Ona Munson
Biography
Ona Munson was an American actress whose work spanned film, stage, and radio. Raised in Portland, Oregon, she acted in local theater before launching a New York stage career in 1919 and making her Broadway debut in George White's Scandals. She went on to star in nine Broadway productions, including No, No, Nanette and Hold Everything!, and in 1930 moved to Los Angeles, where she took leads in Going Wild and The Hot Heiress. After appearing in Five Star Final (1931), she returned to the New York stage for plays such as Ghosts (1935), and she also performed regularly in radio dramas. She resumed film work in the late 1930s and took the part of Belle Watling in Gone with the Wind (1939), the role that became her most famous. Typecast afterward, she appeared in The Shanghai Gesture (1941) as Mother Gin Sling, and her last feature was The Red House (1947). By 1949 she had semi-retired from acting.
51years old at death
- Born Portland
- Died New York City
- Star sign: GeminiThe sign runs May 21 to June 20
- Owena Elizabeth Wolcott (birth name)Also credited as Owena Wolcott
Movie Career
- Films
- 4
- Career span
- 16 years1931 to 1947
Every film, newest first
- 1947The Red HouseIMDb rating 6.7
- 1945DakotaIMDb rating 6.0
- 1941The Shanghai GestureIMDb rating 6.5
- 1931Five Star FinalIMDb rating 7.3
Genres
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Did you know?!
Big break
When David O. Selznick was casting Gone with the Wind, he said Mae West would play Belle, but West and Tallulah Bankhead turned the role down as too small. Munson was freckled and slight, the opposite of voluptuous Belle, yet Selznick cast her.
First role
Munson made her Broadway debut in a minor part in George White's Scandals, then took a supporting role in Twinkle, Twinkle. Both shows were staged in 1919.
Getting ready for a role
Munson played Mother Gin Sling in The Shanghai Gesture under yellowface makeup so heavy that she was unrecognizable, and the New York Times reviewer wrote that she looked like an alabaster statue.
Beyond film
Munson introduced the song "You're the Cream in My Coffee" as the female lead in the 1928 Broadway musical Hold Everything!.
A change of course
Munson performed in radio dramas from around 1933, averaging twelve programs a week, among them Cavalcade of America and The March of Time.
Ona Munson movies on Netflix
Worked with
Ona Munson shares two films with Edward G. Robinson, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Edward G. Robinson's page
Mike Mazurki's page
John Wayne's page
Boris Karloff's page
Ward Bond's page
Paul Fix's page
Delmer DavesDirector, 1 film, 1947
All films by Delmer Daves
Josef von SternbergDirector, 1 film, 1941
All films by Josef von Sternberg
Mervyn LeRoyDirector, 1 film, 1931
All films by Mervyn LeRoy
Awards
One award and honor.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.