Lillian "Billie" Yarbo (born Lillian Yarbough; March 17, 1905 – June 12, 1996) was an American stage and screen actress, dancer, and singer.

Early life

Born Lillian Yarbough"Billy Yarbo a New Mugger"
''The Pittsburgh Courier''. March 10, 1928. Page 15. in Washington, DC, she made her way to New York, as did both her mother and at least one sister. When they travelled and whether they did so together is unclear."Billy Yarbo Makes Film As Kin Passes"
''The Chicago Defender''. March 22, 1941. Page 20.Rowe, Billy
"Rowe's Notebooks"
''The Pittsburgh Courier''. March 20, 1943. Page 21.

Career

Stage

By her early 20s, Yarbo, credited prior to October 1928 as Yarbough, was a rising star both in Harlem night spots and on the Broadway stage.Hirschfield, Al (2004).
Hirschfield's Harlem
'. New York: Glenn Young Books. p. 18. . See also: * Donner, Vyvyan

''The New York Times''. Sec. 8, p. 2. *Dismond, Geraldyn. "Social Snapshots". ''The Interstate Tattler''. October 26, 1928. Page 4. *Yates, Ted
"Better Break for Race in Pictures Forecast in '41; Stellar Roles Promised All; Harlem Lass Wins Plaudits"
''The Phoenix Index''. January 11, 1941. Page 6. Writing in ''

The New Yorker ''The New Yorker'' is an American magazine featuring journalism, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons, and poetry. It was founded on February 21, 1925, by Harold Ross and his wife Jane Grant, a reporter for ''The New York T ...

'', reviewing the Miller and Lyles musical, ''Keep Shufflin, a young

Charles Brackett Charles William Brackett (November 26, 1892 – March 9, 1969) was an American screenwriter and film producer. He collaborated with Billy Wilder on sixteen films. Life and career Brackett was born in Saratoga Springs, New York, the son of ...

alerted readers: "There is a Miss Billie Yarbough, who must have been designed by Covarrubias and must be seen."Brackett, Charles. "Illicit Relations and Dark Dancers". ''The New Yorker''. March 10, 1928. p. 33. Retrieved January 13, 2021. With a style sometimes likened to that of her contemporary,

Josephine Baker Freda Josephine Baker (; June 3, 1906 – April 12, 1975), naturalized as Joséphine Baker, was an American and French dancer, singer, and actress. Her career was centered primarily in Europe, mostly in France. She was the first Black woman to s ...

, Yarbo was embraced by audiences and critics alike, beginning in the late 1920s and continuing until her 1936 screen debut.Pulaski, Jack (as "Ibee")
"Legitimate; With Music: 'Keep Shufflin'"
''Variety''. March 7, 1928. Page 52. As for her vocal stylings, just a few, fleeting, onscreen remnants exist. For example, she sings a few bars of "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" in the film version of ''A Date with Judy''. (See also relevant excerpt from '' The Family Next Door'' in

External links An internal link is a type of hyperlink on a web page to another page or resource, such as an image or document, on the same website or domain. It is the opposite of an external link, a link that directs a user to content that is outside its d ...

). That said, Yarbo clearly did not lack for confidence, having once told trumpeter

Buck Clayton Wilbur Dorsey "Buck" Clayton (November 12, 1911 – December 8, 1991) was an American jazz trumpeter who was a member of Count Basie's orchestra. His principal influence was Louis Armstrong, first hearing the record " Confessin' that I Love You" ...

, "To hell with

Billie Holiday Billie Holiday (born Eleanora Fagan; April 7, 1915 – July 17, 1959) was an American jazz and swing music singer. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and music partner, Lester Young, Holiday made significant contributions to jazz music and pop ...

! Come down and listen to me, the ''real'' Billie."

Screen

Yarbo appeared in at least two films in 1936 and one in 1937 before receiving glowing notices—and her first onscreen credit—the following year in the otherwise indifferently received Warren William vehicle, '' Wives Under Suspicion''."'Wives Under Suspicion' Is Marked by Good Acting; Lillian Yarbo Excels"
''Saskatoon Star-Phoenix''. July 19, 1938. Page 4.Grange, Marion
"At the Motion Picture Theaters"
''The Ottawa Citizen''. June 27, 1938. Page 15."'The Rage of Paris' and 'Under Suspicion'—Circle"
''The Indianapolis News''. July 16, 1938. Page 2. For that and her equally acclaimed performance in

Frank Capra Frank Russell Capra (born Francesco Rosario Capra; May 18, 1897 – September 3, 1991) was an Italian-American film director, producer, and screenwriter who was the creative force behind Frank Capra filmography#Films that won Academy Award ...

