1931 and was assigned to character roles,
but left to sign with
Warner Studios to get better roles. She then left Warners and signed a three-year contract with
Radio Pictures
RKO Radio Pictures Inc., commonly known as RKO Pictures or simply RKO, was an American film production and distribution company, one of the "Big Five" film studios of Hollywood's Golden Age. The business was formed after the Keith-Albee-Orpheu ...
. She alternated between film and stage roles for the rest of her career.
Of her work in the musical ''The Three Musketeers'', ''Theatre Magazine'' wrote her voice was "of true operatic quality." Of her work as Mary Boyd in the 1931 film ''Husband's Holiday'', ''
Spokesman-Review'' wrote "Vivienne Osborne does fine work," and noted the several scenes which "tugged at the heartstrings" that were well done by Osborne and her co-star
Juliette Compton
Juliette Compton (May 3, 1899 – March 19, 1989) was an American actress whose career began in the silent film era and concluded with ''That Hamilton Woman'' in 1941.
Career
Compton was born in Columbus, Georgia, on May 3, 1899. She was a ...
.
Filmography
;Silent films
* ''The Grey Brother'' (1919)
* ''
In Walked Mary
''In Walked Mary'' is a 1920 American silent drama film directed by George Archainbaud and starring June Caprice, Thomas Carrigan and Stanley Walpole.
Cast
* June Caprice as Mary Ann Hubbard
* Thomas Carrigan as Dick Allison
* Stanley Walpo ...
'' (1920) as Betsy Caldwell
* ''
The Restless Sex
''The Restless Sex'' is a 1920 American silent drama film starring Marion Davies, and Ralph Kellard. It was directed by Leon D'Usseau and Robert Z. Leonard and written by Frances Marion. The film is based upon the 1918 novel of the same name b ...
'' (1920)
* ''Love's Flame'' (1920) as Adele De Ronsard
* ''
Over the Hill to the Poorhouse
''Over the Hill to the Poorhouse'', also known as ''Over the Hill'', is a 1920 American silent drama film about a woman who has a lot of children, and who never gets the chance to enjoy life. The film starred actress Mary Carr and almost all of ...
'' (1920) as Isabella Strong
* ''
The Right Way (1921) as The Sweetheart
* ''Mother Eternal'' (1921) as Julia Brennon
* ''
Cameron of the Royal Mounted
''Cameron of the Royal Mounted'' is a 1921 Canadian silent action film directed by Henry MacRae and starring Gaston Glass, Irving Cummings and Vivienne Osborne.Langman p.531 Part of the tradition of Northerns, it is based on the story ''Corporal ...
'' (1921) as Mandy Haley
* ''
The Good Provider
''The Good Provider'' is a 1922 American silent drama film directed by Frank Borzage and written by Fannie Hurst and John Lynch. The film stars Vera Gordon, Dore Davidson, Miriam Battista, Vivienne Osborne, William Collier, Jr., John Roche, and ...
'' (1922) as Pearl Binswanger
;Sound films
* ''Night Club'' (1929) as Herself
* ''Morgan's Maruders'' (1929)
* ''Masquerade'' (1931)
* ''
The Beloved Bachelor
''The Beloved Bachelor'' is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film directed by Lloyd Corrigan, and written by Sidney Buchman, Raymond Griffith, Agnes Brand Leahy and Edward Peple. The film stars Paul Lukas, Dorothy Jordan, Vivienne Osborne, Ch ...
'' (1931) as Elinor Hunter
* ''
Husband's Holiday
''Husband's Holiday'' is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film directed by Robert Milton and written by Ernest Pascal and Viola Brothers Shore. The film stars Clive Brook, Vivienne Osborne, Charlie Ruggles, Juliette Compton, Harry Bannister, Do ...
'' (1931) as Mary Boyd
* ''
Two Kinds of Women'' (1932) as Helen
* ''
The Famous Ferguson Case
''The Famous Ferguson Case'' is a 1932 American pre-Code crime film directed by Lloyd Bacon and starring Joan Blondell, Grant Mitchell and Vivienne Osborne.Louis Pizzitola. ''Hearst Over Hollywood: Power, Passion, and Propaganda in the Movies' ...
