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Irene Ware (born Irene Catherine Ahlberg; November 6, 1910 – March 11, 1993) was an American actress. She was a beauty queen and showgirl before appearing in 29 films between 1932 and 1940, and is mostly remembered for her roles as Princess Nadji in '' Chandu the Magician'' (1932) with Edmund Lowe and
Irene Catherine Ahlberg was born November 6, 1910, in Albany, New York. Her father, Ernest Ahlberg, born in Sweden, managed a saloon. Her mother, Anna Freya, born in New York to Austrian parents, was a real estate agent. She lived in New York and Los Angeles. Her sister, Anita, was an artist.
Ware's first marriage was to American screenwriter John Meehan, Jr., who won three Oscars for his work. Her second marriage was to federal Judge Fred Campbell. She left the industry to become a mother to their two children, John and Deirdre Meehan.
Author Gregory William Mank wrote in ''Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff the Expanded Story of a Haunting Collaboration'', (
Bela Lugosi
Blaskó Béla Ferenc Dezső (; October 20, 1882 – August 16, 1956), better known by the stage name Bela Lugosi ( ; ), was a Hungarian–American actor. He was best remembered for portraying Count Dracula in the horror film classic Dracula (19 ...
, and as Boris Karloff
William Henry Pratt (23 November 1887 – 2 February 1969), known professionally as Boris Karloff () and occasionally billed as Karloff the Uncanny, was a British actor. His portrayal of Frankenstein's monster in the horror film ''Frankenstei ...
's and Lugosi's leading lady in 1935's ''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 ...
''.
Early years
Irene Catherine Ahlberg was born November 6, 1910, in Albany, New York. Her father, Ernest Ahlberg, born in Sweden, managed a saloon. Her mother, Anna Freya, born in New York to Austrian parents, was a real estate agent. She lived in New York and Los Angeles. Her sister, Anita, was an artist.
Beauty queen
As an 18-year-old stenographer, (5`6"/1.68 cm tall), Ware was crowned Miss Greater New York, then Miss United States in 1929, and the same year was first runner-up for the title of Miss Universe at a pageant held in Galveston, Texas. She also won $1,000. ("Miss United States" was an unofficial alternative to the Miss America Pageant, which was not held in 1929. The Miss Universe contest of the 1920s was not connected to the currentMiss Universe
Miss Universe is an annual international major beauty pageant that is run by a Thailand and Mexican-based Miss Universe Organization.Natalie Tadena (July 2, 2015"Donald Trump's Miss USA Pageant Lands on Reelz Cable Channel". ''The Wall Stree ...
system, which was launched in 1952.)
Acting
Ware debuted on stage in a revue at the Metropolitan Theatre Boston in July 1929, She performed in ''Early Carroll's Sketch Book'' (1929) and in the 1930 and 1931 versions of Earl Carroll's Vanities on Broadway. She was then contracted to Fox Studios and moved to Hollywood, changing her name to Irene Ware. Her first movie was '' Society Girl'', in 1932 at Fox Film Corporation uncredited together with names like James Dunn, Peggy Shannon andSpencer Tracy
Spencer Bonaventure Tracy (April 5, 1900 – June 10, 1967) was an American actor. He was known for his natural performing style and versatility. One of the major stars of Classical Hollywood cinema, Hollywood's Golden Age, Tracy was the ...
. The second film, which quickly made her a star, was '' Chandu the Magician'', also released in 1932 and directed by Marcel Varnel
Marcel Varnel (16 October 1892 – 13 July 1947) was a French film director, notable for his career in the United States and England as a director of plays and films.
Biography
He was born Marcel Hyacinthe le Bozec in Paris, France.
Varnel st ...
.
Personal life
Ware's first marriage was to American screenwriter John Meehan, Jr., who won three Oscars for his work. Her second marriage was to federal Judge Fred Campbell. She left the industry to become a mother to their two children, John and Deirdre Meehan.
Author Gregory William Mank wrote in ''Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff the Expanded Story of a Haunting Collaboration'', (McFarland & Company
McFarland & Company, Inc., is an American independent book publisher based in Jefferson, North Carolina, that specializes in academic
An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of tert ...
), (2010), that Ware lived in Encinitas; had "Severe dementia"; and that she died in the evening, of "Pneumonia", in the Western Medical Centre, Santa Ana.
Filmography
* 1932: '' Society Girl'' – (uncredited) * 1932: '' Chandu the Magician'' – Princess Nadji * 1932: '' Six Hours to Live'' – The Prostitute * 1933: '' Humanity'' – Olive Pelton * 1933: '' Brief Moment'' – Joan * 1933: '' My Weakness'' – Eve Millstead * 1934: ''Moulin Rouge
Moulin Rouge (, ; ) is a cabaret in Paris, on Boulevard de Clichy, at Place Blanche, the intersection of, and terminus of Rue Blanche.
In 1889, the Moulin Rouge was co-founded by Charles Zidler and Joseph Oller, who also owned the Olympia (Par ...
'' – show girl (uncredited)
* 1934: '' Orient Express'' – Janet Pardoe
* 1934: '' Let's Talk It Over'' – Sandra
* 1934: ''The Affairs of Cellini
''The Affairs of Cellini'' is a 1934 American historical film, historical comedy film directed by Gregory La Cava and starring Frank Morgan, Constance Bennett, Fredric March, Fay Wray, and Louis Calhern. It is set in Florence. The film was adapte ...
'' – Daughter Of The House Of Bocci
* 1934: '' You Belong To Me'' – Lila Lacey
* 1934: '' King Kelly of the U.S.A.'' – Princess Tania aka Catherine Bell
* 1935: '' Rendezvous at Midnight'' – Myra
* 1935: '' Night Life of the Gods'' – Diana
* 1935: '' Whispering Smith Speaks'' – Nan Roberts
* 1935: ''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 ...
'' – Jean Thatcher
* 1935: '' Cheers of the Crowd'' – Mary Larkin
* 1935: '' Happiness C.O.D.'' – Carroll Sherridan
* 1935: '' False Pretenses'' – Mary Beekman
* 1936: '' The Dark Hour'' – Elsa Carson
* 1936: '' Murder at Glen Athol'' – Jane Maxwell
* 1936: '' O'Malley of the Mounted'' – Edith "Edie" Hyland
* 1936: '' In Paris, A.W.O.L.'' – Constance
* 1936: '' Federal Agent'' – Helen Lynch / Helen Gray
* 1936: '' Gold Diggers of 1937'' – Irene (Sally´s pal)
* 1937: '' The Live Wire'' – Jane
* 1938: ''No Parking
''No Parking'' is a 1938 British comedy film directed by Jack Raymond. The film features Charles Carson, Geraldo, Fred Groves, Gordon Harker and Leslie Perrins in the lead roles.
The story was written by Carol Reed who later directed '' ...
'' – Olga
* 1938: '' Around the Town'' – Norma Wyngold
* 1940: '' Outside the Three-Mile Limit'' – Dorothy Kenney (final film role)
References
External links
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Ware, Irene 1910 births 1993 deaths 20th-century American actresses Actresses from New York City American beauty pageant winners American film actresses American people of Austrian descent American people of Swedish descent American stage actresses