Marguerite Churchill was an American actress who is best known for The Big Trail, Riders of the Purple Sage, and The Walking Dead. She appeared in many films during the 1930s, often featuring in westerns.
Personal and Family Life
Marguerite Churchill was born on December 26, 1910, in Kansas City, Missouri. She was married to actor George O’Brien from July 15, 1933, until their divorce in 1948, and they had two children together named Orin and Darcy O’Brien. Orin has been a bass player with the New York Philharmonic since 1966, while Darcy is a writer. Marguerite was raised in a family connected to the film industry; her father was a producer and exhibitor.
Career
Churchill began her career on stage, debuting in ‘Why Not?’ in 1923 before transitioning to film in 1929 with her role as Paul Muni’s sister in ‘The Valiant’. She starred alongside prominent actors like John Wayne and Will Rogers and became known for her performances in various B-movies throughout the 1930s. Marguerite was a member of the Screen Actors Guild from late 1935 and made a significant mark as a leading lady in her era.
Death and Legacy
Marguerite Churchill passed away on January 9, 2000, in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, due to natural causes. She is remembered for her contributions to early cinema and her role in shaping western films of the 1930s. Churchill’s legacy continues through her children, who have made their own marks in arts and culture.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Dracula’s Daughter | 1936-05-11 | Janet |
| The Walking Dead | 1936-03-01 | Nancy |
| The Big Trail | 1930-11-01 | Ruth Cameron |
| Bunco Squad | 1950-09-01 | Barbara Madison |
| Born Reckless | 1930-05-11 | Rosa Beretti |
| Ambassador Bill | 1931-11-13 | Queen Vanya |
| The Valiant | 1929-05-19 | Mary Douglas |
| Speed Devils | 1935-07-01 | Pat Corey |
| Quick Millions | 1931-04-17 | Dorothy Stone |
| Girl Without a Room | 1933-12-08 | Kay Loring |
| Good Intentions | 1930-06-29 | Helen Rankin |
| Murder by an Aristocrat | 1936-06-13 | Nurse Sally Keating |
| Alibi for Murder | 1936-09-23 | Lois Allen |
| Forgotten Commandments | 1932-05-22 | Marya Ossipoff |
| They Had to See Paris | 1929-09-18 | Opal Peters |
| Riders of the Purple Sage | 1931-10-22 | Jane Withersteen |
| Man Hunt | 1936-01-29 | Jane Carpenter |
| Legion of Terror | 1936-11-01 | Nancy Foster |
| Harmony at Home | 1930-01-12 | Louise Haller |
| Girls Demand Excitement | 1931-02-08 | Miriam |
| Charlie Chan Carries On | 1931-04-11 | Pamela Potter |
| The Final Hour | 1936-07-07 | Flo Russell |
| Without Children | 1935-04-15 | Sue Cole |
| Seven Faces | 1929-12-01 | Hélène Berthelot |
| Furnace Trouble | 1929-02-04 | |
| Fireside Theater | 1949-04-05 |