Deanna Durbin was an American actress and singer who is best known for her roles in Three Smart Girls, Mad About Music, and That Certain Age. She was born on December 4, 1921, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and became a major star in Hollywood during the 1930s and 1940s.
Personal and Family Life
Deanna Durbin, originally named Edna Mae Durbin, came from a family with a strong musical background. She had two siblings and was the daughter of James Allen Durbin and Ada Read. Deanna was married three times; her marriages included Charles David, Felix Jackson, and Vaughn Paul. She had two children, Peter David and Jessica Louise Jackson, from her marriages.
Career Highlights
Durbin’s career took off when she became the highest-paid woman in the United States by the age of 21. Her voice was praised, leading to many memorable performances. She became a household name, but despite her fame and success, she preferred a quiet life away from the spotlight. In the 1940s, she chose to step back from her Hollywood career, seeking a life of anonymity in France.
Death and Legacy
Deanna Durbin passed away on April 17, 2013, in Paris, France, due to natural causes. Despite her retreat from the public eye, she left a lasting impact on the film industry and is remembered fondly by fans. Her early films helped save Universal Pictures from bankruptcy, and she remains a cherished star of her era.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Lady on a Train | 1945-08-03 | Nikki Collins / Margo Martin |
| Hers to Hold | 1943-07-16 | Penelope “Penny” Craig |
| It Started with Eve | 1941-09-26 | Anne Terry |
| Christmas Holiday | 1944-07-31 | Jackie Lamont / Abigail Martin |
| Nice Girl? | 1941-02-21 | Jane ‘Pinky’ Dana |
| First Love | 1939-11-10 | Constance (Connie) Harding |
| Mad About Music | 1938-02-27 | Gloria Harkinson |
| One Hundred Men and a Girl | 1937-09-05 | Patricia Cardwell |
| Something in the Wind | 1947-07-21 | Mary Collins |
| That Certain Age | 1938-10-06 | Alice Fullerton |
| The Amazing Mrs. Holliday | 1943-02-19 | Ruth Kirke Holliday |
| Because of Him | 1946-01-18 | Kim Walker |
| Three Smart Girls | 1936-12-20 | Penny Craig |
| Three Smart Girls Grow Up | 1939-03-24 | Penny Craig |
| His Butler’s Sister | 1943-11-26 | Ann Carter |
| Every Sunday | 1936-11-28 | Edna |
| Can’t Help Singing | 1944-12-25 | Caroline Frost |
| For the Love of Mary | 1948-09-01 | Mary Peppertree |
| I’ll Be Yours | 1947-02-02 | Louise Ginglebusher |
| It’s a Date | 1940-03-22 | Pamela Drake |
| The Shining Future | 1944-04-11 | Self |
| Spring Parade | 1940-09-27 | Ilonka Tolnay |
| That’s Entertainment! | 1974-06-21 | (archive footage) |
| Up in Central Park | 1948-07-09 | Rosie Moore |
| Show-Business at War | 1943-05-21 | Self |
| Cavalcade of the Academy Awards | 1940-07-31 | Self (archive footage) |
| Marlene Dietrich: Her Own Song | 2002-03-21 | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) |
| Hollywood’s Children | 1982-02-24 | Self (archive footage) |
| A Friend Indeed | 1941-01-02 | Self / Performer |
| Angels of Mercy | 1940-11-10 | Self / Performer |
| Los Angeles Plays Itself | 2004-07-28 | Penny in Three Smart Girls (archive footage) |
| Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story | 2002-02-05 | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) |