Loretta Young

Biography

Loretta Young was an American actress whose career began in silent film. Born in Salt Lake City, she moved with her family to Hollywood as a child and took her first, uncredited screen part in Sweet Kitty Bellairs (1916). Billed early as Gretchen Young, she appeared in 1928 as Loretta Young in The Whip Woman and starred with Lon Chaney in Laugh, Clown, Laugh. She was also chosen as a WAMPAS Baby Star. Her films of the 1930s and 1940s included Platinum Blonde (1931), Born to Be Bad (1934), Call of the Wild (1935), The Stranger (1946) and The Bishop's Wife (1947). The Farmer's Daughter (1947) brought her the Academy Award for Best Actress, and Come to the Stable (1949) earned her another nomination. From 1953 to 1961 she hosted and acted in The Loretta Young Show, which brought her three Primetime Emmy Awards, and she won a Golden Globe for the television film Christmas Eve (1986).

87years old at death

Born January 6, 1913Salt Lake City
Died August 12, 2000Los Angeles
Star sign: CapricornThe sign runs December 22 to January 19
Gretchen Michaela Young (birth name)Also credited as Gretchen Young

Movie Career

Films: 27
Career span: 30 years1921 to 1951

Genres

Drama59%, 16 films
Romance52%, 14 films
Comedy41%, 11 films
Adventure15%, 4 films
Crime15%, 4 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

First role
Young's first role was in the silent film Sweet Kitty Bellairs, made in 1916. She was just three years old at the time, and the part went uncredited.
About the name
Billed as Gretchen Young, she appeared in the silent movie Sirens of the Sea in 1917. She first used the name Loretta Young in 1928, in the First National Pictures movie The Whip Woman.
A first
For eight years, The Loretta Young Show aired in prime time. At that time, no other primetime network program hosted by a woman had run longer.

Loretta Young movies on Netflix

Cause for Alarm!1951IMDb rating 6.4as Ellen Jones
Come to the Stable1949IMDb rating 7.1as Sister Margaret
The Accused1949IMDb rating 6.8as Dr. Wilma Tuttle
Rachel and the Stranger1948IMDb rating 7.0as Rachel
The Bishop's Wife1947IMDb rating 7.6as Julia Brougham
The Farmer's Daughter1947IMDb rating 7.2as Katrin Holstrom
The Stranger1946IMDb rating 7.3as Mary Longstreet
Along Came Jones1945IMDb rating 6.5as Cherry de Longpre
Eternally Yours1939IMDb rating 5.6as Anita Halstead
The Story of Alexander Graham Bell1939IMDb rating 6.9as Mrs. Mabel Hubbard Bell
Wife, Husband and Friend1939IMDb rating 6.2as Doris Borland
Four Men and a Prayer1938IMDb rating 6.2as Lynn Cherrington
Love Is News1937IMDb rating 6.9as Tony Gateson
Wife, Doctor and Nurse1937IMDb rating 6.0as Ina Heath Lewis
Call of the Wild1935IMDb rating 6.8as Claire Blake
Born to Be Bad1934IMDb rating 6.1as Letty Strong
The House of Rothschild1934IMDb rating 6.4as Julie Rothschild
Employees' Entrance1933IMDb rating 7.2as Madeleine Walters West
Heroes for Sale1933IMDb rating 7.3as Ruth Loring
Man's Castle1933IMDb rating 7.1as Trina
Midnight Mary1933IMDb rating 7.0as Mary
Taxi!1932IMDb rating 6.6as Sue Riley Nolan
Beau Ideal1931IMDb rating 5.0as Isobel Brandon
Platinum Blonde1931IMDb rating 6.7as Gallagher
The Devil to Pay!1930IMDb rating 6.6as Dorothy Hope
Laugh, Clown, Laugh1928IMDb rating 7.5as Simonetta
The Sheik1921IMDb rating 6.2as Arab Child

