Pauline Theresa Moran (June 28, 1883 – January 25, 1952) billed as Polly Moran, was an American actress of vaudeville, stage and screen and comedian.

Career

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Moran started in

vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment born in France at the end of the 19th century. A vaudeville was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a dramatic composition ...

, and widely toured North America, as well as various other locations that included Europe and South Africa. An attractive beauty of Irish descent, she left vaudeville in 1914 after signing for Mack Sennett at

Keystone Studios Keystone Studios was an early film studio founded in Edendale, California (which is now a part of Echo Park) on July 4, 1912 as the Keystone Pictures Studio by Mack Sennett with backing from actor-writer Adam Kessel (1866–1946) and Charl ...

as one of his

Sennett Bathing Beauties Sennett Bathing Beauties was a bevy of women performing in bathing costumes assembled by film producer Mack Sennett during the silent film era. Description The Sennett Bathing Beauties appeared in Mack Sennett comedy short subjects, in promotio ...

. There she honed the style of the brash, loud-mouthed, knock-about comedian by which she later became known. She proved effective at

slapstick Slapstick is a style of humor involving exaggerated physical activity that exceeds the boundaries of normal physical comedy. Slapstick may involve both intentional violence and violence by mishap, often resulting from inept use of props such ...

and remained with Sennett for several years until she was signed by MGM. She partnered with the famous Broadway star

Marie Dressler Marie Dressler (born Leila Marie Koerber, November 9, 1868 – July 28, 1934) was a Canadian stage and screen actress, comedian, and early silent film and Depression-era film star. In 1914, she was in the first full-length film comedy. Sh ...

in '' The Callahans and the Murphys'' (1927); and the two appeared in eight additional films together, such as '' Chasing Rainbows'' (1930), '' Caught Short'' (1930), and ''

Prosperity Prosperity is the flourishing, thriving, good fortune and successful social status. Prosperity often produces profuse wealth including other factors which can be profusely wealthy in all degrees, such as happiness and health. Competing notions ...

'' (1932). After Dressler's death in 1934, Moran's career declined, and she only starred in low-budget comedies or B-movies. In 1940, Moran retired to her home in Laguna Beach, California, but maintained an active Hollywood social life and was known for practical jokes. She once ran a failed campaign for a Laguna Beach City Council seat on a "Pro Dogs" platform. She made a brief comeback appearance in the Tracy-Hepburn classic comedy ''

Adam's Rib ''Adam's Rib'' is a 1949 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by George Cukor from a screenplay written by Ruth Gordon and Garson Kanin. It stars Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn as married lawyers who come to oppose each other in ...

'' in 1949. After playing the role, she said "I worked in the picture two days before I got a look at myself. I never went back."

Honors

Moran has a star on the

Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a historic landmark which consists of more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, Calif ...

at 6300

Hollywood Boulevard Hollywood Boulevard is a major east–west street in Los Angeles, California. It begins in the east at Sunset Boulevard in the Los Feliz district and proceeds to the west as a major thoroughfare through Little Armenia and Thai Town, Hollywoo ...

Personal life and death

After a marriage that ended in divorce in 1917, Moran married attorney and former prizefighter Martin T. Malone in 1933. Malone was abusive; he beat her and threatened to kill her, but she would not leave him. She had one child, a son, who was adopted between her two marriages. She lived at 530 Mountain Road in

Laguna Beach, California Laguna Beach (; ''Laguna'', Spanish for "Lagoon") is a seaside resort city located in southern Orange County, California, in the United States. It is known for its mild year-round climate, scenic coves, environmental preservation efforts, an ...

. Moran died of

cardiovascular disease Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels. CVD includes coronary artery diseases (CAD) such as angina and myocardial infarction (commonly known as a heart attack). Other CVDs include stroke, hea ...

in 1952. Although a number of biographies give Moran's date of death as being January 25, 1952, her grave marker reads January 24, 1952.

Partial filmography

*''

Their Social Splash ''Their Social Splash'' is a 1915 short comedy film featuring Harold Lloyd. Cast * Slim Summerville - Harold * Dixie Chene - Gladys * Charles Murray - Hogan * Polly Moran - Polly * Frank Hayes - The Father * Harold Lloyd - The Minister * Ha ...