's hugely successful

adaptation In biology, adaptation has three related meanings. Firstly, it is the dynamic evolutionary process of natural selection that fits organisms to their environment, enhancing their evolutionary fitness. Secondly, it is a state reached by the p ...

of Kaufman and Hart's '' You Can't Take It With You'' (which, by virtue of the film's panoramic, full-cast billboard, also inspired a new nickname),"'Twenty-four Sheet Lil'"
''Los Angeles Daily News''. October 24, 1938. Page 8. Retrieved January 18, 2021.Poole, Edwin E.; Poole, Susan T
''Collecting Movie Posters: An Illustrated Reference Guide to''
Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. 1997. . Yarbo was judged 1938's best Negro comedic actress by ''

Pittsburgh Courier The ''Pittsburgh Courier'' was an African American weekly newspaper published in Pittsburgh from 1907 until October 22, 1966. By the 1930s, the ''Courier'' was one of the leading black newspapers in the United States. It was acquired in 1965 by ...

'' film critic Earl J. Morris. In 1939, she was awarded that same distinction by the short-lived Sepia Theatrical Writers Guild. Indeed, even prior to 1938, the then-as-yet thoroughly anonymous Yarbo—as Claire Trevor's maid in

Alfred Werker Alfred L. Werker (December 2, 1896 – July 28, 1975) was a film director whose work in movies spanned from 1917 through 1957. After a number of film production jobs and assistant directing, Werker co-directed his first film, ''Ridin' the Wind' ...

's much-rewritten ''

Big Town Girl ''Big Town Girl'' is a 1937 American drama film directed by Alfred L. Werker and written by Lou Breslow, Robert Ellis (actor, born 1892), Robert Ellis, Helen Logan and John Patrick. The film stars Claire Trevor, Donald Woods (actor), Donald Woods ...

''—caught the eye of one reviewer who noted that "a Negro lassie—inexcusably omitted from the cast list—renders yeoman service and considerable comedy as the countess' maid".Martin, Mildred
"'Big Town Girl' Proves Diverting Comedy"
''The Philadelphia Inquirer''. December 4, 1937. Page 8. Retrieved January 11, 2021. Awards and favorable notices notwithstanding, and despite director

King Vidor King Wallis Vidor ( ; February 8, 1894 – November 1, 1982) was an American film director, film producer, and screenwriter whose 67-year film-making career successfully spanned the silent and sound eras. His works are distinguished by a vivid, ...

's personal support for her as early as 1937 (following Yarbo's sophomore screen turn, appearing uncredited with

Barbara Stanwyck Barbara Stanwyck (; born Ruby Catherine Stevens; July 16, 1907 – January 20, 1990) was an American actress and dancer. A stage, film, and television star, during her 60-year professional career, she was known for her strong, realistic screen p ...

in Vidor's '' Stella Dallas''), she continued to be routinely cast in bit parts, primarily as a maid, cook or otherwise low-skilled worker, often uncredited, appearing in at least 50 films between 1936 and 1949. In the fall of 1943, amid an already setback-laden half-decade,Smallwood, Bill
"The Delightful Side"
''The California Eagle''. February 12, 1942. Page 5. a potentially career-altering opportunity—being cast in a straight dramatic role opposite

Canada Lee Leonard Lionel Cornelius Canegata (March 3, 1907 – May 9, 1952), known professionally as Canada Lee, was an American professional boxer and actor who pioneered roles for African Americans. After careers as a jockey, boxer and musician, he beca ...

in a screen adaptation of Richard Wright's '' Native Son''—failed to materialize when

Orson Welles George Orson Welles (May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985) was an American director, actor, writer, producer, and magician who is remembered for his innovative work in film, radio, and theatre. He is among the greatest and most influential film ...

, who had directed Lee in the original Broadway production, proved unavailable. Adding injury to insult, just weeks later, a near-fatal car crash put Yarbo out of commission for the first half of 1944.Smallwood, Bill. "The Delightful Side". ''The Los Angeles Tribune''. February 14, 1944. Page 15. "Billie Yarbo is still on the critical list. She has a fractured skull, badly bruised ribs, a partially paralyzed right side and impaired eyesight! But she can still smile, being the person she is. Thumbs up, Billie."Gipson, J.T. "Candid Comments: Scannin' the News Tickertape
Snappy Comeback"
''The California Eagle''. July 20, 1944. Page 12. She appeared in just one film that year, and over the next five averaged exactly two films a year, uncredited in all but one, ending her screen career much as it had begun.

