Inez Courtney (October 12, 1897 – April 5, 1975) was an American actress on the Broadway stage and in films.

Early years

Born in

Amsterdam, New York Amsterdam () is a city in Montgomery County, New York, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 18,219. The city is named after Amsterdam in the Netherlands. The city of Amsterdam is bordered on the northern and ea ...

, Courtney came from a large Irish-American family. After her father's death when she was fifteen, she decided to go onto the stage.

Career

At age 16, Courtney was doing a specialty dance that earned her the nicknames of ''St Vitis'', ''Mosquito'' and ''Lightning''. Courtney's first role as a singer and dancer came in the musical ''The Little Whopper'' in 1919. She became known among New York theatrical audiences for her work in '' Good News'' (1927), a musical comedy about college life. Her other credits include ''Spring Is Here'' (1929) and ''

America's Sweetheart "America's Sweetheart" is an unofficial title used by the American media to describe a public figure who is widely admired and beloved by the public. The title is typically bestowed upon a young woman publicly perceived as wholesome, charming, ...

'' (1931). In the early 1930s, she left Broadway and went to Hollywood. Courtney acted in 58 films between 1930 and 1940. She secured her first movie work by asking

Harry Cohn Harry Cohn (July 23, 1891 – February 27, 1958) was a co-founder, president, and production director of Columbia Pictures, Columbia Pictures Corporation. Life and career Cohn was born to a working-class Jewish family in New York City. His fath ...

Columbia Pictures Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc., Trade name, doing business as Columbia Pictures, is an American film Production company, production and Film distributor, distribution company that is the flagship unit of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group ...

for his assistance. She made her screen debut as Cousin Betty in '' Loose Ankles'' (1930). Her movie credits include ''

The Raven "The Raven" is a narrative poem by American writer Edgar Allan Poe. First published in January 1845, the poem is often noted for its musicality, stylized language and supernatural atmosphere. It tells of a distraught lover who is paid a visit ...

'' (1935), '' Suzy'' (1936), ''

The Shop Around the Corner ''The Shop Around the Corner'' is a 1940 American romantic comedy-drama film produced and directed by Ernst Lubitsch starring Margaret Sullavan, James Stewart, Frank Morgan, and Joseph Schildkraut. The screenplay by Samson Raphaelson is based ...

'' (1940), and '' Turnabout'' (1940), her last film.

Personal life and death

On June 20, 1931, Courtney married broker Howard S. Paschal in Rye, New York. They were divorced on May 10, 1933. Courtney was married to an Italian nobleman, whereby she acquired the title ''Marchesa'', but did not use it. On April 5, 1975, Courtney died at the Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune, New Jersey.

Partial filmography

*'' Makers of Melody" (1929) dance number. 'The Girlfriend' with Allan Gould * '' Loose Ankles'' (1930) as Betty * ''

Spring is Here "Spring is Here" is a 1938 popular song composed by Richard Rodgers, with lyrics by Lorenz Hart for the musical '' I Married an Angel'' (1938), where it was introduced by Dennis King and Vivienne Segal. Rodgers and Hart had previously written ...

'' (1930) as Mary Jane Braley * '' Not Damaged'' (1930) as Maude Graham * ''

Song of the Flame ''Song of the Flame'' is an operetta with music by Herbert Stothart and George Gershwin, and a musical book and lyrics co-written by Oscar Hammerstein II and Otto A. Harbach. Organized into a prologue, two acts, and an epilogue, the operetta i ...

'' (1930) as Grusha * '' Bright Lights'' (1930) as Peggy North * '' Sunny'' (1930) as 'Weenie' * '' The Hot Heiress'' (1931) as Margie * '' Big City Blues'' (1932) as Faun * '' The World Gone Mad'' (1933) as Susan Bibens, Telephone Operator (uncredited) * '' Cheating Blondes'' (1933) as Polly * '' Hold Your Man'' (1933) as Maizie * ''

I Love That Man ''I Love That Man'' is a 1933 American pre-Code drama film directed by Harry Joe Brown and written by C. Graham Baker, Casey Robinson and Gene Towne. The film stars Edmund Lowe, Nancy Carroll, Robert Armstrong, Lew Cody, Warren Hymer, G ...

'' (1933) as Public Stenographer (scenes deleted) * '' The Captain Hates the Sea'' (1934) as Flo * ''

Jealousy Jealousy generally refers to the thoughts or feelings of Emotional insecurity, insecurity, fear, and concern over a relative lack of possessions or safety. Jealousy can consist of one or more emotions such as anger, resentment, inadequacy, he ...

'' (1934) as Penny * ''

Broadway Bill ''Broadway Bill'' is a 1934 American comedy-drama film directed by Frank Capra and starring Warner Baxter and Myrna Loy. Screenplay by Robert Riskin and based on the short story "Strictly Confidential" by Mark Hellinger, the film is about a ...

