Gloria Swanson
Biography
Gloria Swanson was an American actress who first gained fame in silent films during the 1920s. Born in Chicago, she began her screen career as an extra at Essanay Studios and then worked in Mack Sennett's Keystone comedy shorts. After signing with Famous Players-Lasky, she starred in Cecil B. DeMille's Male and Female (1919) and in films such as The Affairs of Anatol (1921), Beyond the Rocks (1922), and Zaza (1923). In 1925 she joined United Artists as a pioneering woman filmmaker, producing and starring in Sadie Thompson (1928), which brought her a Best Actress nomination at the first Academy Awards. Her sound debut, The Trespasser (1929), earned a second nomination, while Queen Kelly became a remembered silent classic. After her film success waned, she returned as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard (1950), winning a Golden Globe and another Academy Award nomination. She later appeared in television and stage productions. Swanson died in 1983.
84years old at death
- Born Chicago
- Died Weill Cornell Medical Center
- Star sign: AriesThe sign runs March 21 to April 19
- Gloria May Josephine Swanson (birth name)Also credited as Josephine Swenson, Gloria Josephine May Swanson, Gloria Mae Swanson, Gloria May Josephine Svensson and Gloria Josephine Mae Swanson
Movie Career
- Films
- 11
- Career span
- 35 years1915 to 1950
First and latest
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A first
Swanson produced and starred in Sadie Thompson, which earned her a Best Actress nomination at the first annual Academy Awards.
A first
In 1948, Swanson invited friends and others to appear as guests on The Gloria Swanson Hour, a live television series she hosted that was among the first of its kind.
A first
Swanson's final major Hollywood motion picture part came in 1952, in 3 for Bedroom C. That film was also her first in color, and it was poorly received.
Gloria Swanson movies on Netflix
Sunset Boulevardas Norma Desmond
Queen Kellyas Kitty Kelly / Queen Kelly
The Trespasseras Marion Donnell
Sadie Thompsonas Sadie Thompson
The Love of Sunyaas Sunya Ashling
Zazaas Zaza
Beyond the Rocksas Theodora Fitzgerald
The Affairs of Anatolas Vivian Spencer - Anatol's Wife
Why Change Your Wife?as Beth Gordon
Male and Femaleas Lady Mary Lasenby
His New Jobas Stenographer
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Cecil B. DeMille directed three of these films. 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
Lucien Littlefield3 films together, 1920 to 1922
Lucien Littlefield's page Beyond the Rocks1922IMDb rating 6.7Swanson as Theodora FitzgeraldLittlefield as Sir Lionel Grey's Associate
The Affairs of Anatol1921IMDb rating 6.6Swanson as Vivian Spencer - Anatol's WifeLittlefield as Spencer's Valet
Why Change Your Wife?1920IMDb rating 6.7Swanson as Beth GordonLittlefield as Gordon's Butler
Julia Faye3 films together, 1919 to 1921
Julia Faye's page The Affairs of Anatol1921IMDb rating 6.6Swanson as Vivian Spencer - Anatol's WifeFaye as Tibra
Why Change Your Wife?1920IMDb rating 6.7Swanson as Beth GordonFaye as Girl in Bathing Suit
Male and Female1919IMDb rating 7.0Swanson as Lady Mary LasenbyFaye as Susan - Maid #2
Bebe Daniels3 films together, 1919 to 1921
Bebe Daniels's page The Affairs of Anatol1921IMDb rating 6.6Swanson as Vivian Spencer - Anatol's WifeDaniels as Satan Synne
Why Change Your Wife?1920IMDb rating 6.7Swanson as Beth GordonDaniels as Sally Clark
Male and Female1919IMDb rating 7.0Swanson as Lady Mary LasenbyDaniels as The King's Favorite
Raymond Hatton2 films together, 1919 to 1921
Raymond Hatton's page The Affairs of Anatol1921IMDb rating 6.6Swanson as Vivian Spencer - Anatol's WifeHatton as Great Blatsky - Violin Teacher
Male and Female1919IMDb rating 7.0Swanson as Lady Mary LasenbyHatton as Honorable Ernest Wolley
H.B. Warner2 films together, 1923 to 1950
H.B. Warner's page Sunset Boulevard1950IMDb rating 8.4Swanson as Norma DesmondWarner as H.B. Warner
Zaza1923IMDb rating 6.6Swanson as ZazaWarner as Bernard Dufresne
William Boyd2 films together, 1920 to 1921
William Boyd's page The Affairs of Anatol1921IMDb rating 6.6Swanson as Vivian Spencer - Anatol's WifeBoyd as Guest
Why Change Your Wife?1920IMDb rating 6.7Swanson as Beth GordonBoyd as Naval Officer at Hotel
Cecil B. DeMilleDirector, 3 films, 1919 to 1921
All films by Cecil B. DeMille The Affairs of Anatol1921IMDb rating 6.6Swanson as Vivian Spencer - Anatol's Wife
Why Change Your Wife?1920IMDb rating 6.7Swanson as Beth Gordon
Male and Female1919IMDb rating 7.0Swanson as Lady Mary Lasenby
Also two films together11 more actors
- Madame Sul-Te-WanQueen Kelly (1929) and Why Change Your Wife? (1920)
- Blanche FridericiThe Trespasser (1929) and Sadie Thompson (1928)
- Clarence BurtonWhy Change Your Wife? (1920) and Male and Female (1919)
- Robert BolderBeyond the Rocks (1922) and His New Job (1915)
- Theodore RobertsThe Affairs of Anatol (1921) and Male and Female (1919)
- Sylvia AshtonQueen Kelly (1929) and Why Change Your Wife? (1920)
- Thomas MeighanWhy Change Your Wife? (1920) and Male and Female (1919)
- Edna Mae CooperWhy Change Your Wife? (1920) and Male and Female (1919)
- Florence FairThe Love of Sunya (1927) and Zaza (1923)
- Theodore KosloffThe Affairs of Anatol (1921) and Why Change Your Wife? (1920)
- Mayme KelsoWhy Change Your Wife? (1920) and Male and Female (1919)
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, one of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Globes | |||
| 1951 | Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama | Sunset Boulevard | Won |
| Other honors | |||
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.


