Cecilia parker biography
Canadian-born Cecilia Parker, daughter of a British army officer, moved with her family to Hollywood when she was a child. After graduation from high school she got a job as an extra. She did extra work for about a year before she was noticed by Fox executives, who signed her to a contract in 1931. Her career went along steadily if not spectacularly until 1937, when she was signed by MGM to play the older sister of Mickey Rooney in the "Andy Hardy" series. Although she had worked in everything from westerns to jungle serials, it's this part that people remember her for. She must have given MGM some trouble at one point, because in 1941 she was "loaned" (exiled is probably a better word) to ultra-low-rent studio PRC for one picture, a fate that usually befell actors who displeased the higher-ups at the studios. All was apparently forgiven, though, as she made five more pictures at MGM before she retired in 1942. She returned in 1958 for one final Andy Hardy film, but then went back to the real estate business she and her husband operated in Ventura, California, where she died in 1993.
BornApril 26, 1914
DiedJuly 25, 1993(79)
Cecilia Parker was a Canadian actress who played bit roles during the 1930s. In the horror genre, her only known work is in the role of the Frankenstein family maid in James Whale's 1931 classic Frankenstein. Outside of horror, Parker is best known for playing the role of Marian Hardy in the Andy Hardy series of films.
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Cecilia Parker Biography: From B-Westerns to A-Support to Marian Hardy
Cecilia Parker will always be best remembered as Andy Hardy’s big sister, Marian, a part she played in twelve of MGM’s Hardy family films. Mickey Rooney’s Andy quickly developed into the focus of the series, but there was always a bit for big sis to do as well. Parker’s Marian Hardy often felt restrained by small town Carvel and often tried to act more sophisticated than her down to earth family could understand. She could be petulant, bratty even, but Marian always remained a Hardy through and through. That is; she always did the right thing in the end.
With few exceptions, including a 1958 Hardy family reunion, Cecilia Parker’s film career ended after Andy Hardy’s Double Life in 1942. As with many younger golden age actresses who just seemed to disappear at a certain age, 28-year-old Parker left her movie career behind to raise a family. “It was very difficult to find good help then and I wanted to stay home and take care of my kids,” she said (“No regrets”).
But after reviewing Cecilia Parker’s life and career I’m left to wonder if Marian Hardy wasn’t a pigeonhole for an actress slated for much more. On the other hand the part may well have extended her career. It’s a fine line with Parker’s own unique career track leaving the idea open to question either way.
As a teenager Parker had toiled as an extra and worked her way up to leading lady in a series of Poverty Row westerns and serials before being discovered by MGM at age twenty, a ton of experience behind her, and sharing the screen with the likes of Greta Garbo, Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy, and Oscar winners such as Lionel Barrymore and Wallace Beery.
Then came the Hardys and there went the prestige, but with it the role she’s best remembered for.
Cecilia Maryelizabet* Parker was born April 26, 1914 in Fort William, Onta Canadian-American actress (1914–1993) For the American model and actress born Cecilia Ann Rene Parker, see Suzy Parker. Cecilia Parker Parker in Burn 'Em Up O'Connor (1939) Fort William, Ontario, Canada Los Angeles, California, United States Robert Baldwin Cecilia Parker (April 26, 1914 – July 25, 1993) was a Canadian-American film actress. She was best known for portraying Marian Hardy, the sister of Andy Hardy, in twelve films of the Andy Hardy series. Cecilia Parker was born in Fort William, Ontario, Canada on April 26, 1914, to parents Naudy Anna and Thomas J. Parker. Her father was from England, where he had served in the British Army. The family moved to Los Angeles, California when she was a child, and Parker graduated from Immaculate Heart High School in 1931. Parker was selected from among a group of extras to attend the Fox Film studio training school for younger players. Soon she was selected to play opposite George O'Brien in The Rainbow Trail (1932). The Rainbow Trail, written by Zane Grey, was the novelist's sequel to Riders of the Purple Sage. Parker starred with Tom Tyler and Carmelita Geraghty in a 1932–1933 movie serial produced by Universal Pictures entitled Jungle Mystery. In July 1933, she was chosen to play the heroine in the Ken Maynard western, The Trail Drive (1933). That same year, she was John Wayne's leading lady in one of the first singing cowboy movies, Riders of Destiny, and also appeared in Rainbow Ranch. After playing the sister of Greta Garbo in 1934's The Painted Veil, Parker signed a seven-year contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The studio wanted a blonde who resembled Garbo as a young girl. Her new contract called for a starting salar Cecilia Parker
Born (1914-04-26)April 26, 1914 Died July 25, 1993(1993-07-25) (aged 79) Years active 1926–1942, 1958, 1984 Spouse Children 3 Early life and career