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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The Stranger1946 Crime, Thrilleras Mary Longstreet
IMDb rating 7.331K votes
The Bishop's Wife1947 Comedy, Drama, Fantasyas Julia Brougham
IMDb rating 7.624K votes
The Farmer's Daughter1947as Katrin Holstrom
IMDb rating 7.23.3K votes
Rachel and the Stranger1948as Rachel
IMDb rating 7.03.1K votes
Cause for Alarm!1951as Ellen Jones
IMDb rating 6.43.0K votes
Come to the Stable1949as Sister Margaret
IMDb rating 7.11.8K votes
Platinum Blonde1931as Gallagher
IMDb rating 6.74.0K votes
Call of the Wild1935as Claire Blake
IMDb rating 6.82.9K votes

Most often with

William A. Wellman directed three of these films, Tay Garnett three and Henry Koster two. Berton Churchill 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.

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Berton Churchill

David Niven

Reginald Owen

C. Aubrey Smith

Frank Conroy

Cary Grant

William A. WellmanDirector, 3 films

Tay GarnettDirector, 3 films Henry KosterDirector, 2 films

Films together

Berton Churchill4 films together, 1932 to 1938
Berton Churchill's page
- Four Men and a Prayer1938IMDb rating 6.2Young as Lynn CherringtonChurchill as Martin Cherrington
- Employees' Entrance1933IMDb rating 7.2Young as Madeleine Walters WestChurchill as Bradford
- Heroes for Sale1933IMDb rating 7.3Young as Ruth LoringChurchill as Mr. Winston
- Taxi!1932IMDb rating 6.6Young as Sue Riley NolanChurchill as Judge West
David Niven3 films together, 1938 to 1947
David Niven's page
- The Bishop's Wife1947IMDb rating 7.6Young as Julia BroughamNiven as Henry Brougham
- Eternally Yours1939IMDb rating 5.6Young as Anita HalsteadNiven as Tony aka The Great Arturo
- Four Men and a Prayer1938IMDb rating 6.2Young as Lynn CherringtonNiven as Christopher Leigh
Reginald Owen3 films together, 1931 to 1935
Reginald Owen's page
- Call of the Wild1935IMDb rating 6.8Young as Claire BlakeOwen as Mr. Smith
- The House of Rothschild1934IMDb rating 6.4Young as Julie RothschildOwen as Herries
- Platinum Blonde1931IMDb rating 6.7Young as GallagherOwen as Dexter Grayson
C. Aubrey Smith3 films together, 1934 to 1939
C. Aubrey Smith's page
- Eternally Yours1939IMDb rating 5.6Young as Anita HalsteadSmith as Gramps aka Bishop Peabody
- Four Men and a Prayer1938IMDb rating 6.2Young as Lynn CherringtonSmith as Loring Leigh
- The House of Rothschild1934IMDb rating 6.4Young as Julie RothschildSmith as Duke of Wellington
Frank Conroy3 films together, 1933 to 1937
Frank Conroy's page
- Love Is News1937IMDb rating 6.9Young as Tony GatesonConroy as A.G. Findlay
- Call of the Wild1935IMDb rating 6.8Young as Claire BlakeConroy as John Blake
- Midnight Mary1933IMDb rating 7.0Young as MaryConroy as District Attorney
Cary Grant2 films together, 1934 to 1947
Cary Grant's page
- The Bishop's Wife1947IMDb rating 7.6Young as Julia BroughamGrant as Dudley
- Born to Be Bad1934IMDb rating 6.1Young as Letty StrongGrant as Malcolm Trevor
William A. WellmanDirector, 3 films, 1933 to 1935
All films by William A. Wellman
- Call of the Wild1935IMDb rating 6.8Young as Claire Blake
- Heroes for Sale1933IMDb rating 7.3Young as Ruth Loring
- Midnight Mary1933IMDb rating 7.0Young as Mary
Tay GarnettDirector, 3 films, 1937 to 1951
All films by Tay Garnett
- Cause for Alarm!1951IMDb rating 6.4Young as Ellen Jones
- Eternally Yours1939IMDb rating 5.6Young as Anita Halstead
