Biography for
Marjorie Reynolds More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

12 August 1917, Buhl, Idaho, USA

Date of Death

1 February 1997, Manhattan Beach, California, USA (congestive heart failure)

Birth Name

Marjorie Goodspeed

Mini Biography

Bright, vivacious Marjorie Reynolds (née Marjorie Goodspeed) was born in Idaho on August 12, 1917 to a doctor and homemaker, and raised in Los Angeles. Making her film debut at age 6, she "retired" after only a few years in favor of a normal education. She returned in the mid-30s, as a teenager this time, and began the typical assembly-line route of extra and bit roles for various mega studios, this time billed as Marjorie Moore. Her first speaking role was in Columbia Studio's programmer Murder in Greenwich Village (1937), this time billed as Marjorie Reynolds (her first husband's last name), a moniker she kept for the duration of her career. The blonde (originally brunette) actress then went through a rather unchallenging prairie flower phase opposite Hollywood's top western stars such as Tex Ritter, Buck Jones, Roy Rogers and Tim Holt. It all paid off, however, when she won the top female role opposite Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire in the seasonal film classic Holiday Inn (1942), a role originally designed for Mary Martin. It remains Marjorie's most popular and cherished role on film, but it did not help her make a permanent transition into 'A' quality fare. She continued as a dependable "B" co-lead in such films as Up in Mabel's Room (1944), Meet Me on Broadway (1946), and Heaven Only Knows (1947), with an exciting movie offer such as Fritz Lang's Ministry of Fear (1944) coming her way on a rare occasion. Along with maturity and a new entertainment medium (television) in the 50s came a return to her natural hair color. As William Bendix's patient, resourceful brunette wife on the comedy TV series "The Life of Riley" (1953), Marjorie became a semi-household name. Her career took a steep decline following its demise five years later and she was only sporadically seen in films, commercials and TV guest spots after that. Married twice, her first husband was Jack Reynolds, who was an Assistant Casting Director for Samuel Goldwyn. They had one daughter, Linda, before divorcing in 1952 after 16 years. Second husband, film editor John Whitney, worked for a time in the 40s as an actor. They were married for 32 years until his death in 1985. Long retired, Marjorie died in 1997 of congestive heart failure after collapsing while walking her dog. Though she didn't fully live up to her potential as a serious, formidable actress, her gentle charm and obvious beauty certainly spruced up the 60+ films she appeared in.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Gary Brumburgh / gr-home@pacbell.net

Spouse

John Whitney	(18 May 1953 - 4 May 1985) (his death)
Jack Reynolds	(4 September 1936 - 14 May 1952) (divorced) 1 child

Trivia

As a child, appeared in silent films under her real name.

Her early years were comprised of dancing bits in a slew of 30s films for Paramount.

She and actor Philip Ober, who was once married to Vivian Vance of "I Love Lucy" (1951) fame, played Judge and Mrs. Hardy in an updated pilot for a new "Andy Hardy" TV series in 1962, but the pilot didn't sell.

Once toured army bases in 1951 during the Korean War.

Studied dancing at one time with Marge Champion's father, Ernest Belcher.

Daughter, Linda Reynolds, started out as an actress but moved into casting. She cast Marjorie in ...All the Marbles (1981) but her role as the mother of a lady wrestler was deleted before its release.

Appeared in Gone with the Wind in the barbecue at Twelve Oaks.

She is prominently featured as a character in the mystery novel, Dead by All Appearances by John Dandola, which takes place during the initial theatrical release of Holiday Inn (1942).

Personal Quotes

"It doesn't overly concern me if I don't become a super star. There are more important things for a successful, happy life and career, such as being pleasant, amiable and a decent human being."

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