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Born Leila Marie Koerber in Cobourg, Ontario, she became a leading comedienne during the silent film era. At the age of 14 she began her acting career in theatre and in 1892 she made her debut on Broadway. At first she hoped to make a career of singing light Opera, but then gravitated to Vaudeville.
During the early 1900s she became a major vaudeville star and it was in 1902 that she met fellow Canadian, Mack Sennett, and helped him get a job in the theater. In addition to her stage work, Dressler recorded for Edison Records in 1909 and 1910Events January events January 13 The first live musical radio program. Lee De Forest broadcasts a live performance of Enrico Caruso from the Metropolitan Opera. January 26 ? Seine floods in Paris. February events February 8 The Boy Scouts of America is in. After Sennett became the owner his namesake motion picture studio, he convinced Dressler to star in his 1914Events January 4 77 seal hunters freeze to death on ice near Labrador January 5 Ford Motor Company announces an eight-hour workday and a minimum wage of $5 for a day's labor February 13 Copyright: In New York City the ASCAP (for American Society of Compos film Tillie's Punctured RomanceTillie's Punctured Romance is the name of two early comedy films made in 1914 and 1928: Tillie's Punctured Romance (1914 film starring Charlie Chaplin Tillie's Punctured Romance (1928 film starring W. opposite Sennett’s newly discovered actor, Charlie ChaplinFor the Jamaican musician named Charlie Chaplin, see Charlie Chaplin (singer). Sir Charles "Charlie" Spencer Chaplin ( April 16, 1889 December 25, 1977) was the most famous actor in early to mid Hollywood cinema, and later also a notable director. His pri. Dressler appeared in two more "Tillie" sequels plus other comedies until 1918Events January January 8 President Woodrow Wilson announces his " Fourteen Points" for the aftermath of World War I. February February 3 The Twin Peaks Tunnel begins service in San Francisco as the longest streetcar tunnel in the world (11,920 feet long). when she returned to work in vaudeville.
In 1927Centuries: 19th century 20th century 21st century Decades: 1870s 1880s 1890s 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s Years: 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 See also 1927 in aviation 1927 in film 1927 in literature 1927 in mu, after she had been secretly blacklisted by the theater production companies due to her strong stance in a labor dispute, a friend at MGM studios worked to get her a job and it would turn out to be another Canadian who gave her the opportunity to return to motion pictures. That Canadian was MGM studio boss Louis B. MayerMayer ( July 4, 1885 October 29, 1957) was a Jewish American film producer. Born Eliezer Meir in Minsk, Russia, (now Belarus), his family immigrated to Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada when he was still very young and Mayer attended school there. On Nove who referred to her as the most adored person ever to set foot in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio.
A robust woman of very plain features, Marie Dressler’s comedy films proved to be very popular with the movie-going public and an equally lucrative investment for MGM. Although past sixty years of age, she quickly became Hollywood’s number one box office attraction and stayed on top for four straight years. In addition to her comedic genius, she also demonstrated her considerable talents by taking on serious roles. For her starring portrayal in Min and Bill she won the 1931 Academy Award for Best Actress. Dressler was nominated again for Best Actress for her 1932 role as Emma. With that film, Dressler demonstrated her profound generosity to other performers: Dressler personally insisted that her studio bosses cast a friend of hers and then largely unknown young actor, Richard Cromwell, in the lead opposite her--it was a break that helped launch his career.
Dressler followed these successes with more hits in 1933 but her career came to an abrupt end when she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. In all, Marie Dressler appeared in more than 40 films. Always seeing herself as physically unattractive, she authored an autobiography, The Life Story of an Ugly Duckling.
Marie Dressler died in Santa Barbara, California and was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.
She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1731 Vine Street.. Each year the Marie Dressler Film Festival is held in her home town of Cobourg, Ontario.
More recently, an excellent biography was published entitled: Marie Dressler: The Unlikliest Star. Ontario resident and author Betty Lee wrote it in the late 90s after conducting extensive interviews and compiling years of research.