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Marion Byron

Actor

Marion Byron

Born March 16, 1911 in Dayton, Ohio, USADied July 5, 198537 films

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Marion Byron (born Miriam Bilenkin; March 16, 1911, Dayton, Ohio – July 5, 1985, Santa Monica, California) was an American movie comedian. After following her sister into a short stage career as a singer/dancer, she was given her first movie role as Buster Keaton's leading lady in the film Steamboat Bill, Jr. in 1928. From there she was hired by Hal Roach to co-star in short subjects with Max Davidson, Edgar Kennedy, and Charley Chase, but most significantly with Anita Garvin, where tiny (4'11" in high heels) Marion was teamed with the 6' Anita for a brief three-film series as a "female Laurel & Hardy" in 1928–1929.

She left Roach before they made talkies, but she went on working, now in musical features, like the Vitaphone film Broadway Babies (1929) with Alice White, and the early Technicolor feature, Golden Dawn (1930).

Her parts slowly got smaller until they were unbilled walk-ons in films like Meet the Baron (1933), starring Jack Pearl and Hips Hips Hooray (1934) with Wheeler & Woolsey. Her final screen appearance was as a baby nurse to the Dionne Quintuplets in their film, Five of a Kind (1938).

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The best way into Marion Byron's work
Steamboat Bill, Jr. posterFirst watchSteamboat Bill, Jr.19287.6as Kitty KingThe just-out-of-college, effete son of a no-nonsense steamboat captain comes to visit his father whom he's not seen since he was a child.View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach

Filmography

37 films as actor
  1. 1935SwellheadBessie
  2. 1934Gift of GabTelephone Girl (as Marian Byron)
  3. 1934It Happened One DayGirl on Train
  4. 1934Susie's AffairsVirginia
  5. 1933Only YesterdayGrace (Uncredited)
  6. 1933Meet the BaronCollege Girl (uncredited)
  7. 1933College HumorStudent
  8. 1933Breed of the BorderSonia
  9. 1933The Crime of the CenturyBridge Player (uncredited)
  10. 1933The Curse of a Broken HeartLittle Ivy
  11. 1932They Call It SinSoda Jerk (uncredited)
  12. 1932Trouble in ParadiseMaid (uncredited)
  13. 1932Love Me TonightBakery Girl (uncredited)
  14. 1932The Hollywood Handicap
  15. 1932The TenderfootKitty
  16. 1932The Heart of New YorkMimi
  17. 1932Running HollywoodMarion Byron
  18. 1931Working GirlsEllen (uncredited)
  19. 1931Children of DreamsGertie
  20. 1931Girls Demand ExcitementMargery
  21. 1930The Bad ManAngela Hardy
  22. 1930The Matrimonial BedMarrieanne
  23. 1930Golden DawnJoanna
  24. 1930Song of the WestPenny
  25. 1930Playing AroundMaude
  26. 1929The Show of ShowsPerformer in 'Meet My Sister' Number
  27. 1929The Forward PassMazie
  28. 1929So Long LettyRuth Davis
  29. 1929Broadway BabiesFlorine Chanler
  30. 1929The Unkissed Man
  31. 1929A Pair of TightsMarion
  32. 1929His Captive Woman
  33. 1929Going Ga-GaMarion
  34. 1928Feed 'em and Weep
  35. 1928The Boy FriendMarion Davidson
  36. 1928Plastered in ParisMimi
  37. 1928Steamboat Bill, Jr.Kitty King