Glenda Farrell
Biography
Glenda Farrell was an American actress associated with the fast-talking, wisecracking blond characters of Classic Hollywood. Born in Enid, Oklahoma, she performed with theater companies from childhood and later appeared in Broadway productions before signing with Warner Bros. Her first major film role came in Little Caesar (1931), and she went on to appear in I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932), Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933), and Lady for a Day (1933). In 1937 she began playing reporter Torchy Blane, a role that made her especially popular across a series of films. When her Warner Bros. contract ended in 1939, she continued working in film, television, and theater, with later credits including Johnny Eager (1941), The Talk of the Town (1942), Middle of the Night (1959), and Kissin' Cousins (1964). She won a 1963 Emmy Award for her supporting performance in Ben Casey, and her final stage work was the Broadway play Forty Carats.
66years old at death
- Born Enid
- Died New York City
- Star sign: CancerThe sign runs June 21 to July 22
Movie Career
- Films
- 20
- Career span
- 33 years1931 to 1964
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Getting ready for a role
Before she took on the first Torchy, Farrell decided to build a real human being instead of an exaggerated comedy type. She met newswomen who came to Hollywood and watched them work on trips to New York City.
A first
Jerry Siegel, who wrote comic books, said that Glenda Farrell's Torchy Blane gave him the idea for Lois Lane, the reporter at the Daily Planet and Superman's love interest.
Glenda Farrell movies on Netflix
Kissin' Cousinsas Ma Tatum
The Disorderly Orderlyas Dr. Jean Howard
Middle of the Nightas Mrs Mueller
The Girl in the Red Velvet Swingas Mrs. Nesbit
Secret of the Incasas Mrs. Winston
Susan Slept Hereas Maude Snodgrass
I Love Troubleas Hazel Bixby
City Without Menas Billie LaRue
The Talk of the Townas Regina Bush
Johnny Eageras Mae Blythe
Torchy Runs for Mayoras Torchy Blane
Breakfast for Twoas Carol Wallace
Gold Diggers of 1937as Genevieve Larkin
Gold Diggers of 1935as Betty Hawes
Lady for a Dayas Missouri Martin
Man's Castleas Fay La Rue
Mary Stevens, M.D.as Glenda Carroll
Mystery of the Wax Museumas Florence Dempsey
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gangas Marie
Little Caesaras Olga Stassoff
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Mervyn LeRoy directed three of these films, Frank Tashlin two and Lloyd Bacon two. Three actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.








Films together
Irving Bacon3 films together, 1932 to 1939
Irving Bacon's page Torchy Runs for Mayor1939IMDb rating 6.3Farrell as Torchy BlaneBacon as Hubert Ward
Lady for a Day1933IMDb rating 7.4Farrell as Missouri MartinBacon as Pool Hall Dupe
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang1932IMDb rating 8.2Farrell as MarieBacon as Bill - Barber
Dick Powell3 films together, 1935 to 1954
Dick Powell's page Susan Slept Here1954IMDb rating 6.4Farrell as Maude SnodgrassPowell as Mark Christopher
Gold Diggers of 19371936IMDb rating 6.4Farrell as Genevieve LarkinPowell as Rosmer Peck
Gold Diggers of 19351935IMDb rating 6.8Farrell as Betty HawesPowell as Dick Curtis
Harry C. Bradley3 films together, 1933 to 1943
Harry C. Bradley's page City Without Men1943IMDb rating 5.3Farrell as Billie LaRueBradley as Superintendent - Board of Education
Gold Diggers of 19371936IMDb rating 6.4Farrell as Genevieve LarkinBradley as Dr. Henry
Lady for a Day1933IMDb rating 7.4Farrell as Missouri MartinBradley as Hotel Mail Clerk Lloyd
Edgar Buchanan2 films together, 1942 to 1943
Edgar Buchanan's page City Without Men1943IMDb rating 5.3Farrell as Billie LaRueBuchanan as Judge Michael T. Mallory
The Talk of the Town1942IMDb rating 7.5Farrell as Regina BushBuchanan as Sam Yates
Lloyd Bridges2 films together, 1942 to 1943
Lloyd Bridges's page City Without Men1943IMDb rating 5.3Farrell as Billie LaRueBridges as Coast Guard Helmsman
The Talk of the Town1942IMDb rating 7.5Farrell as Regina BushBridges as Donald Forrester
Joseph Crehan2 films together, 1936 to 1943
Joseph Crehan's page City Without Men1943IMDb rating 5.3Farrell as Billie LaRueCrehan as Father Burns
Gold Diggers of 19371936IMDb rating 6.4Farrell as Genevieve LarkinCrehan as Chairman
Mervyn LeRoyDirector, 3 films, 1931 to 1941
All films by Mervyn LeRoy Johnny Eager1941IMDb rating 7.1Farrell as Mae Blythe
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang1932IMDb rating 8.2Farrell as Marie
Little Caesar1931IMDb rating 7.1Farrell as Olga Stassoff
Frank TashlinDirector, 2 films, 1954 to 1964
All films by Frank Tashlin The Disorderly Orderly1964IMDb rating 6.4Farrell as Dr. Jean Howard
Susan Slept Here1954IMDb rating 6.4Farrell as Maude Snodgrass
Lloyd BaconDirector, 2 films, 1933 to 1936
All films by Lloyd Bacon Gold Diggers of 19371936IMDb rating 6.4Farrell as Genevieve Larkin
Mary Stevens, M.D.1933IMDb rating 6.6Farrell as Glenda Carroll
Also two films together12 more actors
- Frank McHughGold Diggers of 1935 (1935) and Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933)
- Sidney BraceyTorchy Runs for Mayor (1939) and Breakfast for Two (1937)
- William B. DavidsonGold Diggers of 1937 (1936) and Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933)
- Alvy MooreSecret of the Incas (1954) and Susan Slept Here (1954)
- Chuck HamiltonLady for a Day (1933) and Mary Stevens, M.D. (1933)
- Wallis ClarkLady for a Day (1933) and Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933)
- Walter ConnollyLady for a Day (1933) and Man's Castle (1933)
- Charles DingleThe Talk of the Town (1942) and Johnny Eager (1941)
- Ferike BorosThe Talk of the Town (1942) and Little Caesar (1931)
- Joe DowningJohnny Eager (1941) and Torchy Runs for Mayor (1939)
- Thomas E. JacksonMystery of the Wax Museum (1933) and Little Caesar (1931)
- George CooperLady for a Day (1933) and Mary Stevens, M.D. (1933)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Awards
Two awards and honors from 1960 to 1963, one of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emmy Awards | |||
| 1963 | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Ben Casey | Won |
| Other honors | |||
| 1960 | Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | |
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.