'' (1934) as Nurse Mae (uncredited) * '' Sweepstake Annie'' (1935) as Marge * ''

Carnival Carnival (known as Shrovetide in certain localities) is a festive season that occurs at the close of the Christian pre-Lenten period, consisting of Quinquagesima or Shrove Sunday, Shrove Monday, and Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras. Carnival typi ...

'' (1935) as Girl (uncredited) * ''

Men of the Hour ''Men of the Hour'' is a 1935 American action drama film directed by Lambert Hillyer and starring Richard Cromwell, Billie Seward and Wallace Ford.Slide p.151 It was produced and distributed by Hollywood studio Columbia Pictures. Plot Dave and ...

'' (1935) as Miss Allison (uncredited) * '' Air Hawks'' (1935) as Second Nurse (uncredited) * '' Break of Hearts'' (1935) as Miss Wilson * '' Dizzy Dames'' (1935) as Arlette * ''

'' (1935) as Mary Burns * '' The Affair of Susan'' (1935) as Mrs. Barnes * '' The Girl Friend'' (1935) as Hilda * '' Ship Cafe'' (1935) as Molly * '' Another Face'' (1935) as Mamie, Joe's Secretary (uncredited) * ''

Millions in the Air ''Millions in the Air'' is a 1935 American comedy film directed by Ray McCarey and written by Sig Herzig and Jane Storm. The film stars John Howard, Wendy Barrie, Willie Howard, George Barbier, Benny Baker, Eleanore Whitney and Robert Cumming ...

'' (1935) as Miss Waterbury * '' Magnificent Obsession'' (1935) as Nurse May (uncredited) * '' The Reckless Way'' (1936) as Laura Jones * '' Brilliant Marriage'' (1936) as Sally Patrick * '' Let's Sing Again'' (1936) as Marge Wilkins * ''

Three Cheers for Love ''Three Cheers for Love'' is a 1936 American musical film directed by Ray McCarey, written by George Marion, Jr., and starring Eleanore Whitney, Robert Cummings, William Frawley, Elizabeth Patterson, Roscoe Karns and John Halliday. It was re ...

'' (1936) as Dorothy * '' Suzy'' (1936) as Maisie * '' It Couldn't Have Happened – But It Did'' (1936) as Linda Sands * '' Two in a Crowd'' (1936) as Mrs. Flynn (uncredited) * '' Wedding Present'' (1936) as Mary Lawson * ''

Time Out for Romance ''Time Out for Romance'' is a 1937 American romantic comedy film directed by Malcolm St. Clair, written by Lou Breslow and John Patrick, and starring Claire Trevor, Michael Whalen, Joan Davis, Chick Chandler, Douglas Fowley and Benny Bartlet ...

'' (1937) as Mabel * '' Clarence'' (1937) as Della * '' The Hit Parade'' (1937) as Tillie * '' Armored Car'' (1937) as Blind Date * '' The 13th Man'' (1937) as Julie Walters * '' Partners in Crime'' (1937) as Lillian Tate * '' The Hurricane'' (1937) as Girl on Ship (uncredited) * '' Having Wonderful Time'' (1938) as Emma * '' Crime Ring'' (1938) as Kitty * ''

Letter of Introduction The letter of introduction, along with the visiting card, was an important part of polite social interaction in the 18th and 19th centuries. It remains important in formal situations, such as an ambassador presenting his or her credentials (a ...

'' (1938) as Woman at Barry's Party (uncredited) * '' Five of a Kind'' (1938) as Libby Long * ''

Beauty for the Asking ''Beauty for the Asking'' is a 1939 film drama produced by RKO Pictures, and starring Lucille Ball and Patric Knowles. Plot Jean Russell is a beautician who is jilted by her boyfriend so he can marry an older but wealthy woman. Russell invents ...

'' (1939) as Gwen Morrison * '' Blondie Meets the Boss'' (1939) as Betty Lou Wood * '' When Tomorrow Comes'' (1939) as Waitress (uncredited) * '' Missing Evidence'' (1939) as Nellie Conrad * ''

'' (1940) as Ilona * '' The Farmer's Daughter'' (1940) as Emily French * '' Turnabout'' (1940) as Miss Edwards (final film role)

References

Bibliography

Albert Lea, Minnesota Albert Lea ( ) is a city in Freeborn County, Minnesota, Freeborn County, in southern Minnesota. It is the county seat. Its population was 18,492 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The city is at the junction of Interstates Intersta ...

Evening Tribune, Friday, August 10, 1936, p. 6. *

Oakland, California Oakland is a city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. state of California. It is the county seat and most populous city in Alameda County, California, Alameda County, with a population of 440,646 in 2020. A major We ...

Tribune, ''Smile!-It Pays'', Sunday, December 13, 1936. p. 72. *

Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Manitoba. It is centred on the confluence of the Red River of the North, Red and Assiniboine River, Assiniboine rivers. , Winnipeg h ...

Free Press, Saturday, May 17, 1930, p. 23.

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Courtney, Inez 1897 births 1975 deaths 20th-century American actresses American film actresses American stage actresses American people of Irish descent Actresses from New York City