Pauline Theresa Moran (June 28, 1883 – January 24, 1952) billed as Polly Moran, was an American actress of vaudeville, stage and screen and a comedian.

Career

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Moran started in

vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment which began in France in the middle of the 19th century. A ''vaudeville'' was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a drama ...

, and widely toured North America, as well as various other locations that included Europe and South Africa. An attractive beauty of Irish descent, she left vaudeville in 1914 after signing for

Mack Sennett Mack Sennett (born Michael Sinnott; January 17, 1880 – November 5, 1960) was a Canadian-American producer, director, actor, and studio head who was known as the "King of Comedy" during his career. Born in Danville, Quebec, he started acting i ...

Keystone Studios Keystone Studios was an early film studio founded in Edendale, California (which is now a part of Echo Park) on July 4, 1912 as the Keystone Pictures Studio by Mack Sennett with backing from actor-writer Adam Kessel (1866–1946) and Char ...

as one of his Sennett Bathing Beauties. There she honed the style of the brash, loud-mouthed, knock-about comedian by which she later became known. She proved effective at

slapstick Slapstick is a style of humor involving exaggerated physical activity that exceeds the boundaries of normal physical comedy. Slapstick may involve both intentional violence and violence by mishap, often resulting from inept use of props such as ...

and remained with Sennett for several years until she was signed by

MGM Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, commonly shortened to MGM or MGM Studios) is an American Film production, film and television production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered ...

. She partnered with the famous Broadway star

Marie Dressler Leila Marie Koerber (November 9, 1868 – July 28, 1934), known professionally as Marie Dressler, was a Canadian-born stage- and screen-actress and comedian, popular in Cinema of the United States, Hollywood in early silent film, silent an ...

in ''

The Callahans and the Murphys ''The Callahans and the Murphys'' is a 1927 American silent film, silent comedy film directed by George Hill (director), George W. Hill. The film was based on a novel by Kathleen Norris, and was the first of several MGM films to star Marie Dressl ...

'' (1927); and the two appeared in eight additional films together, such as '' Chasing Rainbows'' (1930), '' Caught Short'' (1930), and ''

Prosperity Prosperity is the flourishing, thriving, good fortune and successful social status. Prosperity often produces profuse wealth including other factors which can be profusely wealthy in all degrees, such as happiness and health. Competing notions ...

'' (1932). After Dressler's death in 1934, Moran's career declined, and she only starred in low-budget comedies or B-movies. In 1940, Moran retired to her home in Laguna Beach, California, but maintained an active Hollywood social life and was known for practical jokes. She once ran a failed campaign for a Laguna Beach City Council seat on a "Pro Dogs" platform. She made a brief comeback appearance in the Tracy–Hepburn classic comedy ''

Adam's Rib ''Adam's Rib'' is a 1949 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by George Cukor from a screenplay written by Ruth Gordon and Garson Kanin. It stars Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn as married lawyers who come to oppose each other in ...

'' in 1949. After playing the role, she said "I worked in the picture two days before I got a look at myself. I never went back."

Honors

Moran has a star on the

Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a landmark which consists of 2,813 five-pointed terrazzo-and-brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in the Hollywood, Los Angeles, Hollywood dist ...

at 6300

Hollywood Boulevard Hollywood Boulevard is a major east–west street in Los Angeles, California. It runs through the Hollywood, East Hollywood, Little Armenia, Thai Town, and Los Feliz districts. Its western terminus is at Sunset Plaza Drive in the Hollyw ...

Personal life

After a marriage that ended in divorce in 1917, Moran married attorney and former prizefighter Martin T. Malone in 1933. Malone was abusive; he beat her and threatened to kill her, but she would not leave him. She had one child, a son, who was adopted between her two marriages. She lived at 530 Mountain Road in

Laguna Beach, California Laguna Beach (; ''Laguna'', Spanish language, Spanish for "Lagoon") is a city in Orange County, California, United States. Located in Southern California along the Pacific Ocean, this seaside resort city has a mild year-round climate, scenic c ...