- Love Is News1937IMDb rating 6.9Young as Tony Gateson
Henry KosterDirector, 2 films, 1947 to 1949
All films by Henry Koster
- Come to the Stable1949IMDb rating 7.1Young as Sister Margaret
- The Bishop's Wife1947IMDb rating 7.6Young as Julia Brougham
Also two films together31 more actors
- George SandersFour Men and a Prayer (1938) and Love Is News (1937)
- Elisha Cook Jr.Love Is News (1937) and Wife, Doctor and Nurse (1937)
- Regis ToomeyCome to the Stable (1949) and The Bishop's Wife (1947)
- Ernie AdamsAlong Came Jones (1945) and Midnight Mary (1933)
- Elsa LanchesterCome to the Stable (1949) and The Bishop's Wife (1947)
- Paul HarveyBorn to Be Bad (1934) and The House of Rothschild (1934)
- Walter BaldwinCome to the Stable (1949) and Rachel and the Stranger (1948)
- Harry DavenportThe Farmer's Daughter (1947) and The Story of Alexander Graham Bell (1939)
- Erville AldersonThe Bishop's Wife (1947) and Along Came Jones (1945)
- Jane DarwellLove Is News (1937) and Wife, Doctor and Nurse (1937)
- Halliwell HobbesMidnight Mary (1933) and Platinum Blonde (1931)
- Sara HadenRachel and the Stranger (1948) and The Bishop's Wife (1947)
- Edwin MaxwellLove Is News (1937) and Heroes for Sale (1933)
- J. Edward BrombergWife, Husband and Friend (1939) and Four Men and a Prayer (1938)
- Charley GrapewinHeroes for Sale (1933) and Midnight Mary (1933)
- Don AmecheThe Story of Alexander Graham Bell (1939) and Love Is News (1937)
- Robert Emmett O'ConnorMidnight Mary (1933) and Taxi! (1932)
- Art BakerCause for Alarm! (1951) and The Farmer's Daughter (1947)
- Walter CatlettLove Is News (1937) and Platinum Blonde (1931)
- Helen WestleyWife, Husband and Friend (1939) and The House of Rothschild (1934)
- Bill ElliottWife, Doctor and Nurse (1937) and Platinum Blonde (1931)
- Ivan F. SimpsonThe House of Rothschild (1934) and Midnight Mary (1933)
- Warner BaxterWife, Husband and Friend (1939) and Wife, Doctor and Nurse (1937)
- Hale HamiltonEmployees' Entrance (1933) and Beau Ideal (1931)
- Carl M. LevinessMan's Castle (1933) and Laugh, Clown, Laugh (1928)
- Charles WilliamsWife, Husband and Friend (1939) and Love Is News (1937)
- Adolph FaylauerThe Stranger (1946) and Platinum Blonde (1931)
- Teddy InfuhrCause for Alarm! (1951) and The Bishop's Wife (1947)
- Sally BlaneThe Story of Alexander Graham Bell (1939) and The Sheik (1921)
- Bernard SiegelBeau Ideal (1931) and Laugh, Clown, Laugh (1928)
- Polly Ann YoungThe Story of Alexander Graham Bell (1939) and The Sheik (1921)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Awards

Eight awards and honors from 1948 to 1988, five of them major.

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Loretta Young's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Film	Result
Academy Awards
1948	Best Actress	The Farmer's Daughter	Won
Golden Globes
1987	Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film		Won
Emmy Awards
1959	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series	Letter to Loretta	Won
1957	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series	Letter to Loretta	Won
1955	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series	Letter to Loretta	Won
Other honors
1988	Crystal Award		Won
1950	Siena Medal		Won
	Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame		Honored

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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