'' (1915, Short) - Polly - the Unruly Guest *'' The Pullman Bride'' (1917, Short) - Sheriff Nell - the Pullman Drunk's Wife *'' Skirts'' (1921) *''

Two Weeks with Pay ''Two Weeks with Pay'' is a lost 1921 American silent comedy romance film starring Bebe Daniels and directed by Maurice Campbell. Cast *Bebe Daniels as Pansy O'Donnell / Marie La Tour *Jack Mulhall as J. Livingston Smith * Jim Mason as Montag ...

'' (1921) - Chambermaid *'' The Affairs of Anatol'' (1921) - Orchestra Leader (uncredited) *''Luck'' (1923) - Dumb Dora - Fight Enthusiast *''

The Blackbird ''The Blackbird'' is a 1926 American silent crime film directed by Tod Browning and starring Lon Chaney. The screenplay was written by Waldemar Young, based on a story "The Mockingbird" by Tod Browning (which was originally supposed to be the ...

'' (1926) - Flower Lady at Music Hall (uncredited) *''

The Scarlet Letter ''The Scarlet Letter: A Romance'' is a work of historical fiction by American author Nathaniel Hawthorne, published in 1850. Set in the Puritan Massachusetts Bay Colony during the years 1642 to 1649, the novel tells the story of Hester Prynne ...

'' (1926) - Jeering Townswoman (uncredited) *'' Twinkletoes'' (1926) - Minor Role (uncredited) *''

Flesh and the Devil ''Flesh and the Devil'' is an American silent romantic drama film released in 1927 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and stars Greta Garbo, John Gilbert, Lars Hanson, and Barbara Kent, directed by Clarence Brown, and based on the novel ''The Undying ...

'' (1926) - Family Retainer with Bouquet (uncredited) *'' The Show'' (1927) - Sideshow Spectator (uncredited) *'' The Callahans and the Murphys'' (1927) - Mrs. Murphy *'' The Thirteenth Hour'' (1927) - Polly *'' London After Midnight'' (1927) - Miss Smithson, the New Maid *'' The Enemy'' (1927) - Baruska *'' Buttons'' (1927) - Polly *''

The Divine Woman ''The Divine Woman'' (1928) is an American silent film directed by Victor Sjöström and starring Greta Garbo. Produced and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Only a single nine-minute reel and an additional 45-second excerpt are currently k ...

'' (1928) - Mme. Pigonier *'' Rose-Marie'' (1928) - Lady Jane *''

Bringing Up Father ''Bringing Up Father'' is an American comic strip created by cartoonist George McManus. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, it ran for 87 years, from January 2, 1913, to May 28, 2000. The strip was later titled ''Jiggs and Maggie'' (or ...

'' (1928) - Maggie Jiggs *'' The Trail of '98'' (1928) - Lars' Nagging Wife (uncredited) *''Detectives'' (1928) - Hotel Guest (uncredited) *'' Telling the World'' (1928) - Landlady *'' Beyond the Sierras'' (1928) - Inez *'' While the City Sleeps'' (1928) - Mrs. Minnie McGinnis *'' Show People'' (1928) - The Maid *'' Shadows of the Night'' (1928) - Entertainer *''

A Lady of Chance ''A Lady of Chance'' is a 1928 silent film directed by Robert Z. Leonard. The film is based upon the story "Little Angel" by Leroy Scott and is Norma Shearer's last silent film. Although the film was released with added dialogue scenes, Sheare ...

'' (1928) - Hotel Maid Who Coughs (uncredited) *''

Honeymoon A honeymoon is a vacation taken by newlyweds immediately after their wedding, to celebrate their marriage. Today, honeymoons are often celebrated in destinations considered exotic or romantic. In a similar context, it may also refer to the phase ...

'' (1928) - Polly *''The Five O'Clock Girl'' (1928) *'' China Bound'' (1929) - Sarah *'' The Hollywood Revue of 1929'' (1929) - Polly Moran *'' Speedway'' (1929) - Waitress *''

The Unholy Night ''The Unholy Night'' is a 1929 American pre-Code mystery film directed by Lionel Barrymore and starring Ernest Torrence. Plot The well-to-do Lord Montague is assaulted on a fog enshrouded London street on his way to his club, but manages to es ...