. Moran died of

cardiovascular disease Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is any disease involving the heart or blood vessels. CVDs constitute a class of diseases that includes: coronary artery diseases (e.g. angina, heart attack), heart failure, hypertensive heart disease, rheumati ...

in 1952. Although a number of biographies give her date of death as being January 25, 1952, her grave marker reads January 24, 1952.Moran's gravemarker with date of death
Accessed June 27, 2023.

Partial filmography

*'' Their Social Splash'' (1915, Short) - Polly - the Unruly Guest *'' Cactus Nell'' (1917)(*short) *'' The Pullman Bride'' (1917, Short) - Sheriff Nell - the Pullman Drunk's Wife *''

Skirts A skirt is the lower part of a dress or a separate outer garment that covers a person from the waist downwards. At its simplest, a skirt can be a draped garment made out of a single piece of fabric (such as pareos). However, most skirts are fit ...

'' (1921) *'' Two Weeks with Pay'' (1921) - Chambermaid *''

The Affairs of Anatol ''The Affairs of Anatol'' is a 1921 American silent comedy-drama film directed by Cecil B. DeMille, starring Wallace Reid and Gloria Swanson. The film is based on the 1893 play '' Anatol'' by Arthur Schnitzler. It was adapted by Jeanie ...

'' (1921) - Orchestra Leader (uncredited) *''Luck'' (1923) - Dumb Dora - Fight Enthusiast *''

The Blackbird ''The Blackbird'' is a 1926 American silent crime film directed by Tod Browning and starring Lon Chaney. The screenplay was written by Waldemar Young, based on a story "The Mockingbird" by Tod Browning (which was originally supposed to be t ...

'' (1926) - Flower Lady at Music Hall (uncredited) *''

The Scarlet Letter ''The Scarlet Letter: A Romance'' is a historical novel by American author Nathaniel Hawthorne, published in 1850. Set in the Puritan Massachusetts Bay Colony during the years 1642 to 1649, the novel tells the story of Hester Prynne, who concei ...

'' (1926) - Jeering Townswoman (uncredited) *'' Twinkletoes'' (1926) - Minor Role (uncredited) *'' Flesh and the Devil'' (1926) - Family Retainer with Bouquet (uncredited) *'' The Show'' (1927) - Sideshow Spectator (uncredited) *''

'' (1927) - Mrs. Murphy *'' The Thirteenth Hour'' (1927) - Polly *'' London After Midnight'' (1927) - Miss Smithson, the New Maid *'' The Enemy'' (1927) - Baruska *''

Buttons A button is a fastener that joins two pieces of fabric together by slipping through a loop or by sliding through a buttonhole. In modern clothing and fashion design, buttons are commonly made of plastic but also may be made of metal, wood, o ...

'' (1927) - Polly *'' The Divine Woman'' (1928) - Mme. Pigonier *''

Rose-Marie ''Rose-Marie'' is an operetta-style musical with music by Rudolf Friml and Herbert Stothart, and book and lyrics by Otto Harbach and Oscar Hammerstein II. The story is set in the Canadian Rocky Mountains and concerns Rose-Marie La Flemme, a F ...

'' (1928) - Lady Jane *''

Bringing Up Father ''Bringing Up Father'' is an American comic strip created by cartoonist George McManus. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, it ran for 87 years, from January 2, 1913, to May 28, 2000. The strip was later titled ''Jiggs and Maggie'' (or '' ...

'' (1928) - Maggie Jiggs *'' The Trail of '98'' (1928) - Lars' Nagging Wife (uncredited) *''

Detectives A detective is an investigator, usually a member of a law enforcement agency. They often collect information to solve crimes by talking to witnesses and informants, collecting physical evidence, or searching records in databases. This leads the ...

'' (1928) - Hotel Guest (uncredited) *'' Telling the World'' (1928) - Landlady *'' Beyond the Sierras'' (1928) - Inez *'' While the City Sleeps'' (1928) - Mrs. Minnie McGinnis *'' Show People'' (1928) - The Maid *'' Shadows of the Night'' (1928) - Entertainer *'' A Lady of Chance'' (1928) - Hotel Maid Who Coughs (uncredited) *''

Honeymoon A honeymoon is a vacation taken by newlyweds after their wedding to celebrate their marriage. Today, honeymoons are often celebrated in destinations considered exotic or romantic. In a similar context, it may also refer to the phase in a couple ...

