Rosina May Lawrence (December 30, 1912 – June 23, 1997) was a British-Canadian actress and singer. She had a short but memorable career in the 1920s and 1930s in Hollywood before she married in 1939 and retired from entertainment. She is best known as the schoolteacher in the ''

Our Gang ''Our Gang'' (also known as ''The Little Rascals'' or ''Hal Roach's Rascals'') is an American series of comedy short films chronicling a group of poor neighborhood children and their adventures. Created by film producer Hal Roach, who also pr ...

'' comedies of 1936–37, and as the ingenue in the

Laurel and Hardy Laurel and Hardy were a British-American double act, comedy duo during the early Classical Hollywood cinema, Classical Hollywood era of American cinema, consisting of Englishman Stan Laurel (1890–1965) and American Oliver Hardy (1892–1957) ...

feature '' Way Out West''.

Early years

Lawrence's family moved to Boston in 1922, then moved to California. In 1925, a fall on a school playground in Los Angeles resulted in paralysis on her left side. Dancing (suggested by a doctor as therapy for her weakened left leg and side) led to professional engagements. Lawrence was one of the first women to swim

Lake Tahoe Lake Tahoe (; Washo language, Washo: ''dáʔaw'') is a Fresh water, freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada of the Western United States, straddling the border between California and Nevada. Lying at above sea level, Lake Tahoe is the largest a ...

in Nevada.

Career

Lawrence's dancing led to work in films when she became Sally Eilers' double for a tap dance in '' Dance Team''. Thereafter, she worked as a stand-in for Eilers in other films and gained dancing roles as well. Lawrence made her film debut in the 1924 film ''A Lady of Quality''. She received a contract from Twentieth Century-Fox in 1935, her first Fox effort being '' $10 Raise'', an Edward Everett Horton comedy. Her work at Fox was undistinguished, her best-known role there being the ingenue in '' Charlie Chan's Secret.'' Fox loaned her out to comedy producer

Hal Roach Harold Eugene "Hal" Roach Sr. Skretvedt, Randy (2016), ''Laurel and Hardy: The Magic Behind the Movies'', Bonaventure Press. p.608. (January 14, 1892 – November 2, 1992) was an American film and television producer, director and screenwriter, ...

for the 1936 feature '' Neighborhood House'', ultimately released as a Charley Chase short subject. When her Fox contract was not renewed, she joined the Roach studio full-time, working with Chase, Our Gang, Patsy Kelly, Jack Haley, and Laurel and Hardy. Her singing voice, which had not been featured on film, came to the fore in

's '' Way Out West'' (1937); in addition to her own vocal, she provided the "high" soprano when

Stan Laurel Stan Laurel ( ; born Arthur Stanley Jefferson; 16 June 1890 – 23 February 1965) was an English comic actor, director and writer who was in the comedy double act, duo Laurel and Hardy. He appeared with his comedy partner Oliver Hardy in 107 sh ...

sang " Trail of the Lonesome Pine". Lawrence showed little interest in promoting her screen career, shying away from the prearranged publicity stunts or photo shoots common to studio press agents. The easygoing Roach staff respected her wishes, and her tenure at Roach ended quietly. Her final performance was in the 1972 Italian comedy film ''Lost'', in which she plays an American film star who causes great excitement when she appears in a small Italian town.

Personal life

Lawrence and Judge Juvenal P. Marchisio married in June 1939, and she left acting to become a housewife. Marchisio died in 1973, and in 1987, Lawrence married John McCabe, a biographer of her onetime co-stars Laurel and Hardy. Lawrence's parents became naturalized United States citizens in 1939. Lawrence's nationality was British and it is unclear if she ever became a United States citizen.

Death

Lawrence died of cancer on June 23, 1997, in New York City, aged 84.

Recognition

In 1936, the Hollywood Press Photographers Association named Lawrence as one of 10 Flashlighters' Starlets — young actresses the group considered most likely to succeed in film careers. The Nepean Museum has recognized Lawrence by exhibiting publicity photographs and a variety of memorabilia related to her. It also shows a retrospective video of her career and videos of six films in which she appeared.

Selected filmography

*'' The Angel of Broadway'' (1927) *'' Welcome Home'' (1935) *'' Music Is Magic'' (1935) *'' Your Uncle Dudley'' (1935) *'' $10 Raise'' (1935) *'' Charlie Chan's Secret'' (1936) *'' Mr. Cinderella'' (1936) *''

Arbor Day Arbor Day (or Arbour Day in some countries) is a Secularity, secular day of observance in which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant trees. Today, many countries observe such a holiday. Though usually observed in the spring, the date v ...

'' (1936) *'' General Spanky'' (1936) *'' On the Wrong Trek'' (1936) *'' Bored of Education'' (1936) *'' Two Too Young'' (1936) *'' Spooky Hooky'' (1936) *'' Reunion in Rhythm'' (1937) *'' Hearts Are Thumps'' (1937) *'' Three Smart Boys'' (1937) *'' Way Out West'' (1937) *'' Nobody's Baby'' (1937) *'' Pick a Star'' (1937)Laurel & Hardy - Pick A Star (1937) - Guest Appearance 1, YouTube
/ref> *'' In the Country Fell a Star'' (1939)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Lawrence, Rosina 1912 births 1997 deaths 20th-century American actresses 20th Century Studios contract players Actresses from Ottawa Deaths from cancer in New York (state) Hal Roach Studios actors Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract players Singers from Ottawa 20th-century Canadian women singers Canadian expatriate actresses in the United States