Gwen Lee (born Gwendolyn Lepinski; November 12, 1904 – August 20, 1961) was an American stage and film actress. Lee began her career as a model before being discovered and signed to

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 ...

. She was typically cast in supporting roles. Lee appeared in over sixty films before retiring in 1938.

Acting career

Born to Mriette (née Kennedy) and Frank B. Lepinski in Hastings, Nebraska, Lee began her career as a department store model. She was discovered by director

Monta Bell Louis Monta Bell (February 5, 1891 – February 4, 1958) was an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. Biography Monta Bell first appeared in theatrical venues with Washington D.C. stock companies and then took up journalism an ...

while appearing in a stage production. She signed a contract with

in 1925. That same year, she made her film debut in '' Lady of the Night'', starring

Norma Shearer Edith Norma Shearer (August 11, 1902June 12, 1983) was a Canadian-American actress who was active on film from 1919 through 1942. Shearer often played spunky, sexually liberated ingénues. She appeared in adaptations of Noël Coward, Eugene O' ...

. She followed with roles in ''

Pretty Ladies ''Pretty Ladies'' is a 1925 American silent comedy drama film starring ZaSu Pitts and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The film is a fictional recreation of the famed Ziegfeld Follies. Directed by Monta Bell, the film was written by Alice D. ...

'', starring

Zasu Pitts Zasu Pitts (; January 3, 1894 – June 7, 1963) was an American actress who starred in many silent dramas, including Erich von Stroheim's epic 1924 silent film ''Greed'', and comedies, transitioning successfully to mostly comedy films with the ...

, '' His Secretary'', and '' The Plastic Age'', starring

Clara Bow Clara Gordon Bow (; July 29, 1905 – September 27, 1965) was an American actress who rose to stardom during the silent film era of the 1920s and successfully made the transition to " talkies" in 1929. Her appearance as a plucky shopgirl in the ...

. In 1926, Lee was cast in ''The Lone Wolfe Returns'', starring

Bert Lytell Bertram Lytell (February 24, 1885 – September 28, 1954) was an American actor in theater and film during the silent film era and early talkies. He starred in romantic, melodrama, and adventure films. Background Born in New York City, Lyt ...

and Billie Dove. In 1928, she was named a WAMPAS Baby Star. Lee continued her career with supporting roles in '' Laugh, Clown, Laugh'' and ''

The Actress ''The Actress'' is a 1953 American comedy-drama film based on Ruth Gordon's autobiographical play ''Years Ago''. Gordon herself wrote the screenplay. The film was directed by George Cukor and stars Jean Simmons, Spencer Tracy, and Teresa Wright, ...

'' (both 1928). Her career continued for almost a decade into the era of sound motion pictures. Lee played Marjory in '' Untamed'' (1929), with

Joan Crawford Joan Crawford (born Lucille Fay LeSueur; March 23, ncertain year from 1904 to 1908was an American actress. She started her career as a dancer in traveling theatrical companies before debuting on Broadway. Crawford was signed to a motion pict ...

and Robert Montgomery. She appeared again with Crawford and

Marie Prevost Marie Prevost (born Marie Bickford Dunn; November 8, 1896 – January 21, 1937) was a Canadian-born film actress. During her 20-year career, she made 121 silent and sound films. Prevost began her career during the silent film era. She was ...

in the prison drama '' Paid'' (1930). In 1931, she was in '' The Galloping Ghost'', with famed football running back

Red Grange Harold Edward "Red" Grange (June 13, 1903 – January 28, 1991), nicknamed "the Galloping Ghost" and "the Wheaton Iceman", was an American football halfback for the University of Illinois, the Chicago Bears, and the short-lived New York Yankees ...

, and the crime drama, ''The Lawless Woman'', with

Vera Reynolds Vera Reynolds (born Vera Nancy Reynolds; November 25, 1899 – April 22, 1962) was an American film actress. Early life and career Born in Richmond, Virginia, in 1899, Reynolds first worked in films at age 12. She began as a dancer, worke ...

. In 1932, she appeared in the Western ''

Broadway to Cheyenne ''Broadway to Cheyenne'' is a 1932 American pre-Code Western film directed by Harry L. Fraser. The film is also known as ''From Broadway to Cheyenne'' (American poster title). The film successfully combines the Western with the gangster film an ...

'' (1932), with

Rex Bell Rex Bell (born George Francis Beldam; October 16, 1903 – July 4, 1962) was an American actor and politician. Bell primarily appeared in Western films during his career. He also appeared in the 1930 movie '' True to the Navy'', starring Clar ...

. By the late 1930s, Lee was appearing in minor film roles most of which were uncredited. Her final film roles were in '' Man-Proof'' and ''Paroled from the Big House'', both in 1938.

Personal life

Lee was sued by her mother, Etta Lepinski, in March 1932. Lee was charged in a petition for guardianship. The suit alleged that Lee was incompetent to handle her affairs, specifically she was incapable of managing her jewelry and personal property, valued in excess of $1,000 (about $17,208 in 2019). The case was filed in

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...

Superior Court. Lee's mother dropped the suit in April, citing improvement in her daughter's health. Later that same year, Lee was also sued by two clothiers for nonpayment. On May 4, 1943, she married George Mence, Jr.

Death

Lee died on August 20, 1961, aged 56, from undisclosed causes in

Reno, Nevada 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 ...

Filmography

References

Additional sources

*''The

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the ...

'', ''Maytime Will Have Ensemble'', August 19, 1923, Page III 37. *''The Los Angeles Times'', ''Gwen Appears'', August 14, 1925, Page A9. *''The Los Angeles Times'', ''Another Discovery'', August 30, 1925, Page D18. *''The Los Angeles Times'', ''Quartet of Beauties Who Will Vie for Eastern Star Cup'', Page B2. *''The Los Angeles Times'', ''Film Displays Fashions'', October 20, 1925, Page A11. *''The Los Angeles Times'', ''Actress Sued On Clothes Account'', May 24, 1932, Page A8.

External links

*
Gwen Lee
at Virtual History {{DEFAULTSORT:Lee, Gwen 1904 births 1961 deaths 20th-century American actresses Actresses from Nebraska Female models from Nebraska American film actresses American silent film actresses American stage actresses Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract players People from Hastings, Nebraska WAMPAS Baby Stars