'' (1929) - Polly - the Maid *'' So This Is College'' (1929) - Polly *'' Hot for Paris'' (1929) - Polly *'' Crazy House'' (1930, a short comedy with Benny Rubin) *'' Chasing Rainbows'' (1930) - Polly *'' The Girl Said No'' (1930) - Polly *'' Caught Short'' (1930) - Polly Smith *'' Way Out West'' (1930) - Pansy *'' Those Three French Girls'' (1930) - Elmer's Wife (uncredited) *'' Way for a Sailor'' (1930) - Polly *''

Remote Control In electronics, a remote control (also known as a remote or clicker) is an electronic device used to operate another device from a distance, usually wirelessly. In consumer electronics, a remote control can be used to operate devices such ...

'' (1930) - Polly *'' Paid'' (1930) - Polly (uncredited) *'' Reducing'' (1931) - Polly Rochay *'' The Stolen Jools'' (1931, Short) - Norma Shearer's Maid *'' It's a Wise Child'' (1931) - Bertha *''

Politics Politics (from , ) is the set of activities that are associated with making decisions in groups, or other forms of power relations among individuals, such as the distribution of resources or status. The branch of social science that studies ...

'' (1931) - Ivy Higgins *'' Guilty Hands'' (1931) - Aunt Maggie *''

The Passionate Plumber ''The Passionate Plumber'' is a 1932 American pre-Code comedy film directed by Edward Sedgwick, and starring Buster Keaton, Jimmy Durante, and Irene Purcell. The screenplay by Laurence E. Johnson and Ralph Spence is based on the 1926 play ''D ...

'' (1932) - Albine *''

'' (1932) - Lizzie Praskins *''Le plombier amoureux'' (1932) - Patricia Alden *''

Alice in Wonderland ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'' (commonly ''Alice in Wonderland'') is an 1865 English novel by Lewis Carroll. It details the story of a young girl named Alice who falls through a rabbit hole into a fantasy world of anthropomorphic creatur ...

'' (1933) - Dodo Bird *'' Hollywood Party'' (1934) - Henrietta Clemp *'' Down to Their Last Yacht'' (1934) - Nella Fitzgerald *'' Two Wise Maids'' (1937) - Prudence Matthews *''

Ladies in Distress ''Ladies in Distress'' is a 1938 American drama film directed by Gus Meins and written by Dorrell McGowan and Stuart E. McGowan. The film stars Alison Skipworth, Polly Moran, Robert Livingston, Virginia Grey, Max Terhune and Berton Churchill. T ...

'' (1938) - Lydia Bonney *'' Red River Range'' (1938) - Mrs. Maxwell *''

Ambush An ambush is a long-established military tactic in which a combatant uses an advantage of concealment or the element of surprise to attack unsuspecting enemy combatants from concealed positions, such as among dense underbrush or behind moun ...

'' (1939) - Cora, diner owner *''

Tom Brown's School Days ''Tom Brown's School Days'' (sometimes written ''Tom Brown's Schooldays'', also published under the titles ''Tom Brown at Rugby'', ''School Days at Rugby'', and ''Tom Brown's School Days at Rugby'') is an 1857 novel by Thomas Hughes. The stor ...

'' (1940) - Sally Harowell *'' Meet the Missus'' (1940) - Widow Ella Jones *'' Petticoat Politics'' (1941) - Widow Jones *''

'' (1949) - Mrs. McGrath *''

The Yellow Cab Man ''The Yellow Cab Man'' is a 1950 comedy film directed by Jack Donohue and starring Red Skelton, Gloria DeHaven and Edward Arnold. The inventor of unbreakable glass ("Elastiglass") tries to sell it to a taxicab company, hoping that they will mak ...

'' (1950) - Bride's Mother (final film role)

References

External links

* * *
Polly Moran profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Moran, Polly 1883 births 1952 deaths American women comedians 19th-century American actresses American stage actresses American film actresses American silent film actresses Actresses from Chicago Vaudeville performers Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract players Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) 20th-century American actresses Comedians from Illinois 20th-century American comedians