Later years

On November 13, 1948, roughly four months after finishing work on her final film and roughly 13 years after her last stage performance, Yarbo returned to live performance. Perhaps inspired by having made, roughly two months prior, "one of her rare visits to a night spot,"Gipson, J. T
"The Gipson Gossip"
''The California Eagle''. September 16, 1948. Page 15. Retrieved January 19, 2021. Yarbo, backed by Andy Kirk and His Clouds of Joy, performed at a benefit event staged at Club Congo (formerly Club Alabam) by the

Alpha Phi Alpha Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. () is the oldest intercollegiate List of African-American fraternities, historically African American Fraternities and sororities, fraternity. It was initially a literary and social studies club organized in the ...

House Campaign Committee to help fund "much-needed housing and scholarship for 'forgotten' students". On May 19, 1949, ''The California Eagle's'' Gertrude Gipson reported that " C. P. Johnson on along with a six-piece combo, and Billy Yarbo, who has returned to dancing, will open at the Fairbanks in Alaska around the first". If this planned performance took place, it is Yarbo's last documented public performance. About the same time Yarbo received some very nice notices for her last credited screen performance portraying "a giggling, singing, four-times-married little maid"'Mae Tinee'
"Most Useless in This Film Is the Film Itself"
''The Chicago Tribune''. May 17, 1949. page 17. Retrieved January 20, 2021. in

Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (WBEI), commonly known as Warner Bros. (WB), is an American filmed entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California and the main namesake subsidiary of Warner Bro ...

' long-shelved '' Night Unto Night'' (1949), one more instance of Yarbo being one of the few reasons to watch—precisely as had been the case in her first credited role—in an otherwise "sleep-induc ng picture: "Other characters include one who talks like someone out of a bad play, a couple of doctors, the heroine's sexy sister, and, fortunately, Lillian Yarbo as Josephine, the maid of all work, who provides the only bright spot in the generally murky atmosphere."

Personal life

In 2006,

NYU New York University (NYU) is a private research university in New York City, New York, United States. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded in 1832 by Albert Gallatin as a non-denominational all-male institutio ...

Professor of Media Studies Cathrine Kellison, speaking on the DVD commentary track of ''You Can't Take It With You'' (1938), briefly addressed Yarbo's known history: "Now Lillian Yarbo, here... she's... it's troubling how little information there is about her as a person. She was in probably 40, 50 films. Many of them, her name was not listed; she was uncredited." Kellison, who would die in 2009 with online newspaper archives still slim, did not live long enough to learn of Yarbo's illustrious pre-Hollywood heyday. Yet taking into account the full scope of her career, it is curious that the close press coverage of YarboSmallwood, Bill
"Coastin'"
''The People's Voice''. February 13, 1943. Page 26. "Billie Yarbo will step off the 20th Century Ltd. any morning now. The

Super Chief The ''Super Chief'' was one of the List of named passenger trains, named train, passenger trains and the flagship of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The then-modern streamliner was touted in its heyday as "The Train of the Stars" b ...

's out from LA to see her ailing sis in NY. Her current turn before Columbia's cameras is being rushed so she may make the trip minus being harried or hurried. Billie's topnotch folks, and we love her." Retrieved January 31, 2021. halted in the fall of 1949. After over two decades, it could be surmised that this was requested by Yarbo herself. One reason why she might have desired less attention appeared in a 1928 interview which, despite its condescending tone, portrays Yarbo as someone who did not aspire to fame and who—somewhat akin to her celebrated not-quite-namesake—genuinely valued her privacy. Having finally secured that privacy, and adroitly handled her finances, Yarbo appears to have spent the remainder of her life in relative comfort in

Seattle, Washington Seattle ( ) is the List of municipalities in Washington, most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington (state), Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the List of Unit ...

, where she died on June 12, 1996.

Stage work

Partial listing of stage work (as Billie Yarbo, except where otherwise noted):

Filmography

*'' Rainbow on the River'' (1936) as Seline (uncredited) *'' Stella Dallas'' (1937) as Gladys (uncredited) *''

'' (1937) as Scarlett (uncredited) *'' Wives Under Suspicion'' (1938) as Creola *'' Penrod's Double Trouble'' (1938) as Mrs. Washington (uncredited) *'' You Can't Take It With You'' (1938) as Rheba *''

Up the River ''Up the River'' is a 1930 American pre-Code comedy film directed by John Ford, and starring Claire Luce, Spencer Tracy and Humphrey Bogart. The plot concerns escaped convicts, as well as a female convict. It was the feature film debut role o ...

'' (1938) as Black Prisoner (uncredited) *'' There's That Woman Again'' (1938) as Ladies Room Attendant (uncredited) *''

Kentucky Kentucky (, ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north, West Virginia to the ...