'' (1932) as Mrs. Marcia Ferguson
* ''
Two Seconds
''Two Seconds'' is a 1932 American pre-Code crime drama film directed by Mervyn LeRoy and starring Edward G. Robinson, Vivienne Osborne and Preston Foster. It was based on a successful Broadway play of the same name by Elliott Lester. The title ...
'' (1932) as Shirley Day
* ''
Week-End Marriage
''Week-End Marriage'' is a 1932 American pre-Code comedy film directed by Thornton Freeland and starring Loretta Young. It was produced by First National Pictures and distributed by Warner Bros. It is based on the 1932 novel, ''Week-End Marriage ...
'' (1932) as Shirley
* ''
The Dark Horse'' (1932) as Maybelle Blake
* ''
Life Begins'' (1932) as Mrs. McGilvary
* ''
Men Are Such Fools
''Men are Such Fools'' is a 1938 American romantic comedy directed by Busby Berkeley and written by Norman Reilly Raine and Horace Jackson. The film stars Wayne Morris, Priscilla Lane, Humphrey Bogart, Hugh Herbert, Johnnie Davis, and Penny Sin ...
'' (1932) as Lilli Arno
* ''
Luxury Liner'' (1933) as Sybil Brenhard
* ''
Sailor Be Good
''Sailor Be Good'' is a 1933 American Pre-Code comedy film directed by James Cruze and written by Ethel Doherty, Viola Brothers Shore and Ralph Spence. Starring Jack Oakie, Vivienne Osborne, George E. Stone, Max Hoffman Jr. and Lincoln Stedman ...
'' (1933) as Red Dale
* ''
The Phantom Broadcast
''The Phantom Broadcast'' is a 1933 American mystery film directed by Phil Rosen and starring Ralph Forbes, Vivienne Osborne and Gail Patrick.Bradley p.169 It was based on a story by Tristram Tupper entitled ''Phantom of the Air''.
An arrogant ...
'' (1933) as Elsa Evans
* ''
Supernatural
Supernatural refers to phenomena or entities that are beyond the laws of nature. The term is derived from Medieval Latin , from Latin (above, beyond, or outside of) + (nature) Though the corollary term "nature", has had multiple meanings si ...
'' (1933) as Ruth Rogen
* ''
Tomorrow at Seven
''Tomorrow at Seven'' is a 1933 American pre-Code mystery comedy film directed by Ray Enright
Ray Enright (March 25, 1896 – April 3, 1965) was an American film director. He directed 73 films between 1927–53, many of them for Warne ...
'' (1933) as Martha Winters
* ''
The Devil's in Love
''The Devil's in Love'' (also known as ''Consul of the Damned'') is a 1933 American pre-Code drama film directed by William Dieterle and written by Howard Estabrook. The film stars Victor Jory, Loretta Young, Vivienne Osborne, David Manners, C ...
'' (1933) as Rena Corday
* ''
No More Ladies
''No More Ladies'' is a 1935 American romantic comedy film directed by Edward H. Griffith. The film stars Joan Crawford and Robert Montgomery, and co-stars Charlie Ruggles, Franchot Tone, and Edna May Oliver. The screenplay credited to Donald ...
'' (1935) as Lady Diana Knowleton
* ''
Let's Sing Again
''Let's Sing Again'' is a 1936 American film directed by Kurt Neumann.
Plot
An orphan (eight-year-old boy soprano Bobby Breen) gets a chance to sing opera in New York.
Cast
*Bobby Breen as Billy Gordon
*Henry Armetta as Joe Pasquale
* Ge ...
'' (1936) as Rosa Donelli
* ''
Follow Your Heart'' (1936) as Gloria Forrester
* ''
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 Renée La Journée
* ''
Sinner Take All
''Sinner Take All'' is a 1936 murder mystery film directed by Errol Taggart and starring Bruce Cabot and Margaret Lindsay.
Plot
When millionaire New York City businessman Aaron Lampier (Charley Grapewin) receives a death threat in the mail, he ...
