Irene Dunne
Biography
Irene Dunne was an American actress who became a leading figure in Golden Age Hollywood. Born in Louisville, Kentucky, and raised in Indiana, she trained as a singer before Broadway musicals led to a contract with RKO and her film debut in Leathernecking (1930). She starred in 42 movies and earned five Academy Award nominations for Best Actress, for Cimarron (1931), Theodora Goes Wild (1936), The Awful Truth (1937), Love Affair (1939), and I Remember Mama (1948). Though she worked across genres, she was best known for comedy and screwball roles, including My Favorite Wife (1940) and Penny Serenade (1941). She also starred in Show Boat (1936), Roberta (1935), Magnificent Obsession (1935), Anna and the King of Siam (1946), Life with Father (1947), and The White Cliffs of Dover (1944). Her last film role came in 1952, and she later appeared in television anthology episodes and performed on radio. In 1985 she received a Kennedy Center Honor.
91years old at death
- Born Louisville
- Died Los Angeles
- Star sign: SagittariusThe sign runs November 22 to December 21
- Also credited as Irene Marie Dunn and Irene Dunn
Movie Career
- Films
- 16
- Career span
- 95 years1931 to 2026
Genres
- Romance69%, 11 films
- Drama56%, 9 films
- Comedy38%, 6 films
- Biography13%, 2 films
- Documentary13%, 2 films
First and latest
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Behind the award
Irene Dunne was the first actor to lose twice in the same category to the same person. Luise Rainer won Best Actress over her in both 1936 and 1937.
First role
Dunne made her Broadway debut on December 25 as Tessie in Zelda Sears's The Clinging Vine. She understudied Peggy Wood and played that role several times in February 1923.
Getting ready for a role
Dunne worked with dialect coach Judith Sater on a Norwegian accent and wore body padding to appear heavier for I Remember Mama.
A role that slipped away
Dunne's final acting credit came in 1962. She also turned down a cameo in Airport '77, and was rumored for unmaterialized movies called Heaven Train and The Wisdom of the Serpent.
Irene Dunne movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Leo McCarey directed two of these films, George Stevens two. Cary Grant appears in four of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Cary Grant's page
Bess Flowers's page
Randolph Scott's page
Van Johnson's page
Elisabeth Risdon's page
All films by Leo McCarey
All films by George Stevens
Also two films together2 more actors
- Scotty BeckettMy Favorite Wife (1940) and Love Affair (1939)
- Dell HendersonLove Affair (1939) and The Awful Truth (1937)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Irene Dunne's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$18.3 million
5 of the 16 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 16 films: 5 worldwide figure; 2 never in cinemas; 9 figure not found.
- 5Worldwide figure
- 2Never in cinemas
- 9Figure not found
Highest grossing
The five biggest films earned 100% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$6.5M35.4% of the total
- 2$5.4M29.4% of the total
- 3$3.0M16.4% of the total
- 4$2.1M11.3% of the total
- 5$1.4M7.6% of the total
Awards
Six awards and honors from 1949 to 1985.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| 1985 | Kennedy Center Honors | Won | |
| 1953 | Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre | Won | |
| 1951 | Los Angeles Times Women of the Year Silver Cup | Won | |
| 1951 | Papal Lateran Cross | Won | |
| 1949 | Laetare Medal | Won | |
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.