'' (1928) - Polly *''The Five O'Clock Girl'' (1928) *'' China Bound'' (1929) - Sarah *'' The Hollywood Revue of 1929'' (1929) - Polly Moran *''

Speedway Speedway may refer to: Racing Race tracks *Daytona International Speedway, a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida. *Edmonton International Speedway, also known as Speedway Park, a former motor raceway in Edmonton, Alberta. *Indianapolis Motor Spe ...

'' (1929) - Waitress *'' The Unholy Night'' (1929) - Polly - the Maid *'' So This Is College'' (1929) - Polly *'' Hot for Paris'' (1929) - Polly *'' Crazy House'' (1930, a short comedy with

Benny Rubin Benjamin Rubin (February 2, 1899 – July 15, 1986) was an American comedian and film actor. Born in Boston, Rubin made more than 200 radio, film and television appearances over a span of 50 years. Career In 1929, Rubin went to Hollywood, where ...

) *'' Chasing Rainbows'' (1930) - Polly *'' The Girl Said No'' (1930) - Polly *'' Caught Short'' (1930) - Polly Smith *'' Way Out West'' (1930) - Pansy *'' Those Three French Girls'' (1930) - Elmer's Wife (uncredited) *'' Way for a Sailor'' (1930) - Polly *''

Remote Control A remote control, also known colloquially as a remote or clicker, is an consumer electronics, electronic device used to operate another device from a distance, usually wirelessly. In consumer electronics, a remote control can be used to operat ...

'' (1930) - Polly *'' Paid'' (1930) - Polly (uncredited) *'' Reducing'' (1931) - Polly Rochay *'' The Stolen Jools'' (1931, Short) - Norma Shearer's Maid *'' It's a Wise Child'' (1931) - Bertha *''

Politics Politics () is the set of activities that are associated with decision-making, making decisions in social group, groups, or other forms of power (social and political), power relations among individuals, such as the distribution of Social sta ...

'' (1931) - Ivy Higgins *'' Guilty Hands'' (1931) - Aunt Maggie *'' The Passionate Plumber'' (1932) - Albine *''

'' (1932) - Lizzie Praskins *''Le plombier amoureux'' (1932) - Patricia Alden *''

Alice in Wonderland ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'' (also known as ''Alice in Wonderland'') is an 1865 English Children's literature, children's novel by Lewis Carroll, a mathematics university don, don at the University of Oxford. It details the story of a ...

'' (1933) - Dodo Bird *'' Hollywood Party'' (1934) - Henrietta Clemp *'' Down to Their Last Yacht'' (1934) - Nella Fitzgerald *'' Two Wise Maids'' (1937) - Prudence Matthews *'' Ladies in Distress'' (1938) - Lydia Bonney *'' Red River Range'' (1938) - Mrs. Maxwell *''

Ambush An ambush is a surprise attack carried out by people lying in wait in a concealed position. The concealed position itself or the concealed person(s) may also be called an "". Ambushes as a basic military tactics, fighting tactic of soldi ...

'' (1939) - Cora, diner owner *''

Tom Brown's School Days ''Tom Brown's School Days'' (sometimes written ''Tom Brown's Schooldays'', also published under the titles ''Tom Brown at Rugby'', ''School Days at Rugby'', and ''Tom Brown's School Days at Rugby'') is a novel by Thomas Hughes, published in 1 ...

'' (1940) - Sally Harowell *'' Meet the Missus'' (1940) - Widow Ella Jones *'' Petticoat Politics'' (1941) - Widow Jones *''

'' (1949) - Mrs. McGrath *''

The Yellow Cab Man ''The Yellow Cab Man'' is a 1950 American comedy film directed by Jack Donohue and starring Red Skelton, Gloria DeHaven and Edward Arnold. A brief sequence of distorted visual effects in the film is the work of the photographer Weegee, who a ...

'' (1950) - Bride's Mother (final film role)

References

External links

* *
Polly Moran profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Moran, Polly 1883 births 1952 deaths American women comedians 19th-century American actresses American stage actresses American film actresses American silent film actresses Actresses from Chicago American vaudeville performers Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract players Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) 20th-century American actresses Comedians from Chicago 20th-century American comedians