'' (1936) as Alicia MacKelvey
* ''
Champagne Waltz
''Champagne Waltz'' is a 1937 American comedy film directed by A. Edward Sutherland and starring Gladys Swarthout, Fred MacMurray and Jack Oakie. It is one of five movies produced by Paramount in the 1930s featuring Swarthout, a very popular Met ...
'' (1937) as Countess Mariska
* ''
The Crime Nobody Saw
''The Crime Nobody Saw'' is a 1937 American comedy film directed by Charles Barton and written by Bertram Millhauser. The film stars Lew Ayres, Ruth Coleman, Eugene Pallette, Benny Baker, Vivienne Osborne, Colin Tapley and Howard Hickman. The ...
'' (1937) as Suzanne Duval
* ''
She Asked for It
''She Asked for It'' is a 1937 American comedy film directed by Erle C. Kenton and written by Frederick J. Jackson and Theodore Reeves. The film stars William Gargan, Orien Heyward, Vivienne Osborne, Richard Carle, Roland Drew, Harry Beresfor ...
'' (1937) as Celia Stettin
* ''
Men Are Such Fools
''Men are Such Fools'' is a 1938 American romantic comedy directed by Busby Berkeley and written by Norman Reilly Raine and Horace Jackson. The film stars Wayne Morris, Priscilla Lane, Humphrey Bogart, Hugh Herbert, Johnnie Davis, and Penny Sin ...
'' (1938) as Lili Arno
* ''
Primrose Path'' (1940) as Thelma
* ''
Captain Caution
''Captain Caution'' is a 1940 American adventure film directed by Richard Wallace set during the War of 1812. The film stars Victor Mature, Bruce Cabot and Alan Ladd. It was based on the novel of the same name by Kenneth Roberts. Elmer Raguse ...
'' (1940) as Victorine Argandeau
* ''
So You Won't Talk'' (1940) as Maxie Carewe
* ''
I Accuse My Parents
''I Accuse My Parents'' is a 1944 American exploitation film dealing with juvenile delinquency. Produced by PRC, the film was used to teach morals, specifically that parents should take an interest in their children's lives, as well as the conse ...
'' (1944) as Mrs. Wilson
* ''
Dragonwyck'' (1946) as Johanna Van Ryn
Broadway theater
* ''Order Please'' (October 9, 1934 – October 1934) as Phoebe Weston
* ''As Good as New'' (November 3, 1930 – December 1930) as Mrs. Violet Hargrave
* ''The Royal Virgin'' (March 17, 1930 – March 1930) as The Countess of Rutland
* ''Week-End'' (October 22, 1929 – October 1929) as Marga Chapman
* ''
The Three Musketeers
''The Three Musketeers'' (french: Les Trois Mousquetaires, links=no, ) is a French historical adventure novel written in 1844 by French author Alexandre Dumas. It is in the swashbuckler genre, which has heroic, chivalrous swordsmen who fight f ...
'' (March 13, 1928 – December 15, 1928) as Lady De Winter
* ''One Glorious Hour'' (April 14, 1927 – May 1927) as Maria
* ''Fog'' (February 7, 1927 – May 1927) as Eunice
* ‘’The Harem’’ (June 1925) Replaced Lenore Ulric as Carla
* ''Aloma of the South Seas'' (April 20, 1925 – June 1925) as Aloma
* ''Houses of Sand'' (February 17, 1925 – March 1925) as Miss Kane
* ''The Blue Bandanna'' (June 23, 1924 - July 1924) as The Girl
* ''New Toys'' (February 18, 1924 – March 1924) as Ruth Webb
* ''Scaramouche'' (October 24, 1923 – December 1923) as Climene
* ''The Love Child'' (November 14, 1922 – April 1923) as Aline De Mar
* ''The Silver Fox'' (September 5, 1921 – December 1921) as Frankie Turner
* ''The Bonehead'' (April 12, 1920 – May 1920) as Jean Brent
* ''The Whirlwind'' (December 23, 1919 – February 1920) as Bessie Van Ashton
References
External links
*
*
Vivienne Osborneat
Find a Grave
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Osborne, Vivienne
1896 births
1961 deaths
American film actresses
American silent film actresses
Burials at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Actresses from Des Moines, Iowa
American stage actresses
20th-century American actresses