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| Janet Gaynor, circa 1927. |
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| Janet Gaynor |
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Forecourt Ceremony held on Wednesday, May 29, 1929 |
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Born: Laura Augusta Gainor, October 6, 1906, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Age at the time of the ceremony: 22
Died: September 14, 1984, in Palm Springs, California, age 77 |
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Janet Gaynor was another young actress who achieved stardom at a very early age in the silent period, then made the transition to sound films.
Born to a theatrical scenic painting father who taught Laura, "Lolly," to sing at an early age, her parents divorced when she was eight, in 1914. The family moved to Chicago, then San Francisco, where her mother re-married to a theatrical electrician. The whole group moved to Los Angeles to get Lolly into pictures in the early 1920s.
Her stepfather took her to many auditions until she was finally cast in Cupid's Rustler in 1924. Gaynor worked on shorts for Hal Roach, Universal and FBO which finally led to Janet being given a contract at Universal, where she pulled in the big money: $50 per week. Just bit parts mind you, in stuff like Dangerous Innocence (released in April 1925), and, The Teaser (released in September 1925), both starring Laura La Plante; The Plastic Age starring Clara Bow (released in December 1925); and The Beautiful Cheat with Laura La Plante (released in February 1926).
Tested at Fox Film Corporation, Gaynor won a supporting role in The Johnstown Flood starring George O'Brien (released in February 1926), and made such an impression, Fox gave her a five-year contract to star in films. Her first starring role was in director John Ford's first film with an Irish setting, The Shamrock Handicap (released in May 1926).
Small and slight, but capable of acting with great intensity (especially when pushed to her limits) Gaynor became an overnight sensation. Her key films from this period are 7th Heaven (released in October 1927) with frequent co-star Charles Farrell, director F. W. Murnau's moody masterpiece Sunrise with George O'Brien (released in November 1927), and Street Angel with Charles Farrell (released in August 1927). All hits, Gaynor received the first Oscar for Best Actress for all three of these films.
After doing her imprints at Grauman's, Gaynor scored a big success in the Fox musical Sunny Side Up (which premiered at the Chinese in November 1929). Then Fox chose to have her star in two pictures which were successful for Mary Pickford: Daddy Long Legs (released in June 1931), and Tess of the Storm Country (released in November 1932). She got top billing over Fox's cash-cow Will Rogers in State Fair (released in February 1933), which became a monster hit, making Janet Gaynor the top female box-office draw.
Even though Fox kept her busy, and her films were making money, Gaynor felt as though things were slowing down for her after the 20th Century / Fox merger and the rise of Shirley Temple. Gaynor was almost on the point of quitting show business when she was offered the role which would make her immortal: Vicky Lester in A Star is Born (which premiered at the Chinese in April 1937). Since the story closely parralled her own story, Gaynor brought that little something extra to the film — others might make a go of it, but Gaynor's performance will outlast them all.
Wanting a husband and family, Gaynor did quit the screen in 1938. In 1939, she married costume designer Adrian, with whom she had a son. They remained married for 20 years, until his death in 1959. On her own suddenly, Gaynor made her stage debut in a play called The Midnight Sun, which flopped. She became a fairly accomplished painter, selling her works through an art dealer in New York.
In 1980, Gaynor starred in a Broadway musical adaptation of Harold and Maude, which flopped. Undaunted, she made a guest appearance on The Love Boat in 1981, then toured in On Golden Pond, opposite her then husband, producer Paul Gregory.
On September 5, 1982, while riding in a taxicab in San Francisco with husband Gregory, Mary Martin, and Ben Washer, the cab was hit by a drunk driver. Washer was killed, Gregory had both of his legs broken, Martin had two ribs and her pelvis broken; but Gaynor suffered serious injury: 11 broken ribs, fractured collarbone, pelvic fractures, punctured lung, and damage to her kidneys and bladder.
Many surgeries allowed her to return home, but she was dogged with complications. She died in 1984 — two years after the crash, at the age of 77. |
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| Grauman's Chinese Theatre, Hollywood, California. Janet Gaynor Forecourt block. Executed by Jean Klossner, Wednesday, May 29, 2929. 49 x 53 inches overall. |
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