'' (1938) as Magnolia (uncredited) *'' Persons in Hiding'' (1939) as Beauty Parlor Maid *'' Cafe Society'' (1939) as Mattie Harriett (uncredited) *'' Society Lawyer'' (1939) as Sadie, Judy's Maid (uncredited) *'' The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle'' (1939) as Mary, Claire's Maid (uncredited) *'' The Family Next Door'' (1939) as Blossom *'' Boy Friend'' (1939) as Delphinie (uncredited) *'' The Jones Family in Hollywood'' (1939) as Maid (uncredited) *'' The Gracie Allen Murder Case'' (1939) as Maid (uncredited) *'' Way Down South'' (1939) as Janie *''

Destry Rides Again ''Destry Rides Again'' is a 1939 American Western comedy film directed by George Marshall and starring Marlene Dietrich and James Stewart. The supporting cast includes Mischa Auer, Charles Winninger, Brian Donlevy, Allen Jenkins, Irene Her ...

'' (1939) as Clara *'' Honeymoon Deferred'' (1940) as Janet's Maid (uncredited) *''

Lillian Russell Lillian Russell (born Helen Louise Leonard; December 4, 1860 or 1861 – June 6, 1922) was an American actress and singer. She became one of the most famous actresses and singers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, praised for her beaut ...

'' (1940) as Maid (uncredited) *'' Lucky Cisco Kid'' (1940) as Queenie (uncredited) *'' They Drive By Night'' (1940) as Chloe (uncredited) *'' The Return of Frank James'' (1940) as Eleanor's Maid (uncredited) *'' Sandy Gets Her Man'' (1940) as Hattie, the Maid (uncredited) *'' Meet the Missus'' (1940) as Maid (uncredited) *'' Buy Me That Town'' (1941) as Nancy *'' International Lady'' (1941) as Prissy (uncredited) *'' Henry Aldrich for President'' (1941) as Lucinda *''

Moon Over Her Shoulder ''Moon Over Her Shoulder'' is a 1941 American comedy film directed by Alfred L. Werker and starring Lynn Bari, John Sutton (actor), John Sutton and Alan Mowbray.Fetrow p.320 It was produced and distributed by Twentieth Century Fox. Plot Cast ...

'' (1941) as Juline, the Maid (uncredited) *'' Wild Bill Hickok Rides'' (1942) as Daisy, Belle's Maid *'' The Great Man's Lady'' (1942) as Mandy *'' Footlight Serenade'' (1942) as Estelle's Maid (uncredited) *'' Between Us Girls'' (1942) as Phoebe, the Maid *'' Presenting Lily Mars'' (1942) as Rosa, Isobel's Maid (uncredited) *'' Redhead from Manhattan'' (1943) as Polly (uncredited) *'' Swing Shift Maisie'' (1943) as Myrtlee *'' Whistling in Brooklyn'' (1943) as Maid (uncredited) *'' Music for Millions'' (1944) as Jessie (uncredited) *'' The Naughty Nineties'' (1945) as Effie, Bonita's Cook (uncredited) *'' Saratoga Trunk'' (1945) as Hotel Maid (uncredited) *'' The Sailor Takes a Wife'' (1945) as Mary, Freddie's Cook (uncredited) *'' Faithful in My Fashion'' (1946) as Celia (uncredited) *'' No Leave, No Love'' (1946) as Maid (uncredited) *'' The Time, the Place and the Girl'' (1946) as Jeannie, Elaine's Maid (uncredited) *'' My Brother Talks to Horses'' (1947) as Psyche *'' A Date with Judy'' (1948) as Nightingale (uncredited) *'' Night Unto Night'' (1949) as Josephine (uncredited) *'' Look for the Silver Lining'' (1949) as Violet (uncredited)

Notes

References

External links

* *
Hungarian dance (from ''You Can't Take It With You'')
on

YouTube YouTube is an American social media and online video sharing platform owned by Google. YouTube was founded on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim who were three former employees of PayPal. Headquartered in ...

From ''The Family Next Door'' (1939): Yarbo and Ruth Donnelly, followed by Yarbo's impromptu rendition of Adamson & McHugh's "That Foolish Feeling"
on

{{DEFAULTSORT:Yarbo, Lillian 1905 births 1996 deaths 20th-century African-American actresses 20th-century American actresses 20th-century American dancers 20th-century American singers 20th-century American women singers African-American female comedians African-American comedians American women comedians 20th-century African-American women singers African-American female dancers American film actresses American musical theatre actresses Actresses from Washington, D.C. Actresses from Inglewood, California Actresses from Manhattan People from Harlem 20th-century American comedians Comedians from Washington, D.C. Comedians from California Comedians from Manhattan