Brenda Marshall was an American actress known for her roles in The Sea Hawk, Captains of the Clouds, and Strange Impersonation. Born as Ardis Ankerson on September 29, 1915, in the Philippines, she made her mark in Hollywood during the 1940s.
Personal and Family Life
Brenda Marshall was born into a family with a unique background, as her father was the overseer of a sugar plantation in the Philippines. After losing her mother at a young age, she and her sister moved to San Antonio, Texas, where Brenda became determined to become an actress. She got married twice, first to actor Richard Gaines and then to William Holden, with whom she had two children.
Career
Her acting career began to flourish after she moved to Hollywood, taking on roles that showcased her talent. Brenda gained attention for her performance as Doña Maria in The Sea Hawk (1940) but later faced challenges when she was often cast in second-rate films. Despite this, she made several memorable appearances in A-grade productions but eventually decided to retire from acting in 1950 to focus on other interests.
Death and Legacy
Brenda Marshall passed away on July 30, 1992, in Palm Springs, California, due to throat cancer. She left behind a legacy as a talented actress of her time, remembered for her performances in classic films. Her contributions to the film industry continue to be appreciated by classic cinema fans.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Strange Impersonation | 1946-03-16 | Nora Goodrich |
| Captains of the Clouds | 1942-02-12 | Emily Foster |
| The Sea Hawk | 1940-08-10 | Doña Maria Alvarez de Cordoba |
| You Can’t Escape Forever | 1942-10-10 | Laurie Abbott |
| Background to Danger | 1943-07-03 | Tamara Zaleshoff |
| Whispering Smith | 1948-12-09 | Marian Sinclair |
| Footsteps in the Dark | 1941-03-08 | Rita Warren |
| Highway West | 1941-08-07 | Claire Foster |
| The Smiling Ghost | 1941-09-06 | Lil Barstow |
| The Constant Nymph | 1943-06-23 | Toni Sanger |
| Espionage Agent | 1939-09-30 | Brenda Ballard |
| The Man Who Talked Too Much | 1940-07-16 | Celia Farrady |
| East of the River | 1940-11-09 | Laurie Romayne |
| Paris After Dark | 1943-10-15 | Yvonne Blanchard |
| Money and the Woman | 1940-08-17 | Barbara Patteson |
| South of Suez | 1940-11-16 | Katharine ‘Kit’ Sheffield |
| Singapore Woman | 1941-05-17 | Vicki Moore |
| The Iroquois Trail | 1950-06-15 | Marion |
| Blackwell’s Island | 1939-01-24 | Reynolds’ Secretary (uncredited) |
| Breakdowns of 1941 | 1941-11-14 | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) |
| Wings Up | 1943-05-27 | Herself |
| I Love Lucy | 1951-10-15 | Brenda Marshall |
| The Colgate Comedy Hour | 1950-09-10 | Self |