Home > Norma Shearer

She was one of the Canadian pioneers in early Hollywood. Starting as a film extra in 1920, she was already a popular star in 1927 when she married MGM's second-in-command Irving Thalberg, with whom she had two children. Shearer won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in The Divorcee in 1930. She was nominated the same year for her role in Their Own DesireTheir Own Desire is a 1930 film which tells the story of a young woman who is upset by the knowledge that her father is divorcing her mother in order to marry another woman. Her own feelings change, however, when she falls in love with a young man who tur, in 19311931 is the common year starting on Thursday. see link for calendar) Events January January 4 Female aviator Elly Beinhorn begins her flight to Africa January 6 Thomas Edison submits his last patent application. January 22 Sir Isaac Isaacs sworn in as the for her role in A Free SoulA Free Soul is a 1931 film which tells the story of an alcoholic defense attorney who must defend his daughter's ex-boyfriend on a charge of murdering the mobster she had started a relationship with, a mobster whom her father had gotten an acquittal on a, in 1934Events January-April January 1 Alcatraz becomes a federal prison. January 7 First Flash Gordon comic strip is published. January 10 Execution of Marinus van der Lubbe January 24 Einstein visits White House January 26 The Apollo Theater opens in Harlem, Ne for The Barretts of Wimpole StreetThe Barretts of Wimpole Street is a 1934 film detailing the real-life romance between poets Elizabeth Barrett ( Norma Shearer) and Robert Browning ( Fredric March), despite the opposition of her father, played by Charles Laughton. The film was nominated f, in 1936Events January-February January 15 The first building to be completely covered in glass is completed in Toledo, Ohio, for the Owens-Illinois Glass Company. January 20 Death of George V of the United Kingdom. His son Edward VIII succeedes him as King of th for Romeo and Juliet , and in 1938Events January -June January 3 The March of Dimes is established by Franklin Delano Roosevelt. January 11 Frances Moulton is the first woman to become president of a US national bank. January 20 Wedding of king Farouk I of Egypt and Farida Zulficar in Cai for Marie AntoinetteMarie Antoinette was a 1938 film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed by W. Van Dyke and starred Norma Shearer as Marie Antoinette, Tyrone Power, John Barrymore, Robert Morley, Anita Louise, Joseph Schildkraut and Gladys George. It was based u which was reputedly her favorite role.

After Thalberg died in 1936Events January-February January 15 The first building to be completely covered in glass is completed in Toledo, Ohio, for the Owens-Illinois Glass Company. January 20 Death of George V of the United Kingdom. His son Edward VIII succeedes him as King of th, Shearer embarked upon a series of little known but enthusiastic love affairs, including one with teenage film star Mickey Rooney and tough-guy actor George Raft. She retired from acting in 1942 and married Martín Arrouge, a ski enthusiast quite a few years her junior. Confounding the skeptics, they were still happily married at the time of her death, though in her declining years she reportedly called Arrouge "Irving."

She has a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6636 Hollywood Boulevard, and is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery, in a crypt emblazoned with the name "Norma Arrouge," next to film star Jean Harlow.